| Although the number of senior-aged, university students is increasing each year, little information exists about the meanings of the educational experiences of this group of learners. This study reports verbatim the words used by 98 senior-aged, university students to describe their educational experiences and their meanings for those experiences. This collection of original descriptions was the primary target of this phenomenological research study.;This study also gives the Life Satisfaction Index and the Self-Directed Learning Index scores for the collective group and selected individuals. It presents whole-group and individual's demographics. It explores the individual's and collective members' perceptions of barriers and reinforcements to participation in educational activities. It elicits the rewarding experiences and the discouraging experiences of these life-long learners.;A focus is placed on the student's perceived self identity, ability to acquire knowledge, "ought-to-do's," hopes, and reasons for participating in adult educational activities. The study details the students' recent educational experiences and gives what their self-reported future interests are.;The program's costs and benefits to society are discussed and students' perceived outcomes from the program are given. |
