An older dog can definitely learn new tricks

One of the things I am most proud of is returning to school at 30 to get my degree.  It was challenging with a 3-year-old and a 5-year- old, a husband and a job, but I still remember how exciting learning new things was and how going back to school raised my self-confidence.  Forty-nine years later learning about new subjects and getting new skills are still two of the most enjoyable things I do.

I recently signed up for one of the many courses being offered by California Lutheran University in its Fifty and Better (FAB) program.  FAB was designed for members of our community who are 50 or older and who want to continue learning – purely for the enjoyment and stimulation of pursuing knowledge and social engagement through interactive courses and extracurricular activities.  FAB offers university level courses with no tests and no homework.  The classes are offered both in-person and online.

Through the courses offered at our local Goebel Adult Community Center I became interested in Film Noir and have since watched many of these wonderful old films.  I was excited to see “Shadows and Light: Film Noir and Cold War America” as one of the new courses offered in the FAB spring session. I registered immediately for the online program.

John Dewey’s well-known quote “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself” sums up the current beliefs about continuing the learning process as we age.  There is no shortage of research indicating the importance of staying sharp and continuing to learn.  Lifelong learning is connected to improved cognitive function, healthy emotional well being and positive self-perception.  One study suggested that believing you are smart and have a strong mind can help prevent memory loss.  Older adults performed worse on memory-related tests after being reminded of negative stereotypes about seniors and forgetfulness.  They performed better on the same tasks when they were told that it is possible to preserve our memories well into our later years.

One common old misconception (you can’t teach an old dog new tricks) is that older adults make poor students.  When I was in graduate school in my 30’s and 40’s, I worked with students way older than I was and frequently found that they not only appreciated being in school much more than younger students but also performed very well.  Younger minds may be quick and computational and able to produce new rapid-fire ideas, but scientists have found that older minds are more reflective and philosophical.  Most research indicates that younger people aren’t better students or thinkers; they simply process things differently than older adult do.

Educational opportunities for seniors can be found in senior and community centers, community colleges, universities, special programs such as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and increasingly now through eLearning.   Our population of US citizens over 65 grew from 35 million in 2000 to nearly 50 million in 2016 and is projected to grow to 100 million in 2060.  It makes sense that new educational programs geared toward this population are being launched continuously.  Seniors today can find opportunities to learn new things from their homes, in assisted living facilities and wherever they choose to live their retirement years thanks to the availability of eLearning.  eLearning is defined as the use of digital and internet technologies to educate learners of all ages without geographical boundaries.

eLearning has been available since the 1990’s but not until 2010 did advancements in technology provide people with user-friendly tools that simplified learning for people of all ages.  Some of the reasons that eLearning works so well for seniors are as follows:

• Social learning can help seniors avoid depression. Seniors who live at home are too often isolated with few opportunities to see family and friends. eLearning allows them to have social interactions with other students and instructors without leaving home.
• Online learning makes it possible for students to have control over their schedule. Colleges, through programs like Osher  Lifelong Learning Institute, allow seniors to pay for the individual classes that meet their needs.
• eLearning can allow seniors to not only control when and what they learn but also can dictate the pace and path that works best for them.
• Interactive online learning helps seniors avoid some of the traditional learning methods, such as textbooks and standard lectures, which may not be as enjoyable for older adults.
• The diversity of content in eLearning allows seniors to find courses ranging from culture, computer science, economics, health, writing, painting or wherever their interests lie. During Covid I took a watercolor painting class online and have been using watercolors ever since.

Learning new things has been shown to boost seniors’ self-esteem, help them feel stronger and more confident, give them a stronger sense of independence and allow them to remain engaged in the changing world around them.  Many people have a list of things they would like to know more about, but during our working years there was just not time.  Once we are retired, we can take advantage of our free time and master a new skill or learn about a subject we have always been interested in.  You may meet new people with the same interest, find a whole new area to explore, and at the very least feel proud of making good use of free time.

I just signed up to take a beginning tap dancing class at our local senior center and looked for inexpensive tap shoes on Amazon.  I have never taken a dance class but figure if I don’t do it now, I probably won’t find a better time.

Please take a look at the excellent article “25 Practices That Foster Lifelong Learning” included in our News and Views section.