Zróżnicowane podejścia do pracy edukacyjnej z seniorami: Perspektywa instruktorów
Diverse Approaches to Educational Work with Seniors: Instructors’ Perspectives

Summary/Abstract: Non-formal education for older adults in Poland is developing under conditions of limited programmatic guidelines, which fosters considerable diversity in the educational offerings delivered by instructors across different types of institutions. Despite growing interest in this field, knowledge about the forms and ways in which educational activities are conducted remains fragmented. Research Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the didactic practices employed by instructors delivering educational activities for older adults and to identify diverse patterns of organising and implementing educational activities across different institutional contexts. Method: Partially structured interviews were conducted with 17 instructors working in institutions located in central Poland (cultural centres, social support centres, and municipal senior clubs). The empirical data were analysed thematically in accordance with the approach proposed by Braun and Clarke. Results: The analysis revealed substantial diversity in didactic practices, including, among others, the degree of structuring of activities, approaches to content selection, forms of relationships with participants, and the goals attributed to older adult education. The identified practices provide an empirical basis for reconstructing diverse ways of enacting the educational role in older adult education. Conclusion: The findings indicate a high level of instructor autonomy in designing educational activities, as well as the strong embeddedness of didactic practices in institutional contexts and educators’ professional experience. This diversity constitutes both a resource for non-formal older adult education and a challenge for developing coherent quality frameworks. The study highlights the need for systemic support, the exchange of good practices, and the development of a reflective culture of didactic work in older adult education.

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