I wonder if people are aware that, among the many population shifts that get
talked about, older people now outnumber children under 16 in the UK [Office
of National Statistics, 21 August 2008
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=949 ].
Concern with and for the environment, it seems to me, needs to take more
account of the rapidly increasing older generation. My own interest in this area
is in how older people can be helped to continue learning throughout their lives
and how this contributes to their health and well-being, and by complex
further pathways, to the environment.
To encourage interest in what we believe is an important social issue, we
have started a new master's level module** at the Institute of Education in
which we look at older learners in the round within diverse social and individual
contexts. It is delivered by blended learning with the emphasis on peer
collaboration.
As the first programme of its kind, we see it as an important step for profiling
important issues regarding the older population while also offering continued
professional development of a new kind.
If you are interested in such study, please contact me.
Anita Pincas, [log in to unmask]
Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, University of London
** Issues in Educating and Training Mature Adults (50+)
www.ioe.ac.uk/courses/ietma
|