Everything Gets Better with Age: Traditional College-Aged Student Perspectives on Older Adult Auditors in Multigenerational Classrooms

ABSTRACT

As part of a larger mixed-method evaluation of a college-affiliated lifelong learning program, this thematic analysis describes the experiences of traditional college-aged students (n = 61) enrolled in courses with older adult auditors. When professors fostered contact between the generations, students described a favorable classroom experience. Students reported gaining an appreciation for education in older age, transforming personal stereotypes about older adults, and reductions in aging anxiety. Additionally, courses that provided a knowledge base about aging while managing dialogue to ensure that neither students nor auditors monopolized conversation contributed to positive attitudes toward older adult auditors.

KEYWORDS:

• Multigenerational classrooms
• intergeneration learning
• lifelong learning institutes
• attitudes toward older adults
• ageism