MODULE 5: Payments, purchases and internet buying

1. UNIT 1: e-banking – The elderly will learn how to handle the basic applications of the bank platform in order to manage their accounts, check and update their transactions, transfer amounts to other accounts, pay bills etc.
2. UNIT 2: Online Payments – In this section we will introduce learners to the concept of online trading gateways such as VivaWallet, PayPal and MoneyBookers. Also, trainees will learn how to use cards issued by the majority of the banks (credit card, debit card, prepaid card) for their online transactions.
3. UNIT 3: e-shopping – Trainees will learn the most common terms and procedures for ordering online from shop platforms so that they buy the things they need from their home.
4. UNIT 4: e-booking – Yet another service that will help an elderly’s everyday life is online bookings. Teaching the elderly to make reservations in hotels, public transportations and venues is very helpful, since the majority of them at this stage of life focus on related activities such as tourism, cultural events etc. 
5. UNIT 5: Subscription-based services – Media services offered directly to viewers via the Internet (video or music streaming services, journals and magazines, Newsletter or podcasts, among others) are getting popular among population in the recent years, especially due to their multiple options and access possibilities, as they can be  accessed via websites on personal computers, as well as via apps on mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets), digital media players (including video game consoles), or televisions with integrated Smart TV platforms.

It is important to highlight that IT trainers must adapt their activities and materials that are going to use to the experience and expectations of the seniors (target public). In this module we just suggest some examples of exercises that could be conducted in their classrooms according to the topics / expectations that are on the agenda of the seniors nowadays.

It is important therefore establish a reflection period with the seniors in order to know how to focus the classroom so that they (seniors) can get the most out of it.

• group work and pair work
• brainstorming on flipcharts
• inputs of the trainers and possible experts
• individual work to explore myself
• group discussions (round tables, plenary, tables in U-form)

During the last years, the technology sector, and in particular the internet, has been making tremendous progress both in creating new capabilities and in upgrading existing functions and services.

The main thrust of this progress is to facilitate our everyday lives, both at a professional and personal level. Apparently, these changes are numerous and they are evolving at such a speed, which is usually impossible to be managed even from fully-fledged people on the internet, let alone for older people.

The majority of the elderly have a stagnation or fear of the internet, as they feel they cannot keep up with the rapid developments and the countless technical terms related to this sector. Nevertheless, if we show them that there is no reason to fear the “digital beast,” because it’s simpler than they think and because its existence facilitates important aspects of their everyday lives, it is certain that they will slowly change their minds.

An important aspect of everyday life that has a catalytic effect on the elderly and will be analyzed in this section is that of electronic transactions. The trainers will present how trainees can:

• pay bills and manage other banking applications,
• make purchases of products,
• be informed about market trends – especially with regard to the economic strand – in order to increase their purchasing power and all these through their computer screen at home.

In addition, the COVID-19 epidemic situation has caused untold fear and suffering for older people across the world, and ability to buy goods and services through the internet for both life and entertainment purposes have become a need for senior citizens under this new normal reality, where social distancing is a must.

Taking into account the learning content of the Digital Security Module, the elderly will face the subject of this module with less scepticism and suspicion. However, during the learning process there will continue to exist a phobia, as we are talking about how to manage their personal property. Thus so, it is very important to remind them at regular intervals that: “as long as we follow and observe all that we have learned about digital security, there is no reason to worry about anything.”

Another important factor during the learning procedure is motivation. Emphasis should be given – with the use of simple examples – on the advantages of electronic transactions / reservations and the distress they can avoid with only the touch of a button. The ultimate goal is to further reduce the fear of learners towards this sensitive area and the greater willingness to become familiar with the relevant online capabilities. Illustrative examples of encouraging the elderly are given below in this guide.

1. E-banking – The elderly will learn how to handle the basic applications of the bank platform in order to manage their accounts, check and update their transactions, transfer amounts to other accounts, pay bills etc.
2. Online Payments – In this section we will introduce learners to the concept of online trading gateways such as VivaWallet, PayPal and MoneyBookers. Also, trainees will learn how to use cards issued by the majority of the banks (credit card, debit card, prepaid card) for their online transactions.
3. E-shopping – Trainees will learn the most common terms and procedures for ordering online from shop platforms so that they buy the things they need from their home.
4. E-booking – Yet another service that will help an elderly’s everyday life is online bookings. Teaching the elderly to make reservations in hotels, public transportations and venues is very helpful, since the majority of them at this stage of life focus on related activities such as tourism, cultural events etc. 
5. Subscription-based services – Media services offered directly to viewers via the Internet (video or music streaming services, journals and magazines, Newsletter or podcasts, among others) are getting popular among population in the recent years, especially due to their multiple options and access possibilities, as they can be  accessed via websites on personal computers, as well as via apps on mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets), digital media players (including video game consoles), or televisions with integrated Smart TV platforms.

As in the previous modules, trainers should teach electronic trading and booking applications in their most basic form, avoiding the use of many technical terms. It is true that some terms are impossible to be excluded from the learning program. For this reason, they should be explained in as simple a way as possible or by using examples from the everyday life.

Their lifestyle changes and often this transition causes intense psychological stress as they feel that they are not as independent as they used to be. For this reason, it is very important for trainers to highlight the advantages that the elderly can enjoy through the facilities offered by the services described in this module. Some of the electronic applications may have a certain level of difficulty, but the benefits they offer are much larger and they alleviate their daily lives. The main ones are:

• Movement reduction to the minimum level. Highlight that they will not need to go to the supermarket again to shop and carry their goods back home by themselves (especially under COVID-19 context). Also they will not have to go to the bank every first of the month to receive their pension.
• Increase their spare time. With the on-line services they’ll be taught, they will be able to do most of their daily things from home at zero time. For example, they will not have to be back in endless queues in order to be served or pay bills.
• Increasing their purchasing power. Through quick browsing on commercial websites and subscription to newsletter services, they will be in position to compare prices, take advantage of shop offers and choose products of their choice at the best possible price. They will also be able to get information on tax changes in time and manage their daily expenses in a better way.
• Securing their property. During the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in burglaries of elderly homes, who keep their money inside their houses. Explain to them that using the e-banking services, they will not have to endanger their deposits ever again.
• Easier management of their fun activities. Through the internet and online booking services, they will be able to plan their trips (public transport, hotels, restaurants, etc.) with more control and ease. For air travel in particular, the benefits may also be financial if you book your seat a long time earlier before the flight. They will also be able to book and buy tickets from their home for theatrical performances and other cultural events of their choice, as well as access to streaming services of video or music, Newsletter, podcasts and so on.