Dear colleague

I am writing to say that if you are still interested in studying the lifecourse of 
older people, especially their interest in learning, applications for the Institute 
of Education's innovative new course in this field will close at the end of the 
term.

We will take a broad approach to current research into the many different 
contexts that impact upon the later periods of the lifecourse and will consider 
questions such as 
- How do people develop in later life?  
- What, if anything, is special about the mature experience and capacity to 
learn? 
- Can wisdom be defined? 
- Does intellectual activity help to maintain health? 
- How can later life learning be best supported, and to what extent is critical 
geragogy relevant? 
- What are the appropriate methods of researching the lifecourse, e.g. how 
can we evaluate longitudinal studies or life reminiscences? 

Many resources will be provided around these topics, and you will be 
encouraged and helped to focus on your own particular interests.

We start with a weekend meeting at the Institute on Saturday 27 - Sunday 28 
February, 2010, where the key themes are introduced and you share your 
thoughts and experiences.. Among our guest speakers: 
Dr. Ricca Edmundson will describe the humanist background to her new book: 
Valuing Older People*; 
Professor Richard Wiggins will present his latest findings on labour market exit, 
volunteering, and caring.;;
Dr, Andrea Creech will discuss the benefits of learning music in later life.

After the weekend, we will collaborate online for several weeks.
 
The fee is £688 by bank transfer, credit card or instalments.

If you wish to ask anything, please contact me at 
[log in to unmask]
 
Best regards
Anita
------------------------------
Anita Pincas, Senior Lecturer, Department of Continuing and Professional 
Education 
Institute of Education,
University of London.

*  Valuing older people - A humanist approach to ageing  Ricca Edmundson & 
Hans-joachim von Kondratowitz (2009) The Polity Press