Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The course is a Program Elective for the AAS Degree in Gerontology and the Gerontology Certificate.

It is also recommended as an elective for students earning an Activity Professional Certificate.

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Analyze and interpret theories of cognitive aging and emerging brain science research related to the creative arts.
• Apply the theorized mechanisms of the health and wellness benefits of the arts, including mechanisms generalized across all arts and mechanisms specific to particular arts, in assessing potential creative arts-related activities that can deliver positive cognitive stimulation and enhance the health and wellness of individuals and groups of elders.
• Design, defend and demonstrate creative arts-related cognitive activities that address the challenges and enhance the abilities of elders, while meeting standards of sustainability, inclusiveness, cost-effectiveness, replicability and innovation.

An online and/or hybrid format with 6 modules, which will include either live or recorded lecture presentations.  Course activities will include discussion forums and assignments on the principles of creative development, the six essential elements of brain health, the impact of creative arts on the brain, accessing and evaluating emerging research on creative arts and aging, and best practice approaches for motivating and sustaining the positive results of creative arts-related cognitive activities.

A variety of assessments will be used, including including discussions and research assignments, with the primary assessment being the Capstone project, involving:

• Designing the blueprint for one creative arts-related cognitive activity.  Sharing that blueprint with the class for input and revisions.
• Revising the creative arts-related cognitive activity for demonstration before classmates and/or elders.
• Final paper including (1) blueprint, revisions, and final creative arts-related cognitive activity design, (2) supporting research citations, (3) 2-4 page presentation of final design prepared for elder community/organization representatives including cost-benefits and sustainability sections and (4) outcome of demonstration to classmates and/or elders.

Course content will include the following themes, concepts, issues and skills:

1. Creativity and the Aging Brain.
2. Principles of Creative Behavior
3. The Creative Cycle
4. Creative Arts and the Aging Brain
5. Impacts of various Creative Arts forms 
6. Resources and current abilities of target elders
7. Design for individuals vs. groups of elders
8. Measurement of outcomes