The aging population is a worldwide challenge. Understanding how older adults have been portrayed would provide a foundation on which future scholarship can build. This study assesses and critiques the assumptions underlying the portrayal of older adults and their learning in adult education journals from 1980 to 2006. On reviewing 93 articles in five adult education journals, three themes emerge. First, older adults have been portrayed as a homogeneous group in terms of age, gender, race, class, ethnicity, and able-bodiedness. Second, older adults have been viewed as capable and motivated learners with few cognitive or physical limitations. Third, programmatic responses have been driven by the life context of older adulthood. Of the 93 articles reviewed, 26 are empirical studies. The findings are discussed and suggestions presented for future research and scholarship on older adult learners.
Altheide, D. (1987). Ethnographic content analysis. Qualitative Sociology, 10(1), 65-77.
2.
Bass, S.A. (1986). Matching educational opportunities with the able elderly. Lifelong Learning, 9(5), 4-7.
3.
Bass, S.A. (1992). Gerontology program succeeds in Boston. Adult Learning, 3(6), 22-23.
4.
Beatty, P.T., & Wolf, M.A. (1996). Connecting with older adults, educational responses and approaches. Malabar, FL: Krieger .
5.
Bornat, J., Brawne, R., Cooper, M., Curtis, Z., Kennedy, M., Sidell, M., et al. (1993). Older women learning: A modest proposal . Adults Learning, 4(9), 237.
6.
Brady, M. (1983). Personal growth and the Elderhostel experience . Lifelong Learning, 7(3), 11-13.
7.
Buchanan, A. (1988). An emerging new group on the campus. Lifelong Learning, 11(5), 4-6.
8.
Burrow, M. (1985). Elderhostels-for people on the move in mind and body. Adult Education, 57(4), 356-358.
9.
Carter, V. (1993). Looking back and looking forward: The work of age exchange. Adults Learning, 5(4), 96-97.
10.
Castle, E., & Selby, A. (1987). `Then and now': A course for old people. Adult Education, 20(2), 122-126.
11.
Chamberlain, V., & Fetterman, E. (1999). An interactive television seminar designed for older learners. Adult Learning, 10(4), 19-20.
12.
Chene, A., & Sigouin, R. (1995). Never old older learners. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 14(6), 434-443.
13.
Cusack, S., & Thompson, W. (1996). Building a community of leaders: Research and development of a program to train seniors as empoweringCanadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education10(2), 19-36.
14.
Dadzie, S. (1993). Older and wiser: Adult learning and ethnic minority elders. Adults Learning, 5(4), 103-105.
15.
Davies, I. (1984). Gentle art for the elderly. Adult Education, 56(4), 344-347.
16.
Drews, W. (1981). Education for retirement in the UK and Northern Europe. Adult Education, 54(3), 222-229.
Fenimore, M.A. (1997). "My brain is still working!" Conversations with centenarians about learning in their second century of living. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 11(1), 57-70.
19.
Findsen, B. (2005). Learning later. Malabar, FL : Krieger.
20.
Fisher, J.C. (1986). Participation in educational activities by active older adults. Adult Education Quarterly, 36(4), 202-210.
21.
Fisher, J.C. (1993). A framework for describing developmental change among older adults. Adult Education Quarterly, 43(2), 76-89.
22.
Fisher, J. C., & Wolf, M. A. (Eds.). (1998). Using learning to meet the challenges of older adulthood. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
23.
Fisher, J.C., & Wolf, M.A. (2000). Older adult learning. In A. L. Wilson & E. R. Hayes (Eds.), Handbook of adult and continuing education (pp. 480-492). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
24.
Fuller, A., & Unwin, L. (2005). Older and wiser? Workplace learning from the perspective of experienced employees. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 24(1), 21-39.
25.
Glendenning, F. (2000). Teaching and learning in later life: Theoretical implications. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate .
26.
Glendenning, F. (2001). Education for older adults. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 20(1), 63-70.
27.
Groombridge, B. (1982). Learning, education and later life. Adult Education, 54(4), 314-325.
28.
Harrison, R. (1993). Learning later five years on. Adults Learning, 5(4), 94-95.
29.
Hart, L., & Bissland, V. (1993). Bridging the gap at Strathclyde University. Adults Learning, 5(4), 92-93.
30.
Hayes, E.R., & Smith, L. (1994). Women in adult education: An analysis of perspectives in major journals. Adult Education Quarterly, 44(4), 201-221.
31.
Health and Retirement Study (2007). Retrieved August 22, 2007, from http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralPrograms/BehavioralAndSocialResearch/HRSfull.htm
32.
Heisel, M.A. (1985). Assessment of learning activity level in a group of Black aged. Adult Education Quarterly, 36(1), 1-14.
33.
Heisel, M.A., & Larson, G. (1984). Literacy and social milieu: Reading behavior of the Black elderly. Adult Education Quarterly, 34(2), 63-70.
34.
Hentschel, D., & Eisen, M.-J. (2002). Developing older adults as community leaders. Adult Learning, 13(4), 12-14.
35.
James, D., Gibson, F., McAuley, G., & McAuley, J. (1996). Introducing older learners to information technology through life history writing. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 15(1), 50-58.
36.
Jarvis, P. (1980). Pre-retirement education: Design and analysis . Adult Education, 53(1), 14-19.
37.
Jarvis, P. (1983). Education and the elderlyAdult Education, 55(4), 343-350.
38.
Jarvis, P. (2001). Learning in later life. London : Kogan Page.
39.
Kazemek, F.E., & Rigg, P. (1985). Tithes: Poetry and old people. Lifelong Learning, 8(4), 4-8.
40.
Kim, K., Collins Hagedorn, M., Williamson, J., & Chapman, C. (2004). Participation in adult education and lifelong learning: 2000-01 (NCES 20004-050). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
41.
Kinney, M.B. (1989). Elderhostel: Can it work at your institution. Adult Learning, 1(3), 21-24.
42.
Kreitlow, D.J., & Kreitlow, B.W. (1989). Career after 60: Choices in retirement. Adult Learning, 1(3), 10-13.
43.
Landerholm, E., & Nelson, N.J. (1985). Training Hispanic older adults in childcare work . Lifelong Learning, 8(7), 6-7.
44.
McClusky, H.Y. (1973). Education. Towards a national policy on aging (Final report, Vol. 2, 1971White House Conference on Aging). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
45.
Merriam, S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L. (2007). Learning in adulthood (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
46.
Merriam, S.B., & Mohamad, M. (2000). How cultural values shape learning in older adulthood: The case of Malaysia. Adult Education Quarterly, 51(1), 45-63.
47.
Metropoulos, N.D. (1980). The retirement years: Disengagement or reengagement . Lifelong Learning, 4(4), 12-15.
48.
Morris, C. (1984). Universities of the third age. Adult Education, 57(2), 135-139.
49.
Murray, M.S. (1981). Older adults and reading, the effect of residential lifestyles. Lifelong Learning, 4(5), 17-31.
50.
Narushima, M. (2004). A gaggle of raging grannies: The empowerment of older Canadian women through social activism. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 23(1), 23-42.
51.
Ostwald, S.K., & Williams, H.Y. (1985). Optimizing learning in the elderly: A model. Lifelong Learning, 9(1), 10-13, 17.
52.
Patton, M.Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
53.
Perigo, J. (2006). Getting ready for the second half. Adults Learning, 18(3), 16-17.
54.
Peterson, D.A. (1978). Towards a definition of educational gerontology . In R. H. Sherron & D. B. Lumsden (Eds.), Introduction to educational gerontology (pp. 1-29). New York: Hemisphere .
55.
Peterson, D.A. (1981). Education for the aging. Lifelong Learning, 5(3), 16-19.
56.
Reynolds, J. (1997). Older adults and family learning. Adults Learning, 8(7), 182-183.
57.
Roberson, D.N., Jr. , & Merriam, S.B. (2005). The self-directed learning process of older, rural adults. Adult Education Quarterly , 55(4), 269-287.
58.
Ryan, S. (1985). The open university and older students. Adult Education, 58(3), 241-245.
59.
Schuller, T. (2003). Older learners as a market. Adults Learning, 14(10), 26.
60.
Shea, P., & Tidmarsh, M. (1981). An Anglo-French summer school for elders. Adult Education, 53(6), 367-371.
61.
Stokes, L.C., & Pankowski, M.L. (1988). Incidental learning of aging adults via television. Adult Education Quarterly, 38(2), 88-99.
62.
Street, P. (1982). Luncheon clubs for the elderly. Adult Education, 54(4), 357-360.
63.
Swindell, R. (1997). U3As in Australia and New Zealand: Their value to the wider community, and new directions for future developments. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 16(6), 474-490.
64.
Swindell, R. (2002). U3A online: A virtual university of the third age for isolated older people. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 21(5), 414-429.
65.
Thorndike, E.L., Bregman, E.O., Tilton, J.W., & Woodyard, E. (1928). Adult learning. New York: Macmillan.
66.
Thorson, J.A. (1989). She ain't heavy, she's my mother. Adult Learning, 1(3), 18-20.
67.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (2004). U.S. interim projections by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Retrieved August 27, 2005, from http://www.census.gov/ipc/www./usinterimproj
68.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (2005a). Population 65 years and over in the United States. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0103&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-redoLog=false
69.
U.S. Bureauof the Census. (2005b). School enrollment-social and economic characteristics of students: October 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2007, from http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/school/cps2005/tab01-01.xls
70.
Wacks, Q., Jr. (1989). Life after death in the Elderhostel classroom . Lifelong Learning, 12(5), 23-24, 28.
71.
Walker, I. (1980). The other side of sixty: The need for action. Adult Education, 53(3), 153-158.
72.
Walker, J. (1991). Older women and later life. Adults Learning, 2(7), 209-210.
73.
Walker, J. (1998). Mapping the learning of older adults. Adults Learning, 10(2), 14-16.
74.
Wilkinson, G. (2001). Life begins at 50!Adults Learning , 12(9), 11-13.
75.
Wilkinson, G., & Capener, G. (1997). In praise of older learners. Adults Learning, 8(6), 158-159.
76.
Withnall, A. (2001). Understanding learning styles of older workers . Adults Learning, 13(3), 17-19.
77.
Withnall, A. (2006). Exploring influences on later life learning. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 25(1), 29-49.
78.
Wolf, M.A. (1986). Growth and development with older women religious: An exploration in life review. Lifelong Learning, 9(4), 7-10, 28.
79.
Wolf, M.A. (1992). Older adults and reminiscence in the classroom . Adult Learning, 3(8), 19-21.
80.
Yeo, G. (1982). "Eldergogy": A specialized approach to education for elders. Lifelong Learning, 5(5), 4-7.
