The focus of this paper is the problem of designing educational systems for the aged so as to maximize their potential for success. Relevant geropsychological literature is briefly summarized. It is proposed that complex changes in working memory occur with advanced age; and that by understanding the nature of these changes, educational materials can be designed which properly bring to the fore concepts, refresh memory, and guide the comprehension process. In this way, the aged are more likely to maintain their performance and to acquire new skills, to the benefit of society.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BurkeD. M. and LightL. L., Memory and Aging: The Role of Retrieval Processes, Psychological Bulletin, 90:3, pp. 513–546, 1981.
2.
CraikF. I. M., Age Differences in Human Memory, in Handbook of the Psychology of Aging, BirrenJ. E. and SchaieK. W., (eds.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1977.
3.
CohenG., Language Comprehension in Old Age, Cognitive Psychology, 11, pp. 412–429, 1979.
4.
CohenG., Inferential Reasoning in Old Age, Cognition, 9, pp. 59–72, 1981.
5.
GlynnS. M. and MuthK. D., Text Learning Capabilities of Older Adults, Educational Gerontology, 4, pp. 253–269, 1979.
6.
JeromeE. A., Decay of Heuristic Processes in the Aged, in Social and Psychological Aspects of Aging, TibbetsC. and DonahueW., (eds.), Columbia University Press, New York, 1962.
7.
MongeR. H. and GardnerE. F., Education as an Aid to Adaptation in the Adult Years, in The Developing Individual in a Changing World: Social and Environmental Issues, 2, RiegelK. F. and MeechamJ. A., (eds.), Mouton, The Hague, 1976.
8.
SpilichG. J. and VossJ. F., Contextual Effexts Upon Text Memory for Young, Aged-Normal, and Aged Memory-Impaired Individuals, Experimental Aging Research, 9:1, pp. 45–49, 1983.
9.
SpilichG. J., Life-Span Components of Text-Processing: Structural and Procedural Changes, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 22, pp. 231–244, 1983.
10.
BrowningG. B. and SpilichG. J., Some Important Methodological Issues in the Study of Aging and Cognition, Experimental Aging Research, 7:2, pp. 175–187, 1981.
11.
KintschW. and van DijkT. A., Toward a Model of Text Comprehension and Production, Psychological Review, 85:5, pp. 363–394, 1978.
12.
ChandlerJ. P., STEPIT Program 90PE66, Quantum Chemistry Program Exchange, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1965.
13.
KintschW., The Representation of Meaning in Memory, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1974.
14.
SpilichG. J.VesonderG. T.ChiesiH. L., and VossJ. F., Text Processing of Domain-Related Information for Individuals with High and Low Domain Knowledge, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 18, pp. 275–290, 1979.
15.
ChiesiH. L.SpilichG. J., and VossJ. F., Acquisition of Domain-Related Information in Relation to High and Low Domain Knowledge, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 18, pp. 257–274, 1979.
16.
KintschW. and VipondD., Reading Comprehension and Readability in Educational Practice and Psychological Theory, in Memory: Processes and Problems, NilssonL. G., (ed.), Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1978.
17.
VipondD., Micro- and Macro-Processes in Text Comprehension, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 19, pp. 276–296, 1980.
