Centre for Distance Educn ?

Faculty of Education

Simon Fraser University

WMC 1300 291-3524

TEACHING THE OLDER ADULT

This is a basic course in adult education for students from all disciplines, of

particular interest to those working (or preparing to work) with older adults. The

goal is to assist students to develop more effective strategies for meeting the needs

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Brookfield, S.D. Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Assignment 1 ?

Review of an Article ?

15%

Assignment 2 ?

Self-directed Learning Contract

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05%

Assignment 3

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Take-home Midterm Examination

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40%

Assignment 4 ?

Final Project ?

SUPPLEMENTARY FEES:

Course Materials & Service Fee

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Deposit for Additional Materials

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$20

06/19/98

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SJN FRASER UNIVERSITY

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0

Spring Semester 1999 ?

EDUC 351 - 3

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Ir. S. Cusack

Teaching the Older Adult ?

Office: HC 2800

Tel: ?

291-5177

E01.00

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E-mail: scusack@sfu.ca

Location:

PREREQUISITE

SFU Harbour Centre

60 credit hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a basic course in adult education with a focus on the older adult learner -- e.g., education

for the burgeoning population aged 50+. Theory is drawn from mainstream adult education

literature, supplemented with principles and techniques of effective practice in teaching older

adults. The goal is to prepare students from a variety of fields and areas of interest to develop

more effective strategies for meeting the needs of an expanding population of older adults through

education.

OBJECTIVES

Participants in this course will:

1.

Understand central concepts: e.g., third-age, empowerment, lifelong learning, leadership,

mental fitness, critical thinking, self-directed learning, facilitation.

2.

Understand the needs, desires, capacities of older learners, and the implications for effective

learning/ teaching.

3.

Gain an increased awareness of aging as a social construction and how stereotypes and negative

attitudes affect learning and participation.

4.

Understand the implications of a commitment to lifelong learning for older adult education.

5.

Identify and discuss current issues in policy and practice in older adult education.

REQUIREMENTS

• Critical review of an article - 15%

• Self-directed learning contract - 5%

• Class participation - 10%

• Take-home midterm exam - 35%

• Independent learning project - 35%

REQUIRED READINGS

Brookfield, S.D. (1986). Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning. San Francisco:

Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-87589-674X

Course Reader. (1998). Education 351. Centre for Distance Education, Simon Fraser University.

RECOMMENDED READINGS (on library reserve)

Kreisberg, S. (1992). Transforming Power: Domination, Empowerment. and Education.

Albany: State University of New York.

Brookfield, S.D. (1991). Developing Critical Thinkers: Challenging Adults to Explore

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Alternative Ways of Thinking and Acting. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 15554

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2 055 9.

Manheimer, R.J., Snodgrass, D.D., & Moskow-McKenzie, D. (1995). Older Adult Education: A

Guide to Research Programs, and Policies. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0 313 28878 X.