Greetings from the NRC........................ September 2024 | |
Nearly every Osher Institute engages in some form of intergenerational activity with undergraduate and graduate students on their local campuses. It makes perfect sense for students and OLLI members to mix. Proximity typically makes interactions convenient. There’s curiosity by both generations on how the other sees and is experiencing life. And there’s certainly wisdom to share in both directions. Have you ever asked your kids or grandkids to help you with technology? Or what is going on culturally or politically with their friends? There’s plenty our older generation needs to learn from them, too.
Intergenerational exchanges not only bridge intellectual gaps, but they also form important interpersonal connections. Research in social isolation and loneliness points to higher incidence of both in the younger and older generations, while those in the middle are less likely to experience it. Maybe that’s the appeal here: the leap in generations removes some of the parent/child biases many of us hold and opens less judgmental and more vulnerable dialog that’s hard to achieve otherwise.
This month’s newsletter features three examples of intergenerational work at Osher Institutes from California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Each effort evolved over time and flourishes in its current form. But this sort of work doesn’t need to be big or complex. It can be small, short term, and even casual. Are there campus causes that need volunteers? Is there a speech-communications instructor who needs people for students to practice interviewing skills? Is there a campus ESL group that could use added help in English conversation groups? Starting small and trying things out is often best.
We hope you are inspired by these examples, and they help you consider how your OLLI – or you personally – can engage with younger students this fall.
The Osher NRC team sends all best wishes for your coming OLLI terms,
| | |
|
OLLI AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON
Scholarships Awarded to Gerontology Students
| |
Photo Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton | |
|
Each year, OLLI at California State University Fullerton (CSUF) awards three scholarships to promising students in the University’s Gerontology Program. Two undergraduate and one graduate scholarship were awarded this year to students pursuing a degree or minor in the gerontology or aging studies division. The scholarships are fully funded by OLLI member contributions and indicate the value the Institute and its members place on the recipient’s scholastic work and for their program which ultimately serves older adults throughout Orange County and California.
“OLLI at CSUF is proud to support these three amazing and resilient students in their academic, research, and personal pursuits. We are excited for their current and future successes,” noted OLLI executive director Daisy Thomas.
This year, two of the awardees are first generation college students, and the other a transfer student and the daughter of immigrants to the US. Each of the high achieving students was awarded a $1,500 scholarship by OLLI. Each of them has a compelling personal story that has led them to an interest in working with older adults in their future careers.
Excerpted from the CSUF News article by Debbie Vengco. Read the full article and student's observations on their field and personal stories here.
| | |
|
OLLI AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Paving the Way For Intergenerational Activities
| |
|
What do you get when you combine a passionate OLLI volunteer, a renowned faculty member, a panel of wise OLLI members, and a classroom of undergrads? Magic.
OLLI at Northwestern University found this magic when they engaged OLLI volunteer, Tom Harrison, in creating meaningful intergenerational experiences.
Tom, a partially retired marketing executive, had been an OLLI member for only a year when the OLLI director recognized him as a talented new member and used this opportunity to engage Tom – not to ask him to join a committee, but to have a conversation about his interests, skills, and passions. Turns out, Tom has a real interest in the powerful impacts of intergenerational experiences.
With OLLI members and undergrads on the same campus, Tom knew there was intergenerational opportunity. So, he started reaching out to university faculty, explaining his ideas for intergenerational interaction. Unfortunately, his cold connections didn’t produce much response, but he just needed to open one door – just one, and others would follow.
Dan McAdams (pictured above), Professor of Psychology and Professor of Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University, was intrigued enough to answer Tom’s email and agree to meet. As one of the nation’s foremost researchers in the field of narrative psychology and author of nearly 300 scientific articles and chapters and eight books, Dan is kind of a big deal! Tom convinced Dan that he would not regret working with OLLI members, so Dan agreed to give it a try.
Dan was teaching an undergraduate course on the Art and Science of Aging. Four OLLI members observed the course for the entire semester and then participated in a panel discussion on the topic of wisdom. Members talked about their life experiences in the domain of wisdom, and even a few experiences that could be considered the opposite of wisdom – things they might have done differently. The students couldn’t get enough. The panel discussion ran long and students were still raising their hands with questions. The unsolicited feedback from students was uniformly positive and very enthusiastic.
Now Tom is sharing this story with other faculty so he can replicate the success. Opening this one important door and gaining Dan’s endorsement are paving the way.
Contributed by: OLLI at Northwestern University
| | |
|
INNOVATIVE COURSES AND CONTENT DELIVERY
Curriculum Corner
| |
OLLI members Glenn Young, Anita Barlett, and Norma Shue, share poems with Dayana Contreras Martinez, a Penn State York student, during a similar intergenerational course, “Development Through Adulthood.” | |
|
The Pennsylvania State University
"Adult Development & Aging"
Course Length: 10 Weeks (three sessions per week)
Course Instructor: Dr. Kristopher Struckmeyer is an assistant teaching professor at Penn State. Prior to joining Penn State, he spent two years as the adult development and aging specialist for Oklahoma Cooperative Extension, educating the county educators and the public at large about pressing aging issues.
Course Delivery: In-person, intergenerational undergraduate class
Course Description:
This course provides a basic introduction to concepts, theoretical perspectives, and key empirical studies on adult development and aging. Students will become familiar with key developmental trends and challenges that must be addressed to achieve healthy growth and development throughout adulthood and late life. The course addresses changes in physical health, cognition, and psychosocial functioning (including mental health, social roles and relationships, and transitions in work and retirement); and the implications of these changes for issues such as risk of disability, dementia, caregiving, and end-of-life decisions. This course is a traditional lecture-based course with some interactive and discussion activities.
Of Note:
Some of Penn State undergraduate courses are provided in partnership with Penn State’s academic colleges to offer undergraduate and graduate courses to the OLLI community. This course offers intergenerational opportunities, as OLLI members share their experiences with students studying adult development. OLLI members interact with both students and faculty as an aging expert. They share their life experiences and perspectives on being an aging adult with those who are learning what that means.
| |
|
QUICK TIPS FOR HELPING OPERATE AN OSHER INSTITUTE
Quick Tip - Members are Your Greatest Voice
| |
|
Osher Institute members are a powerful mechanism for recruiting new members - word of mouth and personal testimonials can make a big impact. Testimonials such as the one below from OLLI at University of Michigan Vice President, Bernadette Beach can be used in all types of marketing pieces.
"Recently, I traveled to Washington DC and New York City, where I was struck by the vibrant presence of older adults volunteering at art museums and theaters. Their energy and enthusiasm were contagious. During my visit, I had the pleasure of speaking with several of these dedicated individuals, many of whom had been volunteering for years. Their stories were not only inspiring but also highlighted the rejuvenating power of giving back to the community.
There are numerous reasons to consider volunteering, including the enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This has certainly been my experience as a volunteer with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Michigan.
My journey with OLLI began with attending lectures and study groups for a year. The experience was so engaging and fueled my curiosity for lifelong learning that I decided to take a more active role. Drawing on my 50 years of experience as a nurse, I developed and facilitated a class on stress management, specifically tailored for OLLI participants. This opportunity not only allowed me to share my expertise but also to build new friendships and become part of a vibrant community.
Volunteering, whether at a museum, theater, or educational institute like OLLI, offers countless benefits. It keeps us active, engaged, and connected. It's never too late to start, and the rewards are immeasurable."
| | |
|
CAREER OPENINGS IN THE OLLI NETWORK
Job Board
| |
National Resource Center for Osher Institutes, Northwestern University
Wieboldt Hall, Sixth Floor, 339 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
| |
| | | |
