Silver Economy 2007 Conference, 15-16 November 2007, Sevilla 1

Ageing Societies, Learning, and Information and Communication Technologies

Kirsti Ala-Mutka & Yves PunieEC JRC, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

Information Society Unit

The views expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the EC

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IPTS: Part of the JRC of the EC:

7 Research Institutes across EuropeMission: “to provide customer-driven support to the EU policy-making process by researching science-based responses to policy challenges that have both a socio-economic as well as a scientific/technological dimension”

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

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Outline

● Key challenges in the ageing context

● Active ageing and Ageing well

● Lifelong learning

● Learning needs and barriers of ageing learners

● Role of ICT

● Challenges

● Policy issues

● Conclusions

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Key challenges in the ageing context

• Preventing of significant physical and cognitive impairments― Changing health visions: from cure to prevention and importance of mental health

• Enhancing the perceived quality of life of older people― Inclusion: Independent living, social networking and participation/integration

• Using the experience and knowledge of older people for society― Employment, competitiveness, voluntary work/care

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Definition of active ageing (Based on WHO 2002)

● “Active ageing refers to a continuous participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs, not just the ability to be physically active or part of the labour force. Active ageing views older people as active participants in an age-integrated society.”

Ageing Well in the Information Society (EC COM(2007) 332 final):

● Ageing well at work or ‘active ageing at work’: staying active and productive for longer

● Ageing well in the community: staying socially active and creative, improving quality of life and reducing social isolation

● Ageing well at home: enjoying a healthier and higher quality of daily life, maintaining independence, autonomy and dignity.

Active Ageing and Ageing Well

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Lifelong learning (LLL)

– Encompasses formal, non-formal and informal learning

• life wide learning

– Objectives include • active citizenship, personal fulfilment,

social inclusion, as well as employment-related aspects

– Effective implementation emphasises• centrality of the learner, equal

opportunities, quality and relevance of learning opportunities

“all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective” (EC COM(2001) 678 final)

What does this mean in the ageing context?

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From Purdie & Boulton-Lewis. (2003). “The Learning needs of older adults”:

“I’ve got my limitations. But I’m not going to lie down and bloody die.”

(a statement from a 79-year-old interviewee given as an example of positive attitudes to learning and the willingness to overcome challenges)

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Learning needs and barriers

Learning needs of older people● Learning to manage and improve everyday life

– Health, safety, independence● Learning for keeping mind and life active, “life is learning”

– Learning for activities, “new things”, to keep up-to-date● To understand changes

– Society, politics, people, cultures, ageing● Learning as participation, being in contact and interacting with other people● Learning situations as giving back, showing and using skills, helping others to learn

Barriers for learning● Prior learning, learning skills, self-confidence● Health, mobility, cognitive abilities● Financing● Interest vs. non-interest

Main sources:

Purdie, Boulton-Lewis (2003). The Learning needs of older adults. Educational Gerontology, 29, pp.129-149.Boulton-Lewis et al (2006). Learning and active aging. Educational Gerontology, 32, pp. 271-282.

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Learning and ICT

● Learning to benefit from the ICT tools (learning ICT)– Technology tools for everyday tasks at home and for work– Aids for compensating disabilities – New possibilities for communication, participation, entertainment

● Learning with ICT– ICT as enablers for learning

• Distance learning compensating mobility limitations• New information resources available, new ways to access• Specific learning tools

– ICT for allowing more personalization in learning• Flexible learning approaches

– ICT for interacting and sharing through ICT• Informal learning in communities

– Also using ICT in collaboration in physical meeting places

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ICT as a Regenerator of Local Economy: Kamikatsu – Japan

Swedish Learning centres

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Challenges for Ageing, Learning and ICT

● Challenges with ICT– Current generations of older people have very low ICT skills– Strong need for more user-friendly interfaces (e.g. speech vs keyboard)

• Different technologies, e.g. digital television

• Smart, unobtrusive ambient intelligence technologies in the future

● Designing suitable learning opportunities– Accommodating differences in interests and learning barriers

● Dilemmas – Inter-generational learning vs. peer-learning– Dedicated approaches vs. stigmatization– Inter-generational justice vs. inter-generational competition

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Policy issues

● Increasing digital competencies and ICT access– Local learning centres, bringing ICT close to learners– Promoting benefits of ICT, developing relevant resources available

● More holistic policy and financing approaches– Not only education & training budgets but e.g. sectoral financing

● Support Lifelong learning for all– Prepare for LLL skills and attitudes already in obligatory education– Organized LLL at workplaces, mentoring schemes

● Support R&D for intergenerational and integrating learning– User-friendly tools and interfaces– Pedagogies, learning approaches– Involving older people in R&D and as teachers

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● Learning can contribute to addressing the challenges of the ageing societies

● ICT enable learning for older people in new ways

● However, low digital literacy is a key challenge for realising the benefits

● Ageing challenges affect several policy areas, and thus, holistic policy approaches are needed to support Lifelong learning for older people

● To maximize the potential of learning in the later period of life, LLL needs to be promoted in all stages of life

● More research is needed to develop accommodating tools and approaches for older learners

Conclusions

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Thank you for your attention

kirsti.ala-mutka@ec.europa.euhttp://is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

References:

Ala-Mutka, K., Malanowski, N. Punie, Y. & Cabrera, M. (Forthcoming). Active Ageing and the potential of ICT in Learning. Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, European Commission, Joint Research Center.

Ala-Mutka, K. & Punie, Y. (2007). Ageing Societies, Learning and ICT. In: Boonen, A. & Van Petegem, W. (2007). European Networking and Learning for the Future. The EuroPACE approach.

Purdie, Boulton-Lewis (2003). The Learning needs of older adults. Educational Gerontology, 29, pp.129-149.

Boulton-Lewis et al (2006). Learning and active aging. Educational Gerontology, 32, pp. 271-282.

Willis et al. (2006) Long-Term Effects of Cognitive Training on Everyday Functional Outcomes in Older adults. JAMA, 296, 23, pp. 2805-2814.