Basic Tech Skills for seniors
As people age, and especially around the time of retirement, they become less interested in qualification and vocational courses. However, they are never too old to learn new things and develop new skills. There are plenty of adult learning courses which can offer them plenty of advantages. Adult learning courses help to maintain their brain healthy, as they keep challenge it. Not only they develop new skills, but they also meet new people with a common interest. Keeping their social network active in their older years is vital if they want to avoid loneliness and depression.
One key function of adult learning is helping people to manage life transitions, both the predictable, like retirement, and the more uncertain, like bereavement, moving house and entering residential care (which is often sudden and unplanned). In some cases, it can be targeted specifically at such needs, as with pre-retirement education, but more often it provides a secure and non-judgmental place where people can build new social support networks with other people around shared interests. One important, and almost universal, feature of later life is the loss of social support, especially the loss of a husband or a partner. Where roles within the relationship have been fairly rigidly defined, this can leave the person facing serious and urgent learning needs if they are to remain independent. The main fear of seniors according to surveys is to manage to remain independent.
Digital technologies have a particular role to play in helping those in sheltered or residential care to overcome isolation. Although most of them have access to computers and to other digital technologies, levels of confidence are low, and use is often very limited. However, motivation to learn is strong. People hope to use them for keeping in touch with friends and relatives, pursuing interests and hobbies, making better use of public services, meeting new people, finding local events, and saving money. Training can have very distinct benefits, including increased voluntary activity, improved wellbeing (social engagement, health management, and confidence in taking decisions), greater control and choice in use of public services, more informed decisions on spending on goods and services and stimulating self-organised group learning. However, most learners are not confident that they could continue to develop their skills without continuing support.
The acquisition of basic digital knowledge removes seniors’ fear and rejection of technology. Since they have the basic knowledge, seniors can go on to acquire skills that help them delve into the digital world more confidently and safely. But how can you persuade them that technology has a lot to offer them? Present them what technology provides. Firstly, tell them how independent and able will be to deal with their daily needs. Nowadays, everything is online. By learning how to use and interact with all these screens daily, they will facilitate and manage their lives without any help. Moreover, technology offers plenty of choices in order to entertain themselves. Whatever they are interested in, books, music, movies are all available on Internet. Besides entertaining themselves, another important aspect for older people is to keep in touch with their families. The bonds with their family are important for them and maybe the stronger motivation to learn how to use computer and digital devices.
The basic tech skills for seniors are:
- Knowledge of computer parts (mouse, keyboard, camera etc.)
- Opening and closing files and applications
- Basic internet browsing
- Basic email usage (sign in, receiving and replying)
- Creating and saving documents
- Practicing storage concepts (files and folders)
- Learning basic network concepts (connection, uploading and downloading)
- Understanding security risks
- Adjusting settings on smart devices
- Use of social media networks
Teaching methods for seniors
- Observation and listening to the trainers: This method is often used to teach basic functions of technology, such as helping participants charge devices, connect to Wi-Fi, web search, etc. Moreover, it can be used when the learners wanted more clarification about specific topics.
- Provision step by step instructions: The trainers provide clear instructions step by step and learners have the opportunity to practice and use technology. The trainers help learners to connect to the Internet, to download music, to set passwords, etc. Learners write down the instructions that they receive and they are able to refer to them whenever they wish.
- Explaining the significance and simplifying materials: Understanding the meanings, the aspects and the objectives of each different program, learners feel more comfortable with all this technology and they are able to decide whether or not these programs would be useful for them. It is a method that helps older people to increase their digital competences.
- Repetition and review: Older people need to hear the information more than once in order to have the desired results, feel comfortable to use technology and increase their digital competences. The trainers should be patient and repeat as many times as needed the knowledge on digital issues.
- Utilizing hands-on learning: Learners have to complete a task, after the trainer shows them how. This teaching method allows a dialogue between the trainer and the learners and the trainer is able to understand what the senior want to learn.
- Collaborative learning: This kind of teaching method is when the trainer and the learners work together, share their knowledge and expertise.
- Practicing through trial and error: The trial and error method is an exploratory and self-directed learning style. This method is used when the trainers are unfamiliar with a task that seniors are interested in.
- Multiple teaching methods: The usage of multiple teaching methods can easily meet the needs of the learners. The trainers usually combine the step-by-step method with other teaching methods, usually with the method of repetition.
