Teaching old dogs new tricks

So I turned 52 this week.  A little long in the tooth to be pursuing a graduate degree, don't you think?  What comes to mind is the old adage "You can't teach an old dog new tricks".    Just in the few weeks since beginning this journey, I wouldn't say I've learned new tricks, but I've remembered some old ones.  I used to have an impressive vocabulary.  My first years teaching l challenged myself to have the class ask "what does that word mean?" multiple times a day, keeping a list on the board for them to look up and use in context (for a modest prize).  20+ years later I struggle to put together a coherent sentence when talking to anyone over the age of 12.  Participating in discussion boards and doing some intellectual writing has stimulated the language centers of my brain to spring back into action!  
As far as teaching old dogs new tricks, I feel like that is the challenge that has been laid before us in this class.  To take the antiquated factory model of education and rock its world.  Teach it, and those who seek to perpetuate it,  a new way of doing things.  If the tantrums I've been having lately are any indication, the process of overcoming the inertia of the system won't be easy or pretty.  But, as I feel the satisfaction and pride of getting my linguistic groove back, won't all educators feel that same sense of accomplishment when we finally break free of this mold?