Sally Bowman

Use of games as a learner-centered strategy in gerontology, geriatrics, and aging-related courses.

ABSTRACT Based on their experience as designers and/or users of games as a learner-centered strategy in gerontology, geriatric, and aging-related courses and training programs, the authors note multiple advantages of using games as a learning tool, list six relevant games (including order information), and suggest a variety of ways games can be used. They offer guidelines to apply in selecting appropriate games and discuss key aspects of the instructor or facilitators role in preparing learners for game playing, monitoring game play, and debriefing students once game play has ended. Outcomes for learners and course instructors are shared.

Rural leadership development: pathways to community change

Although leadership development programs are seen as key to equipping individuals with the tools to navigate the challenges facing their communities, there is relatively little evidence of their impact at the community level. In this paper, the evaluation findings of a rural leadership development program are situated within a framework of community change to illustrate the pathways of program impact. The analysis reveals that the program has increased the human capital and network resources of rural communities, and in most cases, this has resulted in increased community capacity. Some communities have gone on to experience additional environmental, social, and economic changes as a result of community processes that stemmed from the leadership program. The findings suggest that the evaluated leadership development program can serve as a model for efforts to build community capacity, but to realize more social, environmental, and economic changes, the scope of the program should do more to encourage residents to intentionally leverage their new capacity by engaging in processes to address community issues.

Perceptions of Communication and Monitoring Technologies Among Older Rural Women: Problem or Panacea?

The purpose of this study was to explore older rural womens perceptions of gerontechnologies, such as in-home monitoring and communication, which may be particularly useful in rural areas where support services are scarce. Forty-three women, ages 60–85 years, participated in focus group discussions. Qualitative analysis uncovered six primary themes: access and reliability, cost, privacy, usability, “use it or lose it” mentality, and caregiver burden. Results suggest that older women in rural areas are open to the potential of gerontechnologies to extend their ability to age in place but are skeptical about their actual implementation.