Sketches in Cyberspace: Using Student Drawings of Elders in an Online Social Gerontology Course

Abstract

Much of the literature on teaching gerontology derives from experiences in face-to-face settings. There is limited discussion of either the applicability of teaching techniques drawn from the traditional setting to the online environment or the development of novel strategies to engage distance students of aging. We developed and assessed an exercise designed to stimulate an online, asynchronous discussion of ageism in a Web-based social gerontology course. The exercise required students to analyze patterns found in sketches of elders drawn by themselves and their peers. The activity, which was favorably evaluated by our students, provided a springboard for discussion of the origins and consequences of ageism, as well as issues at the intersection of gender and age inequality.

Visual perceptions of ageing; A longitudinal mixed methods study of UK undergraduate student nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards older people

“…The current study add further insights about how older people are emotionally portrayed, more participants drew older people as happy and supports a more favourable understanding (Barrett & Cantwell, 2007;Barrett & Pai, 2008;Lichtenstein et al, 2005;Roberts et al, 2003). The high percentage of people drawn smiling can be equated to Palmore's (1990) positive stereotype 'happiness' and Dyer's (1982) representation of manner through expression (emotion).…”

“…The last section of the questionnaire asked the participants to draw a person aged 75 years, chosen to reflect the third age. Drawings can be used to articulate concepts (perceptions) that may not be verbalised (Rose, 2016) and drawing older people may identify implicit stereotypes better (Barrett & Pai, 2008). Disadvantages of drawings include participant ability, the images innocence and how and interpretation occurs (Rose, 2016).…”

“…Negative stereotypes include older people being perceived as bad tempered, grumpy, isolated, useless and experiencing physical and mental decline. Positive stereotypes were being perfect grandparents, kind, dependable, happy, having freedom and eternal youth (Barrett & Pai, 2008;Blaine, 2013;Palmore 1990). Common cultural and social stereotypes also exist about what older people do these include walking, cooking and specific social activities (Lichenstein et al, 2005), however little is understood in a nurse context and how these impact on nurse education.…”

Perspectives on Aging among Graduate Social Work Students: Using Photographs as an Online Pedagogical Activity

“…Only one article was identified that was related to gerontology, employed an arts-based pedagogical technique, and used the activity in an online course (sociology of aging). This study sought to explore students' aging beliefs and the intersection of gender and age through drawings of older adults, which were generated by current and previous students (Barrett & Pai, 2008). Students analyzed patterns found in the sketches and then participated in asynchronous online discussion, which generated a conversation around ageism and the intersectionality.…”

Social Work Students’ Perceptions of Ageing

“…Negative attributes include being grumpy, impaired (physically and mentally), isolated, ill, useless and in poverty. Positive attributes include being grandparents, kind, dependable, happy, freedom, and eternal youth (Barrett and Pai, 2008;Blaine, 2013;Palmore 1990). By the nature of their role and tasks, social workers need to reframe some perspectives through which older people have been socially constructed and stereotyped and need to take a wider perspective to understand the diversity of ageing in terms of gender, class, sexual orientation, ethnicity and to view experiences in later life in a more positive light.…”