A NEW START!
As a continuation of my life long learning [L.L.L.] and as a PhD candidate at The University of the Art London/ CCW School of Graduate Research I am starting this new phase of the blog as a diary which I hope will become, in part, a documentation of my own month to month ageing process.This documentation will be made up of drawn images, some of which will continue the exploration of layering, as well as writings, both in digital and scanned handwritten form. The handwritten text will act as a behavioural observation diary. I will also scan my own photographic image on a once a month basis. I will incorporate all relevant documentation processes in an attempt to give as comprehensive a picture as possible of this autobiographical and auto ethnographic journey.
Also included will be the usual reading lists and abstracts of interesting papers pertinent to my studies in the relationships and connections between ageing [gerontology], the neuroscience of the ageing mind/brain, life long learning as it pertains to seniors and pedagogy, andragogy, heutogogy, and paragogy.
I will also include comments and reviews of various events that I attend from time to time.
So Here Goes !!!!!!
In this first entry I include a quick revised overview and outline of my topic of research:
OUTLINE:
Regarding Seniors
Facts: - re:demographics - size: is the largest demographic segment
- growth: is the fastest growing demographic segment
- re: life long learning - the % of Seniors involved in L.L.L. has been decreasing
- re: social wants and desires - rank very high on hierarchy of wants and desires
- re: mental well being - statistics suggest a growing problem with mental health
- statistics suggest increases in age related dementia and
brain disease
Regarding Neuroscience
Facts: - the mind brain adopts a“use it or lose it”position as it ages, the mind/brain is an
organ that requires exercise as do all other body organs.
- intellectual stimulation provides best mind/brain exercise
- L.L.L. appears to be best form of intellectual stimulation
- an ageing brain- does not necessarily suffer massive cell loss and there are
certain areas of the brain that maintain or gain cells with age and these areas
are neocortical areas that are related to pattern development and recognition
and can be strengthened through constant use and exercise. This phenomena
has been known as wisdom and only comes at the price of age.
- the area of the brain that are affected primarily by dementia and most brain
diseases are subcortical areas.
- many new facts relating to neurological functions and processes and brain
plasticity that are related to how the mind/brain ages
Hypotheses: - the best form of L.L.L. [as mind/brain exercise] is suggested to be the Arts
- the best of the Art is suggested to be Drawing
-.
Regarding Pedagogy
Facts: - review of the historical uses in teaching and learning- pedagogy-andragogy and
heutogogy
Hypotheses: - review the basis of paragogy and it relevance to Seniors learning
Regarding Drawing
Facts:
Hypotheses: - may be evident through study of how senior artists have used drawing
- is all about pattern development and recognition and may involve same areas of
the brain
- artists statements as to the qualities and attributes of drawing correspond to the
social and mental well being needs of Seniors
- presents very low “barriers to entry” , financial, social and psychological and
Conclusion: Curriculum Development specifically aimed at the social wishes and mental health
of Seniors in L.L.L. is needed
That we should consider the Arts to be a Gym for the mind/brain [ the equivalent of
a conventional Gym for the physical body] and that the mind/brain needs constant
exercise much the same as the physical body does to maintain its well being.
My own drawings from nov. and Dec.
My own drawings from nov. and Dec.
A NEW START!
As a continuation of my life long learning [L.L.L.] and as a PhD candidate at The University of the Art London/ CCW School of Graduate Research I am starting this new phase of the blog as a diary which I hope will become, in part, a documentation of my own month to month ageing process.This documentation will be made up of drawn images, some of which will continue the exploration of layering, as well as writings, both in digital and scanned handwritten form. The handwritten text will act as a behavioural observation diary. I will also scan my own photographic image on a once a month basis. I will incorporate all relevant documentation processes in an attempt to give as comprehensive a picture as possible of this autobiographical and auto ethnographic journey.
Also included will be the usual reading lists and abstracts of interesting papers pertinent to my studies in the relationships and connections between ageing [gerontology], the neuroscience of the ageing mind/brain, life long learning as it pertains to seniors and pedagogy, andragogy, heutogogy, and paragogy.
I will also include comments and reviews of various events that I attend from time to time.
So Here Goes !!!!!!
In this first entry I include a quick revised overview and outline of my topic of research:
OUTLINE:
Regarding Seniors
Facts: - re:demographics - size: is the largest demographic segment
- growth: is the fastest growing demographic segment
-
re: life long learning - the % of Seniors involved in L.L.L. has been
decreasing
- re: social wants and desires - rank very high on hierarchy of wants and
desires
-
re: mental well being - statistics suggest a growing problem with mental health
- statistics suggest
increases in age related dementia and
brain disease
Regarding Neuroscience
Facts: - the mind brain adopts a“use it or lose it”position as it ages, the mind/brain is an
organ that requires exercise as do all other body organs.
- intellectual stimulation provides best mind/brain exercise
- L.L.L. appears to be best form of intellectual stimulation
- an ageing brain- does not necessarily suffer massive cell loss and
there are
certain areas of the brain that maintain or gain cells with age and
these areas
are neocortical areas that are related to pattern development and
recognition
and can be strengthened through constant use and exercise. This
phenomena
has been known as wisdom and only comes at the price of age.
- the area of the brain that are affected primarily by dementia and most
brain
diseases are subcortical areas.
-
many new facts relating to neurological
functions and processes and brain
plasticity
that are related to how the mind/brain ages
Hypotheses: - the best form of L.L.L. [as mind/brain exercise] is suggested to be
the Arts
-
the best of the Art is suggested to be Drawing
-.
Regarding Pedagogy
Facts: - review of the historical uses in teaching and learning-
pedagogy-andragogy and
heutogogy
Hypotheses: - review the basis of
paragogy and it relevance to Seniors learning
Regarding Drawing
Facts:
Hypotheses: - may be evident through study of how senior artists have used drawing
- is all about pattern development and recognition and may involve same
areas of
the brain
- artists statements as to the qualities and attributes of drawing
correspond to the
social and mental well being needs of Seniors
- presents very low
“barriers to entry” , financial, social and psychological and
Conclusion: Curriculum Development
specifically aimed at the social wishes and mental health
of Seniors in L.L.L. is needed
That we should consider the Arts to be a Gym for the mind/brain [ the equivalent of
a conventional Gym for the physical body] and that the mind/brain needs constant
exercise much the same as the physical body does to maintain its well being
SELF PHOTOS AND PORTRAITS
