In the sphere of Lifelong Learning, near the end of the last decade, a timely series of reports was commissioned which resulted in Tom Schuller and David Watson presenting their book Learning Through Life: Inquiry Into the Future for Lifelong Learning. On publication in 2009, the IFLL report was classed by its authors as “the
One could argue that Informal Education is all the rage these days. The ability to consider anything as a potential learning experience is a powerful notion. Unfortunately, this also means that we have seen the demise of formal arenas for developing informal learning. But we do have some remedies, if only we would wake up
Warning to self: Don’t ignore the stuff you already know, but may have forgotten. In the process of my research, it is interesting noting the different interpretations of the idea of ‘social’ – wherever the word is applied. What seems like something we should all thirst for, is, to some, totally abhorrent. Some people just
One of my principal considerations is to view the life path totally differently than we view it today. Adults today need to consider several career-changes, which likely will need to continue in some form beyond the traditional age of retirement post-65. With life expectancy now offering at least 10 years beyond what it offered in
This isn’t a manifesto, nor a betrayal of any allegiance to political or belief bias, it’s just a rant… When I was in my early twenties, I crawled on my hands and knees to the bank to apply for a loan to purchase a second hand car. I needed it, because I was starting a
I am enjoying delving into a lot of background stuff at the moment. Apart from updating myself on latest research, data and articles on the topics of ageing, older adult well-being and lifelong learning in general, I am also dipping into some philosophy. These days, being of an enquiring mind is aided by modern technology.
After 45 years of relatively good health, I have just had what I perhaps could call a ‘health scare’. It is interesting for me in a way to consider things in the light of getting older, as many of the people I want my research to have an impact for will have been through far
I am currently, on the guidance of my research supervisors, trying to develop a specific plan for the ethnographic element of my research. By this, I am referring to the kind of qualitative enquiry I am seeking to carry out. Aside from any data that will be gleaned from statistics provided by regional, national and
The BBC news website carried a release today, presumably from the University of the Third Age (U3A) which is positive news on a number of counts. It describes the U3A as “A self-help education network for the elderly” and talks about how it is planning to extend its courses into care homes. This creeping into
I have just ended my subscription to my local council Gym after 13 months. The only reason really is that I am moving soon, however, I was surprised by the changes in subscription rate that have occurred since I signed up. It has made me think of how others might sustain healthy activity at their
