Shifting Paradigms in Ageing

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

During the pre-teaching period students are given the opportunity to get used to the online platform, meet the instructors/tutors and become familiar with how to access resources before the teaching period starts.

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Populations are ageing globally and the Master of Ageing program is designed to produce leaders in the field of ageing who are able to develop new approaches and policies that help shape the societal shift that will inevitably occur. To this end, the Shifting Paradigms in Ageing subject aims to provide students with skills and techniques to think laterally and shift paradigms. As Einstein said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Ageing is also about opportunity, and this subject will enhance the ability to recognise and leverage that potential.

This eight-week online subject will draw on frameworks, methodologies and techniques from philosophy, education, science, business, marketing and design, combined with object-based learning and trans-disciplinary practice to enable the identification and critical analysis of socio-cultural contexts and paradigms with a focus on ageing.

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

• Critically discuss, analyse and assess existing paradigms around ageing
• Formulate a reflective argument outlining why and how these paradigms could be shifted for more positive, scaleable and sustainable outcomes
• Demonstrate the application of one or more of the frameworks, methodologies and techniques discussed throughout the subject.
• Conceive of and articulate new approaches to policies around ageing

• Weekly contribution to online discussions (10%)
• A 20 slide presentation that examines an experience or context from two angles. Includes a summary of what was learnt from the exercise. Due in the middle of the teaching period (20%)
• Weekly contribution to online reflective journal including an end of term summary of highlights. (20%)
• Written essay describing and critically analysing one or more of the underlying paradigms using one or more of the four lenses presented in the subject. Articulate alternative approaches and their potential outcomes. 2,500 words due at the end of the teaching period (50%).

Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will be provided with the opportunity to practice and reinforce:

• High-level skills in critical thinking and analysis
• Advanced reflective writing skills
• The ability to make connections between theoretical concepts and frameworks to everyday practice
• Competency in sourcing, assessing and applying evidence