Artstories: Perspectives on intergenerational learning through narrative construction among adolescents, middle aged, and older aged adults

The decline of extended family networks that resulted in the ‘generation gap’ has given rise to concerns regarding the social and moral education of children, the isolation of the elderly and an increase in negative stereotypes and attitudes about the aged and aging. In an effort to address these concerns, government and community service organizations established intergenerational service learning programs that seek to connect youth with the elderly through educational and creative activities that benefit each generation.; This case study examines the nature of the learning and social relationships that evolved among three generations of women and girls previously unknown to one another, working together on a collaborative narrative based in their lived experiences. The study, Artstories, developed by the researcher, is an age-integrated arts learning program designed to emulate the creative learning environment of extended family networks, foster social and moral learning and development, arts learning, cultural and racial harmony, and a sense of community among two or more generations of women.; Small intergenerational groups shared individual stories and collaborated on a collective narrative. Arts learning was used to establish an “empowering event” prompting participants to critically review their meaning perspectives surrounding the moral and social issues under discussion. The resulting Artstories, artist's book artifacts, were shared with family and friends opening discussion on various social, moral and educational issues of importance to the broader community. A participatory action research methodology was employed within a narrative inquiry framework to build the foundation for a reconceptualist curriculum approach for secondary art educators seeking to broaden the experiential (discovery) learning of their students and extend the educational outreach of the school into the community. Findings indicate that the relaxed setting and the focus on creative expression contributed to a transformation in some participants' perceptions regarding aging.