Hint: Lifelong learning can build your self-confidence and cognitive reserves as you age gracefully
Curator’s Note: The author reflects on their journey of lifelong learning, highlighting its role in maintaining self-confidence and cognitive health as one ages. They recount their experience enrolling in Harvard’s online CS50 AI course, inspired by their grandson’s encouragement. The course, appealing to a diverse audience, has attracted over 1.5 million learners, including seniors who embrace curiosity. The author emphasizes that growth is possible at any age and that the modern world welcomes those willing to learn. They advocate for continued education and even gaming as tools for cognitive enhancement, rejecting the notion of a “Game Over” mindset in later life. This article was written by Dr Michael Broadly curator of ILLUMINATION publications and chief editor of Health and Science publication on Medium.com.
When I was a young man in 1950s, computers occupied entire rooms and required specialists in white coats to operate them. Today, they sit comfortably in our pockets and respond to our voices as if they were well-mannered assistants.
Somewhere between punch cards and generative AI, the world advanced to a new level. In my mid-seventies, I realised I had a choice. I could observe this transformation from a comfortable distance, shaking my head at the pace of change, or I could step forward and attempt to understand it.
Inspired by my grandson, who was undertaking a computer science degree at the University of Melbourne where I studied health sciences, I enrolled in CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python, offered by Harvard University through the online learning platform edX.
He said, Granpa, the course was freely accessible, intellectually rigorous, and, as I would soon discover, profoundly empowering. I couldn’t resist his caring invitation.
More than 1.5 million learners from around the world have taken this course. They include young students preparing for careers in technology, engineers expanding their professional horizons, mid-career professionals re-skilling for a changing economy, and retirees who simply refuse to allow curiosity to retire with them.
Among that global cohort, there was also an Australian octogenarian, yours truly, adjusting his reading glasses and learning Python one line at a time.
Here is what you will learn from this course at a high level:
- neural networks
- natural language processing
- machine learning
- reinforcement learning
- graph search algorithms
- adversarial search
- knowledge representation
- logical inference
- probability theory
- Bayesian networks
- Markov models
- constraint satisfaction
If there is a lesson I would share with fellow seniors, I’d say curiosity has no expiry date.
The modern world does not belong exclusively to the young. It belongs to those who are willing to learn. Enrolling in this course was my way of declining the cultural invitation to quietly step aside.
I did not take it to prove anything to others. I took it to remind myself that growth remains possible at any stage of life. It helped me boost my confidence and enhance my cognitive reserves, which I desperately needed in my late octogenarian years.
In the language of gaming, I chose not to press “Game Over.” Instead, I selected “Continue.” And I am very glad that I did.
You can read the full story titled “Why 1.5 Million People Took This AI Course Including an Octogenarian Who Refused to Press “Game Over” on Medium.com
I recently have started reading the graceful aging book written by Dr Mehmet Yildiz as an editor and beta reader of the manuscript. One of his key points is about the importance of lifelong learning for healthspan. I agree with his wise points. He introduced the new book in a story lately:
Why I Decided to Turn My Longevity Research Manuscript on Graceful Aging into a Book
And How It Can Enrich Your Life by Boosting Powerful Ideas for Your Healthspan and Lifespanmedium.com
If you enjoyed this story, you might also check out my story about taking an IBM security course in 2024.
IBM Cybersecurity Basics: Free, Online, and Self-Paced
I wish I had a course like this 20 years ago. I could have prevented being a cyber-victim and losing a portion of my…medium.com
I also invite you to play games as it can also give you joy and grow your cognitive reserves which you will need as you age. I shared my gaming adventures in a humorous story:
How Gaming Gave Me a Second Youth and a Few Senior Moments Worth Laughing About
Why Gaming in Your Golden Years Might Be the Best Medicine You Never Knew You Neededmedium.com
Thanks for reading my story. Happy learning and happy gaming, mates!
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