Creative Spark energizes and inspires approaches to engagement work with older adults. This highly interactive, six-session training begins with the foundation of creative aging as a field and then takes participants on a journey to develop intentional, creative programs with older adults.
How is this course delivered? This training is delivered via Zoom, one hour each week in a group learning circle with up to 15 members of your team, with pre-work ideas given each week. Ideally, you'd commit 30-60 minutes outside the learning circle each week to test your engagement ideas or complete pre-work. We'll use creative tools, such as poetry, journaling, drawing, and more, to explore the themes below and you'll walk away with tools you can immediately use with older adults!
Who should take this course? This class is ideal for direct service practitioners who want to learn more about creative aging research and programs and/or create more intentional programming with older adults. For those working in aging services, you'll find value in learning about creative aging best practices and how to bring those to your work. For those working in the arts & culture arena, you'll find it useful to learn more about aging and programming specifically designed for older adults and adults with disabilities.
Attendees are eligible for six hours of continuing education credits from the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals! A certificate will be emailed to you at the end of the course. Looking for a different type of CE credit? Let us know at creativespark@frontporch.net.
Module 1 (Sessions 1 & 2) Creative Groundwork
Session One: Leading with Joy
Session Two: Creative Aging Principles
We start by building a robust vocabulary for creative aging grounded in
research and embedded in a theoretical framework. Through interactive
exercises a learning circle is created to share what is special in us to bring
out what is special in others. This immersive and experiential training is
designed to create a sense of trust and form a base of knowledge that will
guide our exploration. Discover the field of creative aging as it relates to
brain function, human development, research, and history.
Module 2 (Sessions 3 & 4) The Light Within
Session Three: Applying a Creative Lens and Utilizing a Virtual Platform
Session Four: Program Design and Evaluation
Explore co-learning with participants and celebrate the potential of ‘What
If’ when developing programs. Learn how to trust your instincts and
bravely challenge the status quo (push your own boundaries). This
module takes you through curriculum design, program evaluation, and
discover best practices in how to translate programs virtually in an
inclusive and accessible way.
Module 3 (Session 5 and 6) Proof of Listening
Session Five: Connecting Programs to Purpose
Session Six: Looking Back to Move Forward
Our final module fosters growth as we set a challenge, support discovery,
and celebrate achievement. We’ll examine culminating events as a means to
shift culture and build bridges. Let’s reveal the creative possibilities of
beginnings and endings understanding that they are one in the same.
Got questions? Email us at creativespark@frontporch.net.