Approaching global aging from three unique perspectives
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
In this symposium, sponsored by AGHE’s Academic Program Development Committee, three faculty members will share their strategies for incorporating information about global aging into their teaching, research, and service activities. Tina Kruger will tell about her experiences leading a short-term study abroad experience in Finland. She will share strategies for setting up the course, recruiting students, and obtaining funding for the trip as well as explaining the impact of the experience on the gerontology program she coordinates at Indiana State University. José R. Carrión-Baralt, a faculty member at the University of Puerto Rico, will then share how the local research he leads his students to conduct increases their awareness of global differences in aging. Because most research underlying extant Gerontological theory is conducted in developed nations, local research on aging in Puerto Rico provides students with an understanding of how people in non-North American or European countries differ from what is portrayed as “the norm”. Finally, Christine Fruhauf will share her experience as a Fulbrighter in 2006 in Hungary, where she examined the culture/language and learned about healthcare and aging, information she has since shared with students in her perspectives in gerontology course. Her presentation will include information about how academics can turn their international experiences into creative classroom projects/teaching opportunities for their students. She will then give information about Fulbright opportunities and provide helpful hints about applying for a Fulbright. Rona Karasik will serve as the discussant in this symposium and will synthesize these presentations. This symposium will help attendees identify different means of increasing personal awareness of international aging issues and strategies for exposing students in aging courses to such content. In addition, these presentations will include information about research and service experiences that translate into better-informed teaching and gerontology program development.
