Authentic Learning Activity

This week’s assignment asked us to produce a Learning Activity.  Also, we were asked to create a new self check form.  Certainly these activities made me stop and think through everything I have read and learned so far.  I do not care for the idea of grading students; because I am far more concerned with engaging them in the material and helping them participate within the boundaries of their class discussions. Also to reinforce their learning in that module, I would like to incorporate an activity that would further reinforce their thinking on the subject.  At this point I do not know what I would request they do to accomplish this.  I am setting this aside for a later date.

Japan has established a college called the “Silver College,” for their aging population.  It is a unique and forward looking learning institution; if this learning concept was applied to the older generation in the United Stated it would be an interesting project; but is it needed?  Today we incorporate our seniors into the higher education population and in fact, try to encourage them to participate by allowing them to pay less than most students pay in community colleges.  This economic break for seniors changes in the university system, however.  They are asked to pay full price one again, when they try to enter into higher degree programs in most American universities.

The bottom line in all of this may lie in the redefining of what a physical number has to do with the older population’s ability to be contributing citizens in their families and communities, not to mention in their countries.  For example, I believe most of our Supreme Court Justices fall into the category of senior citizens and a large population exist in Congress.  Also, what percentage of the population can afford to enter our universities and take up undergraduate or even graduate studies?  Why should we encourage them to do so?  Do our seniors have the right to define how they will live out their lives? Do they have a right to seek higher education, even if they cannot pay for it?  Do they have the right to grants and scholarships?  Do they have the power and will to redefine “quality of life?”

I have experienced the bias thinking of employers in the workplace regarding age.  Unfortunately, discrimination really knows no age limits.  It is a sad state of affairs and our youth have every reason to be just involved as our seniors in stopping discrimination in the workplace, when it comes to age.  Questions like those I have proposed in my learning Module 2 need to be addressed as well.  Because our educational system is changing, we all need to re-think our educational practices in higher learning institutions, especially in today’s economy.  How can we best serve all age groups and prepare them for the realities they face when they have completed their studies or may have just set them aside for a while, when their life long careers goals are changing?

Please see the link to my Wikispaces:   http://joysclasswiki.wikispaces.com/Module+2

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