BROADENING PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN LATER LIFE

Learning across the life course is critical for both aging adults and an aging society. The development of relevant learning opportunities for older adults is, however, constrained by narrow views of participation, education and learning, and sponsorship. Participation of older adults in learning activities has often been viewed as synonymous with enrollment in a course or workshop sponsored by a formal educational institution. The purpose of this study was to explore the learning activities of older adults from a broader perspective. Three hundred and thirty-two older adults responded to a mailed questionnaire composed of sociodemographic questions and an extensive learning activity checklist. On average, these older adults reported taking part in 36 learning activities yearly. They reported that their most important learning activities were reading, watching educational television, traveling, discussing with family and friends, and participating in senior center activities. Sponsorship of learning activities revolved around the senior center, public television, and themselves as self-directed learners. These seniors reported a preference for learning activities that were age-segregated and organized in a group format. The data suggest the importance of nonformal learning activities for later-life learners and challenge educators to look beyond the limits of traditional sponsorship in programming for older adults.