Reciprocity and Older Learners

This article focuses on reciprocity, which is inherent in the exchange taking place in educational settings between older learners and their instructors. On the basis of a meta‐analysis of 567 statements extracted from interviews with 11 groups of 4 learners and their instructor, a description of the affective and cognitive content and of the dynamics of this exchange is given. The results contribute to making explicit the form of reciprocity and the lack of symmetry in the exchange between practitioners and older learners. Following the discussion of these results, some directions for practice in older adult education are suggested.