Designing Training and Instructional Programs for Older Adults

Covers a broad range of topics that are applicable to today's older adult populations as well as future populations of older people
Addresses both the theoretical and practical aspects of aging, skill acquisition and learning
Includes a discussion of topics such as motivation, training opportunities and age discrimination, and the changing landscape of work, learning and training
Offers unique topics such as e-learning and multimedia formats as well as telework and training
Presents case study examples from a variety of domains including healthcare
Covering theoretical and practical aspects, this book provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-science review of aging, learning, skill acquisition, and training. The text encompasses a broad range of issues relevant to current and future older populations, ranging from theories of learning in adulthood to practical guidelines for training and instructional design. It also addresses issues such as e-learning, multimedia training formats, training and telework, and recent findings regarding cognitive plasticity and cognitive training. The authors present case study examples from a variety of domains, including healthcare, and include discussions of motivation as well as age discrimination.

Introduction
Why is this book important?
Overview of the Contents of the Book

Who are Older Adult Learners
Characteristics of Today's and Tomorrow's older adults (e.g., education, social engagement preferences, health status, employment status, culture/ethnicity)
Age-related changes in sensation and perception
Normative age-related changes in cognition
Aging and memory and cognitive decline

Aging and Learning from a Theoretical Perspective
Brief summary of the theories from a historical perspective
Recent models of aging and learning
Aging and Skill Acquisition
Differentiating learning and skill acquisition
Stages of skill acquisition
Perceptual Motor skills
Verbal skills
Higher Order Cognitive skills (e.g., decision making)
Factors affecting skill acquisition
Motivation
Defining motivation
The importance of motivation to learning
Current theories of motivation
Factors influencing motivation (internal and external)
Aging and motivation

Training and Older Adults
Summary of recent findings
Factors important in training
Performance Assessment and Program Evaluation
Outcome measures (internal and external)
Data collection techniques
Analysis strategies

Models of Instructional Design: Frameworks for Designing Training Programs
Role of models in the design of training programs: Examples of current instructional design models

Guidelines for Designing Training Programs for Older Adults
Task analysis
Person analysis
Practice schedules
Supportive information and learning materials
Training approach
Training demands
Environmental considerations

Exemplar Applications
Work/employment (including telework)
Home health care
Communication
Information seeking (Internet-based)
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Design for Technology-Based Training
E-learning and On-line learning programs
Multi-media formats
The use of Avatars in training
Adaptive Training