Abstract
Designing class activities that enable students to interact with older adults in meaningful ways is one of the most powerful tools of undergraduate gerontological education. This chapter describes the benefits of participating in intergenerational discussion groups for undergraduate students and older adults. Throughout the semester, older adults attended four to five Introduction to Gerontology class sessions, where together with the undergraduate students they participated in thought provoking dialogs about current gerontological issues. The goal was for older adults and college students alike to gain knowledge, improve problem solving skills, and question their own belief systems. After participating in the discussion groups, the undergraduate students indicated that they had an increased understanding of older adults. Further, older adults’ self-report questionnaires and focus group participation indicated that attending the groups helped them feel mentally sharp and more knowledgeable about aging. Benefits for both generations will be discussed.
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Cichy, K.E., Smith, G.C. (2011). Closing the Generation Gap: Using Discussion Groups to Benefit Older Adults and College Students. In: Hartman-Stein, P., LaRue, A. (eds) Enhancing Cognitive Fitness in Adults. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0636-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0636-6_8
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