Learning Needs and the Learning Environments of Older People 2006 (SUF edition)

Full edition for scientific use. The aim of this survey is to identify learning processes in the everyday lives of older people and their interrelationships with competence developments. The essential question is, from which everyday conditions do learning processes emerge and how are they stimulated? Under which conditions does successful learning occur and thus the acquisition of competences for a satisfactory organisation of life in old age. This is not only about personal well-being, but also about social integration. The main focus will be on informal learning processes. Initially, learning ideas and learning needs of older people, expectations and strategies will be described. The focus should not only be on current life situations, but also - at least retrospectively - on educational biographies and school experiences. Previous studies on informal learning refer little or not at all to the learning processes of older people. The aim of this survey is to gain more reliable knowledge about learning in everyday life in old age. Since educational institutions only cover a part of learning in old age, the study focuses on the learning processes of older people in the course of their activities and their social contexts in everyday life. The central thesis of the study is that the social environment of older people can be a learning environment, offering a variety of learning opportunities. However, whether the social environment is also designed as a learning environment, whether learning opportunities are sought, perceived and realised, depends on various factors. It depends on the structuring, stimulation and support of the social environment and on the competence and motivation of the individual.

供科研使用的调研完整版。本调研旨在厘清老年人日常生活中的学习活动，及其与能力发展之间的内在关联。核心研究问题包括：学习活动源于哪些日常情境，又受何种因素激发？在何种条件下可实现有效学习，从而掌握助力老年生活妥善安排所需的各项能力？这不仅关乎个体福祉，亦涉及社会融入维度。本次调研的核心聚焦于非正式学习（informal learning）活动。首先将阐述老年人的学习理念、学习需求、期望及学习策略。研究不仅关注当下的生活境遇，还将至少从回溯视角出发，探讨其教育生涯与校园求学体验。既往关于非正式学习的研究，极少或完全未涉及老年人的学习活动。本调研旨在获取有关老年日常生活中学习活动的更可靠研究认知。鉴于教育机构仅能覆盖老年群体的部分学习场景，本研究聚焦于老年人在日常活动与社会情境中开展的学习活动。本研究的核心假设为：老年人所处的社会环境可成为学习场域，提供丰富的学习契机。但该社会环境是否被打造为学习场域，以及学习契机是否被探寻、感知并实现，则取决于多重因素：既取决于社会环境的构建、引导与支持力度，也与个体自身的能力水平及学习动机息息相关。