What can Educational Neuroscience Research Tell us about Geriatric Learners?

JoAnne Dalton Scott, M.S.Enilda Romero-Hall, Ph.D.

Overview• Define Geriatric Learners• Discuss Cognitive Aging• Myths and Misconceptions about Geriatric Learners• Potential Contributions of Educational Neuroscience• Geriatric Learners [Teaching & Learning]• Low Cost EEG• Current Research

• Conclusion

Introduction• Beliefs about Older Adults• Advance in Medical Technologies• Aim of this Paper

Statistics

• 2013 = 44.7 Million• 2050 = 83.7 Million

Who are Geriatric Learners?• Based on:

• Social Security, Medicare, and Health Standards• Psychological Theories about Aging• Biologically

• Our definition:• Individual 65 yrs. or older• Involved in learning activities• Third Age

Cognitive AgingNatural process of neural decline

Neurogenesis

Cognitive AgingNatural process of neural decline

Neurogenesis Neuroplasticity

Cognitive AgingNatural process of neural decline

Neurogenesis Neuroplasticity Cognitive Scaffolding

Myths and Misconceptions• Everyone becomes senile as they age:

Researchers have identified variables such as exercise (Rabipour & Raz, 2012; Whalley et al., 2004; Wirth, Haase, Villeneuve, Vogel, & Jagust, 2014), nutrition (Liebman, 2014), cognitive stimulation (Rabipour & Raz, 2012; Wirth et al., 2014), meditation (Rabipour & Raz, 2012), and leisure activities (Liebman, 2014; Whalley et al., 2004) that can change how our brains evolve as we age

Myths and Misconceptions• Geriatric individuals do not need to

learn new thingsHowever, research has shown the numerous benefits of geriatric learning programs to the overall health of the elderly, which include increased social contact, enhanced coping mechanisms, physical and mental stimulation, and creative expression (Escolar Chua & de Guzman, 2014a, 2014b; Li & Southcott, 2015).

Myths and Misconceptions• Geriatric individuals cannot learn new

things

The reality is that many aging adults are still mentally and physically alert and looking for opportunities to continue learning and to keep their minds active. Learning is a very important successful aging strategy and through participation in lifelong education, older adults can achieve a higher quality of life (Li & Southcott, 2015).

Advances in Educational Neuroscience

MRI

Advances in Educational Neuroscience

MRIfMRI

Advances in Educational Neuroscience

MRIfMRI

EEG

Advances in Educational Neuroscience

Language and Reading (McKay, Fischler, & Dunn, 2002)

Problem Solving (Jausovec, 1997)

Cognitive Load (Antonenko et al., 2010; Lamberts et al., 2000; Stipacek, Grabner, Neuper, Fink, & Neubauer, 2003)

Affective Processing in Learning (Rodriguez, Rey, & Alcañiz, 2013)

Serious Games and Virtual Reality (Ninaus et al., 2014)

Computer- and Web- based Learning (Romero, 2014)

High Tech Tools

PlasticityAdaptationRe-Organization

Information Processing

Society EvolvesContext Changes

Education Research

Theoretical FrameworkResearch Design

Low Cost EEG “Can provide a simple method for recording the electrical activity of the brain without compromising the quality of data recorded.”

Current Research

Research Design

Participants

Tasks

ConclusionAppropriate for Older AdultsDesign & Development

• Successful Learning

Improve Teaching PracticeInstructional Designers• Better Serve Geriatric Learners

Inclusion of the Aging IndividualsSociety• Diverse Learning Groups

Questions?

Contact Information:

JoAnne Dalton Scott, M.S.joanne.scott@spartans.ut.edu

Enilda Romero-Hall, Ph.D.eromerohall@ut.edu@eromerohall [Twitter]