Universities Of Third Age Research Articles

The effects of a flipped classroom approach on older adult students’ performance in digital photography

ABSTRACT The trend of population aging is accelerating globally, which is resulting in increased attention on the educational needs of older adults. Given the cognitive changes associated with aging, there is a pressing need for innovative teaching strategies that cater to their unique requirements. Although the flipped classroom model has shown positive effects on student engagement and learning outcomes across diverse educational contexts, its efficacy in the context of older adult education remains to be empirically validated. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the flipped classroom approach in digital photography courses designed for older adult students (OAS). The research involved 25 OAS at a third-age university located in western China. This study used a quasi-experimental research design. The experimental group (N = 12) received instruction using a flipped classroom approach, while the control group (N = 13) received traditional lecture-based instruction. Data were collected and analyzed to compare student engagement, in-class observations, out-of-class communications, digital photography assignments, and after-class interviews between the two study groups. The findings indicated that the level of behavioral engagement differed significantly between the experimental and control groups. The observations revealed differences in note-taking methods and out-of-class communications between the two groups. The results further suggest that the flipped classroom approach enhances the learning achievements of advanced photography skills and knowledge. The challenges faced by students in the experimental group are also discussed. The findings of this research will facilitate the application of the flipped classroom model in third-age education.

Dementia knowledge and attitudes from Third-age university participants

Dementia knowledge and attitudes from Third-age university participants

Has learning gone to waste?-Health-promoting behaviors of seniors.

Regardless of the fact that Universities of Third Age (UTA's) are becoming more and more popular among seniors there are not many available studies examining the impact of conducted educational activities on seniors' adherence to health-promoting activities. The aim of the study was to compare health behaviors (e.g.,: physical activity, eating habits, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, preventive tests performance) between seniors attending and not attending UTA's classes. The study involved 631 (100%) seniors aged 60-92 years (x =70.28 ± 6.09 years). The majority of the study group were women (475; 75.28%). To conduct the study, a proprietary questionnaire was used, consisting of questions regarding the discussed topic and basic questions including: age, gender, place of residence and education. Polish versions of standardized questionnaire-"My eating behaviors" examine eating behaviors of the respondents. The Chi2 test was used for qualitative data, and for quantitative data-the Mann-Whitney U test (No normal distribution: T S-W < 0.001). Linear and logistic regression models were used to check whether the associations would remain after adjustments for potential cofounders. The level of statistical significance was set at α < 0.05. Number of seniors participating in UTA's activities was higher in terms of engaging in: actively spending free time (261; 73.73% vs. 93; 26.27%; p < 0.001), regular physical activity (270; 76.27% vs. 133; 48.01%; p < 0.001), self-assessment of physical activity (259; 73.16% vs. 95; 26.84%; p = 0.004), duration of physical activity (< 0.001), past tobacco smoking (133; 37.57 vs. 76; 27.44%; p = 0.007) and alcohol consumption depending on the habit frequency (p < 0.001). Number of seniors not participating in UTA's classes was lower in terms of: regular annual dental controls (161; 58.12%; vs. 265; 74.86%; p < 0.001), regular self-examination of breasts/testicles (148; 53.43% vs. 218; 61.58%; p = 0.04) and regular laboratory tests (232; 83.75% vs. 318; 89.83%; p = 0.02). Health-promoting behaviors of seniors attending classes at the UTA's were more correct in terms of physical activity, adequate attendance with preventive test and worst in terms of alcohol consumption. Overall picture allows to conclude that participation in UTA's classes seems to have a positive impact on the examined health-promoting behaviors of the surveyed seniors.

Awareness and knowledge of drug-food interactions among polish third-age university listeners before and after training – a questionnaire study

The problem of drug-food interactions is of particular concern to the elderly, as polypharmacy is most prevalent in this population. The study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of drug-food interactions among Polish third-age university listeners before and after training on that topic. A total of 143 participants, with a mean age of 71.5 ± 5.5 years, took part in the study. 123 participants (86%) completed the pre- and post-training questionnaires. 91% of respondents had heard that food can affect the effectiveness of drugs and a similar number stated that they are aware of what time to take their medications. Information about drug-food interactions was most frequently obtained from the physician (34%), the drug leaflet (30%), or the internet article (23%). The mean percentage of correct answers to questions testing knowledge of drug-food interactions before and after training was 32% and 57%, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). To determine the structure of relationships between parameters (or categories of parameters), the results were examined using correspondence analysis (CA). The categories of parameters with the highest quality of representation in the CA model were indicated and the parameters characterized by the highest strength of coexistence were determined. The majority of study participants were aware of drug-food interactions, but their knowledge of the topic was poor, and often incorrect. The training significantly increased knowledge of drug-food interactions. The study indicates the need to educate geriatric patients on the correct use of drugs with food and on the importance of drug-food interactions.

Third-Age University Students’ Use of Gerontechnological Products and Their Attitudes Towards the Use of Gerontechnological Products: The Example of 60+ Refreshment University

The research was carried out to determine the rate of use of gerontechnological products, which factors affect their use, and the attitudes towards using gerontechnological products of individuals aged 60 and over who participated in the third-age university. A quantitative research method and survey technique were used in the study. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the sub-dimensions of the use of gerontechnological products and age, education, working status, economic status, and health status. In factor analysis findings, four factors were obtained: perceived usefulness of technology, perception of using technology, access to technology and transportation, and anxiety regarding technology use. It was revealed that the participants’ use of gerontechnological products was high and that as product use increased, the anxiety about using technology also increased.

A Proposed Vision of Third-Age University in light of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

This study aims to present a proposal to the Third Age University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the light of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. This study is based on a descriptive approach through critical analysis of literature and studies covering third-age universities, and the qualitative research methodology through holding focus groups analyzing the opinions of experts and specialists about the proposal of the Third Age University. The results of the study reached the outlines of the Third Age University in the light of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The study also reached the most prominent international experiences regarding the Third Age University through: its goals, admission requirements, registration, principles, activities, education programs, administration, and financing. The study recommended activating the proposal to develop adult education programs in Saudi Arabia. Keywords: Third Age, Third Age University, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030

The GNG neural network in analyzing consumer behaviour patterns: empirical research on a purchasing behaviour processes realized by the elderly consumers

The paper sheds light on the use of a self-learning GNG neural network for identification and exploration of the purchasing behaviour patterns. The test has been conducted on the data collected from consumers aged 60 years and over, with regard to three product purchases. The primary data used to explore the purchasing behaviour patterns was collected during a survey carried out among the elderly students at the Universities of Third Age in Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Poland, in the years 2017–2018. Finally, a total of six different types of purchasing patterns have been identified, namely the ‘thoughtful decision’, the ‘sensitive to recommendation’, the ‘beneficiary, the ‘short thoughtful decision’, the ‘habitual decision’ and ‘multiple’ patterns. The most significant differences in the purchasing patterns of the three national samples have been identified with regard to the process of purchasing a smartphone, while the most repetitive patterns have been identified with regard to the purchasing of a new product. The results significantly support the GNG network’s validity for identification of consumer behaviour patterns. The application of this method allowed quick and effective to identify and segment consumers groups as well as facilitated the mapping of the differences among these groups and to compare the consumption behaviour expressed by consumers on different markets. The identified consumer purchase patterns may play a basic role for marketers to understand consumer behaviour and then propose tailored strategies in international marketing.

Adaptation Potential of Teachers of the Third Age in the Conditions of Higher Education Transformation

Introduction. In many countries around the world, the increase in life expectancy leads to significant social transformations. Institutional structures, social protection policies and legislation on the life and employment of older citizens are being changed today. In Russian higher education, more than a third of professional community belongs to the group of teachers of the third (pre-retirement and retirement) age. The modernisation of this area and the raising of the retirement age will make it possible to study the peculiarities of this group of faculty members as a reserve of the vocational training system.The aim of the present article is to characterise the adaptive potential of social community of teachers of the third age in the context of the transformation of higher education.Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework of the article is based on the set of general scientific approaches: communal, comparative, institutional, resource. The first method provides an opportunity to consider teachers of the third age as a social community with their own specific features. The comparative approach is used to see specific features in dynamics (on the materials of official statistics) and to compare them with similar characteristics of teachers of other age groups. The institutional and resource approaches are aimed at identifying adaptive abilities of teachers of the third age against the background of current restructuring processes in higher education. The article is based on the materials of research projects conducted in 2017–2019 and on a mass survey of teachers. The general population consisted of 51 universities of the Ural Federal District. The volume of the sample of teachers is 810 people.Results and scientific novelty. The study showed that teachers of the third age are characterised by a high level of adaptation to changes in higher education. They successfully fulfill themselves in scientific and pedagogical activities. They are characterised by relatively high publication and grant activities, realisation of new educational forms and high motivation and readiness to improve their com petencies and qualifications. At the same time, teachers of the third age estimate their social security in the professional sphere as extremely low. This community is characterised by a high level of criticality in relation to the implemented institutional changes in the field of higher education, which is based on a socially mature responsibility formed within their professional activities for the consequences of decisions taken.Practical significance. The research undertaken demonstrates the stereotype inadequacy concerning non-adaptability of third-age university teachers to technological, content and organisational innovations. Moreover, teachers of the third age are a significant factor in the sustainable development of universities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop management models and create institutional conditions for maximum use of human capital of third-age teachers, whose peculiarities, needs and opportunities in the system of Russian higher education are inadequately taken into account today.

Four Types of Gerontological Education in Poland: the Current Situation and Needs for Future

An increased interest in gerontological (old age) education has been recently observed in Poland. It is moreover claimed that this discipline has undergone a rapid development. This observation is particularly true in the context of the Universities of Third Age (U3A) movement. In this paper, we would like to revise current concepts, developed for the purpose of gerontological education, and then contribute to the overall discussion to stress that there is a need to include all education-oriented activities related to old age and ageing in various aspects as one integrated theoretical concept. We would like to address this topic in a holistic manner. However, we aim to connect the aspect of the recent development of old age-focused educational activities carried out in Poland with some data that has not been published before. This will provide an option to understand the development of education of these concepts in Poland as well as help to identify the drawbacks of this process. We will contribute an in-depth evaluation of this process in Poland and outline future needs which have to be met to use all opportunities to prepare both the present and future society for the rapid ageing of Poland’s population.

Games for active ageing, well-being and quality of life: a pilot study

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study is to identify a set of psychosocial variables and design domains important for game designers to encourage active ageing, well-being and quality of life. Sixty adult learners at four universities of third age were randomly assigned to three groups: the experimental group (G1), who tested firstly a game-based learning platform (GBLP) and then a computer-assisted platform (CAP); the comparison group (G2), who tested firstly the CAP and then the GBLP and the control group (G3) that did not take part in the intervention. Participants were assessed on their health-related well-being and quality of life, using the SF36v2 and WHOQOL-BREF scales before and after each experiment. Findings suggest that there were differences between the group type and their perception on mental health (F(2,57) = 3.771, p = .029) and general health-related well-being (F(2,57) = 5.231, p = .008), in which the GBLP showed improvements relative to the CAP. The environment and mental health were some of the psychosocial domains that should be considered, whereas storytelling, context-aware challenges, game space, immediate feedback, role-playing and social engagement were relevant design domains for these games.

Samoocena aktywności fizycznej słuchaczek Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku

1. Wytyczne UE dotyczące aktywności fizycznej. Zalecane działania polityczne wspierające aktywność fizyczną wpływającą pozytywnie na zdrowie; http://ec.europa.eu/sport/libr... (dostęp: 15.01.2016). Google Scholar

Sharing points of view about education: An intergenerational program with seniors of the third-age university (u3a) and students in the teacher education degree

Sharing points of view about education: An intergenerational program with seniors of the third-age university (u3a) and students in the teacher education degree

Predicting determinants of satisfaction with the life in a sample of elderly students through(a) structural equation model

The goal of this work is to examine the benefits of the Universities of Third Age in Portugal territory on the life of its senior students. It intends to verify if there could be any positive effect on the quality of life of these students, on their vital satisfaction and on their isolation and loneliness. Therefore, it seeks to determine the existence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in subjects. What if the activities offered by the Universities of Third Age promote the decrease of depressive and anxiety symptom. For this study, was collected a sample throughout the Portuguese territory, covering various Universities of the Third Age. The sample was composed only by elderly people who attend the University of the Third Age. The results of this study show that the Universities of the Third Age may allow the combat of social isolation and the decreasement of certain pathological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. In general, older people who attend these institutions have a very high level of satisfaction with life, do not show feelings of loneliness and show less depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Lifelong learning: Active ageing at polish universities of third age

The 21st century education should be seen as a lifelong process. Lifelong learning becomes the foundation of human knowledge, their activity, ability to live in a society, but also to create yourself and your own existence. With the growing awareness of the aging population in Europe, the issues of education and active aging have been discussed for years. The announcement by the European Parliament and the Council that year 2012 would be the European Year for Active Ageing and International Solidarity is the appreciation of potential in the hands of senior citizens and the elderly, as well as the opening up to their needs. Poland's parliamentary upper house, the Senate, had recognized senior education as important for the state and declared 2012 the Year of Universities of the Third Age. A large number of UTA students in Poland, a rich and diverse range of educational and activating activities, as well as taking initiative, reinforce the belief that the period of late maturity through an active lifestyle prevents exclusion from the community and improves the quality of life by giving it a valuable meaning.

CONCEPÇÕES DE ALIMENTAÇÃO SAUDÁVEL DE IDOSOS QUE FREQUENTAM A UNIVERSIDADE DA TERCEIRA IDADE

This dissertation reflects upon the concepts of habits in the third age, based on the plurality of meanings of what constitutes good nutrition. The term healthy eating relates to several similar meanings, but which are not synonymous. Understanding what is good or bad habit is something that lies on cultural, historical, psychological and / or nutritional aspects which are not always convergent, have the same rationality, nor the same meaning. The focus of this study, with respect to diet, is on the perspective of socio-anthropological studies, aiming to deepen on the symbolic relations of in the third age, whereas the context of modernity represents a scenario from where the concepts of are drawn. Just as such concepts are affected by the current perspectives of aging. We point out that the concept of third age is an aging proposal aligned with the values ​​of today's society, such as time and body productivity, and which finds in the Universities of Third Age a prime space for (re) production. According to our study, the concepts of among the elderly are connected to the values ​​of the modern world, including the practicality and appreciation of body care. Meanwhile, these concepts represent the stresses of urban diet, such as the need and mistrust related to the food industry, and the different manners of eating. We have noted that the elderly seek for nutritional rules on how to eat within the context of modern world and the needs of an aging body. Finally, the plurality of meanings on how to eat in the third age, examined in this study, points to the complexity of studies on habits, regarding the dynamism of the construction of meanings and concepts of what is a good diet these days.

Relations of Retired People and Their Grandchildren

79 retired persons in the third-age university were asked about their relationships with their grandchildren and relationships in general. The ages of the 63 women and 16 men ranged from 54 to 82 years ( M of 66 years); 62% were married, 28% divorced or widowed, 61% lived with spouse, 34% lived alone, 4% with their adult children, and only one person in an old-age home. The average number of grandchildren was three. Analysis showed relations with their grandchildren were judged as very good or good (91%). The grandparenting role was diverse: the grandparent gave a grandchild love or affection, care, shelter, life experience, moral values, company, closeness, trust, aid, and support. The grandchild benefitted from the relationship affectively, cognitively, and materially. The grandchild gave a grandparent joy, inspiration, tenderness and love, contentment, life attitudes, closeness and company, and hope and faith for the future.