Sociology 120
Introduction to Gerontology Telecourse

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Instructions
Viewing Lessons
Dropbox

Instructions

Not all of the Viewing/Video Lessons have Questions for Reflection. There are five Viewing Lessons for which there are Questions for Reflection available. They are noted on your Schedule Page as having Questions for Reflection Q4R. Choose three of the five Viewing Lessons which interest you the most, and answer the Questions for Reflection that pertain to those Viewing Lessons

The Questions for Reflection for all the available Viewing Lessons are listed by Lesson below. Links for streamed media of these Viewing Lessons are found on the Schedule Page for your convenience. If you cannot view the videolessons because the links do not work for you first read the FAQs on the Helpful Information Page to solve the problem or if you are local, view the lessons at a viewing center. If for whatever reason these strategies do not work for you, a link to the transcripts of the videolesson are included on the Schedule Page.

The three Questions for Reflection assignments can be turned in early, but they must be turned in by Week 9 of a 12 week course and Week 5 of an 8 Week . Please check the Schedule Page for the due dates. Save your files as .doc or .rtf files and give them a title that reflects their content.

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Grading

The Questions for Reflections are graded as follows:

Grading Scale
Point Total	Letter Grade
Assignment turned in on time, proper grammar and spelling. Answer all Questions for Lesson Completely and Accurately, adding own thoughts, opinions and ideas	45-50 points
Answer all Questions for Lesson Completely and Accurately, with no original thoughts added and-or mark down for late assignment, some inaccurate grammar and spelling.	40-44 points
Answer Questions for Lesson, but either late, not complete, not accurate or no original ideas added and-or mark down for poor grammar and spelling.	30-39 points
Questions not addressed in a complete or accurate way and-or very late, or grammar and spelling very poor.	under 30 points

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Viewing Lessons

Myths and Realities of Aging
Maximizing Physical Potential in Older Adults
Learning, Memory and Speed of Behavior
Social Roles and Relationships in Old Age
Work, Retirement and Economic Status

The Myths and Realities of Aging

Several adults in the video say they resist societal pressures to "act their age". What are some of the ways society effects our aging roles and attitudes? Are there available role models for how one should act at a certain age? How is the "Baby Boom" cohort changing these societal attitudes?
There are many myths and stereotypes of aging. Are stereotypes of aging always bad? Who are the groups most effected by negative stereotypes of aging?
The growth of the aging population worldwide is changing the demographic make-up of countries and of the family unit. What changes are we seeing in age distribution? What effects will this change have on our ability to care for elders?

Maximizing Physical Potential in Older Adults

Research shows that exercise is beneficial to health and longevity. What are some of the benefits of exercise? Who can benefit from an exercise regime? Is there a specific exercise program that is best?
How can age-related changes effect nutritional status? Give an example of how one can adapt to the normal sensory losses that accompany the aging process.
Gender, economics and ethnicity affect differences in health status. Give two examples of how health is effected by these factors.

Learning, Memory and Speed of Behavior

List two examples of how lifelong learning keeps us mentally fit. What are some of the barriers to late-life learning?
What happens to memories as we age? What strategies can be used to improve our memory?
Speed of response declines with normal aging. Why does this happen? How can older adults compensate?

Social Roles and Relationships in Old Age

Some social roles remain constant throughout life and others change as we age. Give an example of role continuity and role change as one ages.
Social theories of aging attempt to explain role changes in late adulthood and optimal ways for people to adapt to these changes. How do researchers gain information upon which social theories are built?
Dr. Bengtson mentions a "demographic revolution" caused by the increase in life expectancy. What are some of the implications of this demographic shift? What are some of the new social roles we can expect to see in this century?

Work, Retirement and Economic Status

Many older people work, what are some of the reasons? Do the reasons differ by gender and ethnicity? If so, how do the reasons for working differ?
Why is there discrimination in the workplace against older workers? This discrimination impacts ethnic minority elders and female elders more severely, why?
What are some of the factors that will shape work patterns in the future?

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Dropbox

The drop boxes work like e-mail. After you click the drop box link, a window will open asking for your name, e-mail address, and allow you to browse your system for your file. You must save your files in an .rtf (rich text) format or I cannot read them. There is a dropdown menu on most word processing software that allows you to save the file to your computer in an .rtf format. Please give them a name that reflects their content. For example save the file as:Q4R Myths, Questions for Reflection-Physical Potential, or use the title of the lesson, e.g. Learning and Memory, etc. You need to clearly and completely fill out all the information requested. To send in your assignment, click Browse, and find the assignment on your computer, e.g., a Word document that you want to submit. Click on Upload (which does the same thing as attaching a file to an e-mail). You should then receive a confirmation that the upload was successful.

The link to the dropbox is: http://dropbox.ccc.cccd.edu/dropbox/sociology120telecourse

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