During the past thirty years several models for lifelong education after retirement have been developed worldwide, one of them being the University of the Third Age (U3A). This study explored the contributions of the U3A to the educational needs of older adults and evaluated the benefits they perceived from their participation in U3A by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation. The latter used a survey to explore the experiences of U3A members of two U 3As and presidents of 68 U3As in Victoria, Australia by means of two different questionnaires. As only 1.47 percent of the over-55 population of Victoria are U3A members, the survey also investigated barriers to U3A participation in general and with special reference to the male population. The findings indicated that member respondents were very satisfied with their U3A experiences which had made substantial differences in their lives. Both male and female respondents saw personal, mental, social, and physical improvement as a result of U3A participation. The majority indicated that participation had improved their intellectual development. Significant differences in the perceptions of male and female participants emerged: female members outnumbered males by three to one. Both the presidents and the members expressed some programmatic concerns, primarily obtaining tutors and classroom availability. The subject areas covered by courses presented were extensive. There was a difference in the subjects desired by males and female respondents; very few courses are offered in science and economics. Some barriers to participation identified are a lack of awareness of U3A, the stereotypical attitudinal barrier of `I am too old' and negative past educational experiences. Moreover, U3As should increase marketing endeavours. Although most U3As advertise, almost a third of the respondents indicated that they would have joined earlier if aware of U3As. A contributing factor appears to be a virtual lack of research and information provided in educational academic journals and other media about lifelong education after retirement. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for future research and for improved practice in the U3A environment as a means to enhance the quality of life for older adults. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Comparative Education)

During the past thirty years several models for lifelong education after retirement have been developed worldwide, one of them being the University of the Third Age (U3A). This study explored the contributions of the U3A to the educational needs of older adults and evaluated the benefits they perceived from their participation in U3A by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation. The latter used a survey to explore the experiences of U3A members of two U 3As and presidents of 68 U3As in Victoria, Australia by means of two different questionnaires. As only 1.47 percent of the over-55 population of Victoria are U3A members, the survey also investigated barriers to U3A participation in general and with special reference to the male population. The findings indicated that member respondents were very satisfied with their U3A experiences which had made substantial differences in their lives. Both male and female respondents saw personal, mental, social, and physical improvement as a result of U3A participation. The majority indicated that participation had improved their intellectual development. Significant differences in the perceptions of male and female participants emerged: female members outnumbered males by three to one. Both the presidents and the members expressed some programmatic concerns, primarily obtaining tutors and classroom availability. The subject areas covered by courses presented were extensive. There was a difference in the subjects desired by males and female respondents; very few courses are offered in science and economics. Some barriers to participation identified are a lack of awareness of U3A, the stereotypical attitudinal barrier of `I am too old' and negative past educational experiences. Moreover, U3As should increase marketing endeavours. Although most U3As advertise, almost a third of the respondents indicated that they would have joined earlier if aware of U3As. A contributing factor appears to be a virtual lack of research and information provided in educational academic journals and other media about lifelong education after retirement. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for future research and for improved practice in the U3A environment as a means to enhance the quality of life for older adults. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Comparative Education)

The thesis deals with the importance of modern information communication technologies (ICT) in the lives of active seniors. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with biological, psychological and social topics of aging as the basic demarcation of the present conception of the old age issue. It follows up the information and computer literacy, the methods and forms of the education of seniors considering the acquisition of knowledge and skills within using modern means of communication. In the practical part of the thesis the quantitative research has been interpreted, the goal of which was to find out the importance of ICT for active seniors, the frequency and the rate of using means of technology. At the end of the thesis there are the results of the research discussed how they influence the quality of life of active seniors and as possible forms of communication for informing seniors about cultural events and their acquisition in social life.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:24:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elizabeth Thomaz Pereira.pdf: 1559562 bytes, checksum: bbe7b4751a3397bcc26569d1702ba6e4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research aims to describe and interpret the phenomenon of learning for mature adults and elderly students in two Open University of The Third Age of São Paulo State. The purpose was to collect subsidies to be used in educating teachers for instructional contexts which aim at developing practices focused on education for that age group, providing the elderlies not only with integral development, but also equal opportunities and social inclusion. The relevance of this work is primarily, the worldwide growth interest in the social life of the elderly. This research discussed the increase in longevity in the world (Frias, 1998; Goldman, 2001; Kalache and Kickbusch, 1997; Veras, 1995), Gerontology (Cachioni, 2003; Hayflick, 1996; Neri, 1995; Papaléo Netto, 1996), Education (Canary, 2000; Case, 2000; Delors et al., 1999, Freire, 1996; Giubilei, 1993, Lima, 2001, Rogers, 1969; Sobral, 2001, Vygotsky, 1978), The Open Universities of The Third Age (Jordan Neto, 2001; Martins de Sá, 1991; Vella, 1997) and teacher education (Kenski, 2001, Monteiro, 2000, Moraes, 1997; Perrenoud, 2002) for those who are aging. To carry out the research, I used the hermeneutic-phenomenological approach (van Manen, 1990; Freire, 2007); including researching on interpretations of learning from students and teachers, mature adults and elderly, on this phase of their lives. In addition, this research tried to show what the nature of learning in old age in two Open Universities is. The gathered texts consisted of sixteen transcribed interviews with students and teachers, mature adults and elderly of two open universities. From the descriptions and interpretations of the experiences of these individuals, it was possible to identify the nature of the phenomenon. However, it should be emphasized that, throughout the interpretation process, the texts collected indicated that, against the initial intention, the target phenomenon was, in fact, the search in The Open University by senior citizens. When I reached the essence of the phenomenon, I identified the themes that structured this search, which are learning, welfare, pastime and relationships. These themes can be used as a basis for further researches. They can be and should continue being the prime objective of those who work or will work at institutions in which there are people from an age segment that most grows in the society we live / Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo descrever e interpretar o fenômeno do aprender para os alunos adultos maduros e idosos de duas Universidades Abertas da Terceira Idade de São Paulo. A finalidade foi coletar subsídios para serem utilizados na formação de professores para contextos instrucionais, que visam à formação de práticas voltadas à educação dessa faixa etária, proporcionando-lhes não só desenvolvimento integral, mas também oportunidades igualitárias e inclusão social. A relevância deste trabalho devese, principalmente, ao crescente interesse mundial pela longevidade e pela inserção social do idoso. Foi discutido o aumento da longevidade no mundo (Frias, 1998; Goldman, 2001; Kalache e Kickbusch, 1997; Veras, 1995), a Gerontologia (Cachioni, 2003; Hayflick, 1996; Neri, 1995; Papaléo Netto, 1996), a educação (Canário, 2000; Case, 2000; Delors et al., 1999; Freire, 1996; Giubilei, 1993; Lima, 2001; Rogers, 1969; Sobral, 2001; Vygotsky, 1978), as universidades abertas da terceira idade (Jordão Neto, 2001; Martins de Sá, 1991; Vellas, 1997) e a formação de professores (Kenski, 2001; Monteiro, 2000; Moraes, 1997; Perrenoud, 2002) para aqueles que estão envelhecendo. Para operacionalizar a pesquisa, foi utilizada a orientação metodológica Hermenêutico-Fenomenológica (van Manen, 1990; Freire, 2007), buscando: que interpretações alunos e professores, adultos maduros e idosos, de duas universidades abertas da terceira idade têm sobre o aprender nessa fase da vida e qual a natureza do aprender na terceira idade na universidade aberta. Os textos coletados foram constituídos de entrevistas transcritas com dezesseis alunos e professores, adultos maduros e idosos, de duas universidades abertas. A partir das descrições e das interpretações das experiências vividas por esses sujeitos, foi possível identificar a natureza do fenômeno em estudo. Durante o processo de interpretação, contudo, os textos coletados revelaram que, contrariamente ao enfoque inicial, o fenômeno em foco era, de fato, a busca na terceira idade na universidade aberta. Ao chegar à essência do fenômeno, consegui identificar os temas que estruturam essa busca, que são: aprendizagem, bem-estar, ocupação e relações. Esses temas, além de servirem de base para pesquisas posteriores, podem e devem continuar sendo o objetivo maior daqueles que trabalham ou venham a trabalhar em instituições, com o segmento etário que mais cresce na sociedade em que vivemos

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:27:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sonia Brasi Cruz.pdf: 428296 bytes, checksum: c40bbceb5bca69084826a46ee8b75d38 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-08-29 / Promoting subjective well-being is one of the issues of psychological science. The increase of longevity has made the development of studies about aging necessary, in order to understand this part of the population that is increasing all over the world. This research had the objective of investigating the factors which are responsible for subjective well-being that are pointed out in literature, from the point of view of participants who attend and who do not attend the university for the third age. The sample was composed by 92 participants, divided into two groups: 54 attended the university for the third age and 38 did not, and in this last group 15 were from a socio-recreational club and 23 from a catholic church. In each group two age spans have been considered: (a) from 41 to 60 years old; (b) from 61 to 80 years old and above. In the group that attended the university for the third age we had 96% of females, 65% of married people and 25% of widowed people; 55 % had finished elementary school, 53% were housewives and 95% were catholic. On the other hand, in the group that didn t attend the university for the third age, 64% were females and 36% males, 97% were married and there was no widow or widower, 45 % had finished college, 35% had a profession and 90% were catholic. We made use of a subjective well-being scale, elaborated for this study, which was composed of 36 items that investigate 6 areas: Life Fulfillment/ Happiness, Extroversion, Persistency/ Establishment of goals, Social Support/ Contact, Physical Health and Optimism, plus three extra open questions. Through variance analysis differences were found out with respect to the area of Health (favorable to the younger age span), Life Fulfillment/ Happiness (favorable to the group that didn t attend the university for the third age), school level (college educated participants presented higher scores) and in two areas of the scale when club vs. church participants were confronted. Positive correlation was found between all areas investigated by the scale in the group that attend the university for the third age. The analysis of the open questions revealed the importance of family, social and personal characteristics in subjective well-being. Attendance to the university for the third age was noted as a powerful factor to give a new sense to life. Other reasons to attend the university for the third age were: increasing social contact and learning new things. Data were also found that suggest the importance of two factors that have not been dealt with in this study: religion and widowhood. Attempting to better understand subjective well-being and ways to reach it should be a part of the studies dedicated to quality of life in adults and elderly people. / Promover o bem-estar subjetivo ? uma das preocupa??es da ci?ncia psicol?gica. Com o aumento da longevidade, estudos sobre o envelhecimento se fazem necess?rios para a compreens?o desta parcela da popula??o que est? aumentando no mundo todo. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os fatores respons?veis pelo bem-estar subjetivo, apontados pela literatura, na vis?o de participantes que freq?entam e que n?o freq?entam a universidade para a terceira idade. A amostra foi composta de 92 participantes, divididos em 2 grupos: 54 freq?entavam a universidade para a terceira idade e 38 n?o, sendo que, destes ?ltimos, 15 pertenciam a um clube s?cio-recreativo e 23 a uma Igreja Cat?lica. Em cada grupo foram consideradas duas faixas et?rias: (a) de 41 a 60 anos; (b) de 61 a 80 anos e mais. No grupo que freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade tivemos 96% do sexo feminino, 65% casados e 25% vi?vos; 55% terminaram o 1? grau, 53% do lar e 95% eram cat?licos. Em contrapartida, no grupo que n?o freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade 64% eram do sexo feminino e 36% do sexo masculino; 97% casados, n?o sendo encontrados vi?vos; 45% terminaram um curso superior, 35% tinham uma profiss?o e 90% eram cat?licos. Foi utilizada uma Escala de bem-estar subjetivo, constru?da para este estudo, composta de 36 itens que investigam 6 ?reas: Satisfa??o com a vida / Felicidade, Extrovers?o, Persist?ncia / Estabelecimento de metas, Apoio/Contato Social, Sa?de f?sica e Otimismo, al?m de 3 quest?es abertas. Atrav?s da an?lise de vari?ncia foram encontradas diferen?as em rela??o ? ?rea Sa?de (favor?vel ? faixa et?ria mais nova), Satisfa??o com a vida/Felicidade (favor?vel ao grupo que n?o freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade), n?vel de escolaridade (escolaridade superior apresentou m?dias mais altas) e em duas ?reas da escala (quando foram comparados os participantes de clube x igreja). Foi encontrada correla??o positiva entre todas as ?reas investigadas pela escala, no grupo que freq?enta a universidade para a terceira idade. A an?lise das quest?es abertas revelou a import?ncia de caracter?sticas pessoais, sociais e familiares no bem-estar subjetivo. A freq??ncia ? universidade para a terceira idade foi apontada como poderoso fator para se dar um novo significado ? vida. Outros motivos apontados para freq?entar a universidade: ampliar o contato social e aprender coisas novas. Tamb?m foram encontrados dados que sugerem a import?ncia de dois fatores n?o investigados neste estudo: religi?o e viuvez. Buscar compreender melhor o bem-estar subjetivo e maneiras de alcan??-lo devem fazer parte dos estudos dedicados ? qualidade de vida nos adultos e idosos.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Odila Weigand.pdf: 1845061 bytes, checksum: ec8f3a6a9ad23bd2662db8fa5b42b0e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-05-19 / The purpose of this study was to deepen and update the concept of grounding in Bioenergetic Analysis. This approach combines fundamental principles of psychoanalysis with direct work on the organism, seen from the viewpoint of its emotional, energetic and relational development. Both paradigms of psychoanalysis, pulsion and object-relations, were studied within the context of the historical development of Bioenergetics Analysis, in terms of their influence on the theory as well as on the practice. Brazilian Bioenergetic Analysis therapists have been building their own identity over the last 25 years. This should not be seen as a split from Alexander Lowen's ideas, as it actually means a differentiation born out of those therapists maturity. The integration of the object-relations paradigm, indicates the pathway for a model of psychotherapy which associates the construction of functional and integrative internal organizations with the phase, in psychotherapy, of dismantling repressive and defensive structures. In this study, a group of third-age women participated in Bioenergetics exercise classes for a period of four months. This research may be considered a social project with the objective of demonstrating an application of Bioenergetic Analysis that would preserve its healing potential, at the same time respecting the principles of intersubjectivity, of social inclusion, citizenship and ethics, and also that would be compatible with Brazilian social reality. The work with the group was conducted intending to create resources that might make possible for chronic primary defenses gradually to become unnecessary. Body work and level of excitation were adequated to the developmental level and physical possibilities of the participants. The changes observed in the group were verified by the subjective observation of the coordinators, as well as by verbal manifestations of participants, and by the analysis of the HTP test. In short, those verified changes were: improvement in vitality and flexibility, self-perception, social contact, increased maturity and ego strength, along with possible emergence of unconscious pulsional and traumatic contents. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi aprofundar e atualizar o conceito do grounding na Análise Bioenergética. Esta abordagem combina os princípios fundamentais da psicanálise com o trabalho direto no organismo visto do ponto de vista do seu desenvolvimento energético, emocional e relacional. Os dois paradigmas da psicanálise, pulsional e objetal, foram discutidos no contexto da evolução histórica da Análise Bioenergética, em termos de suas influências na teoria e na prática. Os terapeutas brasileiros vêm criando uma identidade própria ao longo dos últimos 25 anos. Não se trata de uma cisão em relação às idéias de Alexander Lowen, mas de uma diferenciação resultante do amadurecimento dos mesmos. A introdução do paradigma objetal indica o caminho para um modelo de psicoterapia no qual se agregam a construção de organizações internas funcionais e integradoras e a fase de desmonte das estruturas repressivas e defensivas. Neste estudo, mulheres da terceira idade participaram de um grupo de exercícios de Análise Bioenergética por um período de quatro meses. A pesquisa pode ser considerada um projeto social, com o objetivo de demonstrar uma aplicação da Análise Bioenergética que preservasse seu potencial curativo, ao mesmo tempo respeitando princípios de intersubjetividade, inclusão social, cidadania e ética, e também fosse compatível com a realidade social brasileira. O trabalho com este grupo foi conduzido com a intenção de criar recursos para que as defesas primitivas crônicas pudessem tornar-se gradualmente desnecessárias. Trabalhou-se corporalmente com níveis de excitação e técnicas adequadas ao estágio de desenvolvimento e capacidade física das participantes. As mudanças ocorridas no grupo foram constatadas por observação subjetiva das coordenadoras, por manifestações verbalizadas pelas participantes e pela análise do teste HTP. Em síntese caracterizam-se essas mudanças como: melhora na vitalidade e flexibilidade, na auto-percepção, no contato social, maior maturidade, fortalecimento do ego e possibilidade de emergência de conteúdos pulsionais e traumáticos inconscientes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:22:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vania Ramos.pdf: 2252683 bytes, checksum: d64a3977a0e69b9444f228db5cbdc3df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis focuses primarily on the following items: different visions on aging, an analysis of the historical path of the so called open universities of the Third Age (U3A) in order to bring them into the context of the universities located in the city of São Paulo; a qualitative research was developed, based on an analytical study on two distinctive projects for universities for the elderly in the city of São Paulo (the Open University of the third age of USP Universidade de São Paulo and the University for the elderly of PUC / SP Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo), applying questionnaires and personal interviews with some students from these universities. The next chapter develops an analysis based on these students answers and statements. Finally, the discovery of a new form of ageing, a lifestyle for the elderly that we envision as innovative / O percurso do olhar atento deste trabalho passará pelas seguintes etapas: diferentes visões do envelhecimento; análise da trajetória histórica das universidades da terceira idade visando contextualizá-las no ambiente das universidades paulistanas; elaboramos uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo descritivo-analítico dos projetos de duas Universidades abertas à Terceira Idade da cidade de São Paulo, (Universidade aberta `a Terceira Idade da USP e a Universidade aberta `a Maturidade da PUC/SP), através da aplicação de questionários e entrevistas feitas com alunos das universidades citadas, desenvolvendo uma análise do discurso destes estudantes em relação aos diferentes tipos de sociabilidade encontrados nestes espaços escolares e, finalmente, na conclusão, descobrimos uma nova forma de envelhecer, um modo de vida que enxergamos como inovador

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:56:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vania Ramos.pdf: 2252683 bytes, checksum: d64a3977a0e69b9444f228db5cbdc3df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis focuses primarily on the following items: different visions on aging, an analysis of the historical path of the so called open universities of the Third Age (U3A) in order to bring them into the context of the universities located in the city of São Paulo; a qualitative research was developed, based on an analytical study on two distinctive projects for universities for the elderly in the city of São Paulo (the Open University of the third age of USP Universidade de São Paulo and the University for the elderly of PUC / SP Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo), applying questionnaires and personal interviews with some students from these universities. The next chapter develops an analysis based on these students answers and statements. Finally, the discovery of a new form of ageing, a lifestyle for the elderly that we envision as innovative / O percurso do olhar atento deste trabalho passará pelas seguintes etapas: diferentes visões do envelhecimento; análise da trajetória histórica das universidades da terceira idade visando contextualizá-las no ambiente das universidades paulistanas; elaboramos uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo descritivo-analítico dos projetos de duas Universidades abertas à Terceira Idade da cidade de São Paulo, (Universidade aberta `a Terceira Idade da USP e a Universidade aberta `a Maturidade da PUC/SP), através da aplicação de questionários e entrevistas feitas com alunos das universidades citadas, desenvolvendo uma análise do discurso destes estudantes em relação aos diferentes tipos de sociabilidade encontrados nestes espaços escolares e, finalmente, na conclusão, descobrimos uma nova forma de envelhecer, um modo de vida que enxergamos como inovador

The thesis deals with the topic of Activation and education programmes for seniors in the region of Karlovy Vary. The topic is divided here into two parts. The first, theoretical part deals with the old age as a biopsychosocial problem, i.e. it evaluates the demography of old age, the concept of healthy ageing, it deals with medical and social geriatric diagnostics and, above all, with individual activation programmes, their creation and principles, importance and practical application. The work especially includes education programmes, it describes their particularities and use, as well as their teaching at colleges in the region of Karlovy Vary. The second, research part consists of the determining of hypotheses, the aim of the work, and the methodology of the research. I have chosen the quantitative method of research by which three questionnaires were assessed: for respondents living in old people´s homes, for respondents living at home and for professional workers dealing with activation and education programmes in old people´s homes. Further a comparative analysis of the questionnaire for respondents living in old people´s homes as well as those living at home was carried out. The subject of this analysis are the questions of the same aim and their statistic compiling. All the data are compiled with the help of charts, tables and statistic programme SPSS. The most important is the testing of the hypothesis concerning the knowledgeability of respondents about activation and education programmes and related participation in such programmes, and further hypotheses inquiring whether professional workers (course lectors) have enough information on the entire spectrum of these programmes. The discussion is directed at the evaluation of the research targets, practical implementation of knowledge into practice, and especially at additional new facts, which I revealed during the research itself and during the statistic compiling of data. It is possible to say that the respondents must have information on the importance of activation and education programmes, on their taking place and the conditions of participation. Alike the professional staff holding or lecturing them should be professionally trained in courses. Thus the programmes will reach the desirable quality and their importance for the society will be significantly higher.

Thesis deals offering leisure activities for seniors in České Budějovice and their use. First, the author deals with basic concepts of the topic, defines terms of age and aging and discusses the problems that this entails. She also describes the social aspects and shows the negative demographic development of aging in EU countries and the Czech Republic. In the research concludes that in the sample seniors living in the Czech Budejovice is the most active group of seniors visiting the University of the Third Age, while the group home for elderly people spend their time differently from other groups, perhaps related to the fact that life in a constitutional device is specific and different