Too old to learn?
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 teach an old dog new tricks鈥 and 鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late to learn.鈥
Two old adages in strict contradiction to each other, but which is the truer. When it comes to today鈥檚 technology, are older people holding back?
With over six million pensioners now active in this country the computer should be the ideal medium (aka toy) for their enjoyment and convenience.
P.C鈥檚 like television are becoming a must for every household but their usefulness for the older community cannot be overstated.
However, how many pensioners adopt the 鈥淚鈥檒l never get the hang of it鈥 attitude, or 鈥淚鈥檓 too old to work that PC鈥? Quite a lot I should imagine, and I am among that lot.
The opportunities to learn are provided by government and city councils, but maybe are not advertised correctly. Possibly upon retirement individual pensioners should be advised as to the advantages of the P.C. and how to reach the facilities provided for learning.
I read of 80-90 year olds learning to handle them, so it can be done, allowing for the fact some people, both young and old shy away from modern technology. It wasn鈥檛 just a joke about oldies asking ten year old grandkids to set the video recorder.
I still think the ideal situation is to grow up with technology. But what the hell, get in there and have a go whatever age.
From my limited experience the computer is a wonderful instrument when used by the right people for the right reasons and in spite of my outlook of 鈥淚鈥檒l never crack it鈥, I intend to get there in the end. I won鈥檛 have my grandkids beating me.
Finally a word on technology, the sale of vinyl records has increased by 50% in 12 months, so don鈥檛 dump your old turntable yet.
My friend who is 83 is progressing well on a course web site design at our local education centre and I am at Newcastle University "Centre for Lifelong Learning" doing philosophy--Russell to Wittgenstein after completing three philosophy courses at the Open University. I really enjoy every minute of this pass time and recommend it to older people. We now have the time to think and read without the pressure to get results which might help us into a career. We just enjoy learning. I am 71 years old
Hi, Noting your focus the conceptual framework introduced below may be of interest to
all Free Thinkers..
Originally created in the UK by Brian E Hodges -
Hodges' Health Career - Care Domains - Model [h2cm]
- can help identify and map ideas, issues, problems AND solutions. The model takes a
situated and multi-contextual view across four knowledge domains:
* Interpersonal;
* Sociological;
* Sciences;
* Political.
Our links pages cover each care (knowledge) domain e.g. SCIENCES:
Many thanks for your time.
Best regards
Peter Jones
Preston
Lancashire
UK
h2cm: help 2C more - help 2 listen - help 2 care
It's the style of teaching and method that is critical - I remember some 15 years ago a piece of research and I'm sure there's been more since that demonstrated (in elderly UK citizens) that 'you can teach an old dog new tricks ' adage.
They had taken a group of over 65 's male and female and taught them German of all languages. It worked well - but what was siginificant is the style and method of teaching was selected for the age group - presumably the guinea pigs were willing participants and not 'prisoners of war' !!
Fitz
I agree on the style of teaching thinking.
I think ease of learning relates to ages in as much as children are too young to take in all that is pushed at them from the age of five.
I believe children would be more receptive if their schooling started from the age of 10 to 12 years of age lasting until they are 17 to 18 or even twenty.
The years before would be spent at their parents hands learning about things like respect and generally how to conduct your life.
The offspin would be that children would be with their parent at a time of life that would be of benefit to them.
In their teens they would be busy learning what you might call the business side of life instead of the trivia that counts for enjoying your youth that we have today.
A lot of thought needed but...?
MY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER SOMEONE IS "TOO OLD TO LEARN"
ANS: JUST AS LONG AS MOTIVATION REMAINS A DRIVING FORCE AND UPHELD AS A REASON TO CARRYING ON ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IS ADULT LIFE. I SEE NO REASON ALSO WHY A PERSON OF A SENIOR AGE SHOULD NOT ENROLL ON ANY MAINSTREAM OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM OF LEARNING. KEEPING YOURSELF COGNITIVELY ALERT WHILST IN THE LATER STAGE OF LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT.