project | Best Practice Types | Ageing in the Digital Age

Digital senior citizen

The project focuses on adult education and well-being of seniors aged 65 and over. These persons are at unfavorable situation in terms of digital skills because while younger generations acquire these skills practically from their childhood, older persons did not have the opportunity like that simply because computers and the Internet did not exist when they grew up and digital competences were not included in their educational paths. Even those who graduated the universities are among the low-skilled in the field of digital literacy. This fact severely limits their lives, preventing them from taking full advantage of the time spent in retirement. Moreover, the most attention is now paid to education of young people, and when computer classes for seniors are organized, they are usually not tailored in any way to the specific needs of this target group. They’re basic and technical, just like any other beginner’s computer science class, no matter what their age or ability is.

Project goals:

extending the competences of adult educators by preparing open educational resources (OER) containing an innovative, tailored to the needs of the “Digital Life” education course,
broadening the competences of adult educators by providing them with the Digital Story Telling methodology to train students at unfavorable situation, in particular seniors,
developing open educational resources (OER) adapted to the needs of adult educators and seniors in order to support the development of digital skills of both groups,
disseminating the results with the aim of reaching as many adult teachers and seniors as possible across the European Union.

The project developed the following results:

“Digital Life” course for adult educators, as an Open Educational Resource (OZE) [5 modules]
“Digital Life” course for seniors, as an Open Educational Resource (OER), [3 modules that will help listeners feel more confident in the daily use of ICT]
Handbook for adult educators “How to Conduct Digital Life Training”.

Project implemented in partnership: MITRA FRANCE (France – coordinator), Eesti People to People (Estonia), Danmar Computers (Poland), CESIE (Italy), Centre for Education (Spain) and UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY – UTH (Greece).

The project is co-financed under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

Source: https://dsc.erasmus.site/pl/

Access date: 31.03.2022

Digital Senior

The main goal of the project is to activate persons of various ages, mainly persons 65+ in the area of digital competences, through training and animation activities in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The result of the project implementation will be the inclusion of seniors in building the information society, developing digital competences, acquiring the skills to use e-services, creating permanent mechanisms for increasing digital competences at the local level.

Project participants will be supported in the form of development activities, i.e. training (15 meetings of 4 hours per group, 60 hours in total) on the acquisition, consolidation and improvement of digital competences.

Everything will take place using the project method, based on the activity of seniors as participants, by using the newly acquired knowledge in practice and sharing knowledge and experiences with others.

The training program includes e-mail service, Internet surfing skills, use of Facebook, YouTube and developing e-services, in particular public administration and in banks.

Training topics:

Basic computer functions, image, communicators.
Viewing and analyzing information.
Security tools, electronic banking.
Communication using digital tools and applications – chat and Skype.
Communication by e-mail.
Online civic activity: e-culture and e-education.
e-office civic activity.
Setting up an e-mail account and using services.
Personal data protection. Viewing, searching and filtering information.
Spiritual needs and taking care of health.
Social relations and developing hobbies.
Local news, trip planning.
Using the capabilities of YouTube.
Creating a profile on Facebook.
Image and sound processing.

and animations in the field of self-performance of a multimedia presentation on a selected topic.

The project entitled “Digital Senior” is implemented by the EUROPARTNER Academic Club of European Integration in partnership with the Łomża Council of the Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations NOT in Łomża.

The project is implemented under the Digital Poland Operational Program, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Source: https://seniorcyfrowy.pl/

Access date: 29.03.2022

Adult Inclusive Design (AID)

Project under the Erasmus + Program entitled Adult Inclusive Design (AID) aims to develop tools that will allow organizations to teach active seniors how to volunteer to help other seniors. It has been observed that seniors are divided into two groups – those who have a high energy potential and would like to share their knowledge and experience, and those who feel lost in various life situations and wait for a helping hand. Often those in need of help do not keep up with the galloping development of the world and it is difficult for them to find a common language with younger people, so the project focuses on relations between seniors who certainly understand each other very well and can quickly find a common language. However, sometimes the mere willingness to help is not enough to effectively support another person, so the volunteers themselves will also need to expand their knowledge and develop certain skills.

The AID project will provide institutions working with seniors with tools to effectively support senior volunteers in expanding their competences. During the project, educators and trainers of four institutions prepared a guide for trainers containing not only information on the necessary content that a senior volunteer should know, but also scenarios of workshops shaping the volunteers‘ skills necessary for their effective work. Seniors in four countries assessed the effectiveness of work – through participation in workshops conducted according to the developed scenarios, and tested the acquired skills in practice as senior mentors for other seniors, emigrants or disabled persons.

Project results:

methodological manual “Volunteering as a source of better quality of life for seniors” available in the form of an e-book
application and other IT tools supporting people who want to become a volunteer or train such persons.

Implementers of the project: “Active XXI” Foundation, Castilla-La Mancha University (Spain), SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education Ltd (Cyprus) and LUMSA University (Italy).

Project co-financed by the European Union.

Source: https://aktywni21.org.pl/pl/aid/

Access date: 29.03.2022

The project entitled „Seniors in action”

The objectives of the SENIORS IN ACTION project under the Erasmus + Program are:

inclusion of the students of the Jeleniogórska Academy of the Third Age in active lifelong learning.
strengthening the key competences of the students of the Jeleniogórska Academy of the Third Age (digital, social and learning competences).

As part of the project activities, two group adult learning mobilities will be organized during which seniors cooperating with the Foundation “Active XXI” will have one-week classes at universities of the third age in Milazzo (Sicily) and Cuence (Spain).

Participation in mobility activities will activate seniors in their activities and encourage them to be more active. The obtained results will motivate them to further work. They will also be an inspiration for other adults studying at the Academy of the Third Age. Preparing for departure: searching for information, preparing presentations, planning joint educational activities with partners from Italy and Spain and participation in mobility will strengthen their key competences such as digital, language, learning and social skills (empathy, communication, tolerance).

The project is implemented by the “Active XXI” Foundation.

Project co-financed by the European Union.

Source: https://aktywni21.org.pl/

Access date: 29.03.2022

E-Senior / Digital Greater Poland/ Silesian Academy of Senior/MEW@

The aim of the projects E-Senior / Digital Greater Poland / Silesian Academy of Senior /MEW@ is to activate persons over 65 in the area of digital competences through training and animation activities.

The results of the projects are the inclusion of Seniors in building the information society in Poland, the development of functional digital competences and the abilities of using IT in everyday life.

The trainings implemented as part of the projects enable each project participant to acquire very practical skills of:

using the Internet, computer, phone, tablet and other IT devices;
shaping the competences that are helpful in the everyday life of a Senior (online communication,

e-services including online shopping and banking, medical services, e-government and more).

The project includes various activities with Seniors, among them the following can be distinguished:

I. Training of digital competences:

basic level – adapted to the needs and capabilities of Seniors (subject, time and atmosphere of classes), are carried out in two versions:

standard training – 60 hours of classes for persons with minimal experience in using the computer and the Internet;
extended training – 90 hours of classes for persons who do not have experience in online communication and work with the computer, and due to their health condition or disability, require longer support.

advanced level – 30 hours of additional thematic training for persons who will want to deepen basic digital competences (e.g. in the field of digital photography, blogosphere, online finance, etc.

II. Animation projects – group activities activating Seniors in the local community using functional digital competences and IT tools (e.g. creating online discussion and hobby groups, book clubs, film, art, photography or tourism, local culture and history lovers‘ clubs, creating websites / blogs by enthusiasts, etc.)

Projects implemented in partnership, and the project promoter is the Foundation for Social Participation.

Projects co-financed by the European Union under the Operational Program Digital Poland for 2014-2020.

Source: https://cyfrowy-senior.com/, https://www.cyfrowa-wlkp.com/cel-projektu/, http://cyfrowy-slask.com/, https://cyfrowa-mewa.com/

Access date: 29.03.2022

We owe it to them

1 out of 6 pensioners has paid a bribe in the public service (especially in the field of health services), according to the survey from 2018. Seniors are also more likely to believe the disinformation.

Transparency International Slovakia therefore launched a project to raise their awareness called “We owe it to them”. Seniors are riddled with manipulation and corruption that only a quarter of them would report. Their vulnerability is related to lower awareness and also to their ability to distinguish facts from misinformation. Therefore, Transparency prepared a two-year project where they supported the education of seniors in the form of training (within whole Slovakia to educate at least 1,500 seniors) to better protect them from corruption or manipulation.

They also developed:

Transparency academy (focused on Local Government, Public expenditure, Justice and info-law, Education, Officials and ethics, Health and Critical thinking via quizzes, guides, practical advice and answers and stories – podcasts);
rankings and portals (Ranking of hospitals, Open Local Government, Public companies, Bugles, Open Courts, Open prosecution, Map of family connections in the judiciary, Open government contracts, Corona subsidies);
publications and a book called “The power of corruption”.

Source: https://transparency.sk/sk/dlhujemeimto

Access date: 04.11.2021

Improving the digital skills of seniors

Through the project “Improving the digital skills of seniors“, MIRRI SR will help seniors to navigate new technologies, learn how to use them or improve their IT skills. The project, for which EUR 69.4 million has been allocated, includes not only face-to-face and e-learning training, but also the provision of data connectivity and the distribution of senior tablets or other devices (such as laptops and smartphones) to trained seniors who join the project and express interest in technical support.

Improving the digital skills of seniors is part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic, for which MIRRI SR has prepared the Digital Slovakia component to support cybersecurity, digital economy, eGovernment and digital skills.

The project is currently in the preparatory phase. The Ministry is negotiating with third age universities, primary and secondary schools, municipalities, as well as civic associations working with seniors. The Ministry of Informatization plans to launch the first phase of digital training for seniors in the spring of 2022. Several thousand seniors could be trained as early as next year.

The target group of this project is citizens belonging to disadvantaged groups:

Public administration employees over 55 years of age (the created environment will enable online testing and improvement of digital skills of public administration employees meeting the definition of disadvantaged population groups and at the same time will verify the possibility of later use also in the selection process and support for updating digital skills during the duration of the civil servant relationship, public employment contract),
Disabled and old-age pensioners who do not belong to the category of senior citizens (under 65 years of age, with an invalidity or old-age pension),
Seniors (population of post-working age, i.e. over 65 years of age),
Persons with disabilities.

Source: https://www.mirri.gov.sk/aktuality/digitalna-agenda/vicepremierka-remisova-seniorom-pomozeme-vstupit-do-digitalneho-sveta-vdaka-bezplatnym-skoleniam-aj-specialnym-tabletom/index.html

Access date: 04.11.2021

IT course for seniors

The IT course for seniors focused on the development of information technology skills for seniors, through which they could improve their skills in working with a computer, tablet or smartphone, get acquainted with modern technologies and use them to improve the quality of their lives.

The main motivation for the creation of the activity was an indirect request from the community, but also from the 1st Private Gymnasium in Bratislava itself. The Gymnasium has long been trying to open up the school community to the wider environment, with the aim that pupils and students will meet ordinary people and experience a different environment than the one at home or school. In this way, the school creates and seeks out situations and contacts where pupils leave their comfort zone and meet people who are disadvantaged and live in different circumstances to them.

The 1st Private Gymnasium in Bratislava was awarded the Engaged School label for its project “IT course for seniors” as a finalist in the first national award in 2020.

The school’s award-winning activity focused on helping seniors in the Bratislava – Ružinov district. It also responded to an article in the monthly magazine Ružinovské echo of the municipal district, which described the great interest of pensioners at the Ružinov Local Authority in IT education. In cooperation with the local authority, the school identified a group of seniors and approached them with an offer of a course focused on the development of IT skills. Each senior had one pupil who was also their personal assistant.

Source: https://angazovanaskola.sk/ocenene-projekty/it-kurz-pre-seniorov

Access date: 04.12.2020

Colabor Active

The project “COLABOR-ACTIVE: Development of a training program for enhancing Active Ageing through Not-For-Profit Sharing Economy” is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, skills, knowledge) of Elder Persons and their Communities, about how to enhance active ageing through not-for-profit sharing economy through an innovative training program.

Results of the project are:

Co-created Methodological Guide with the direct participations of End Users.
Training Materials for creating and improving the critical competences.
Designed Experiential Training Activities for enhancing the practical and experiential training.
Development of an e-Training Platform.
Creation of 4 SHARING-ACTIVE UNITS.

Training is available on the link: https://platform.colabor-active.eu/

Source: https://colabor-active.eu/

Access date: 04.12.2020

60+ Virtual Culture

60+ Virtual Culture was an international initiative in which 4 partner organizations of similar background in informal education, including education of seniors, from Poland, France, Czech Republic and Italy have worked together to improve and optimize educational offer for elderly concerning their digital competences within the context of culture accessibility.

The process of optimization has been developed in two stages. First, each organization appointed one teaching tandem (young ICT educator and one experienced senior (50+) educator) who took part in 3 Joint Staff Trainings, during which based on exchanged practices and knowledge, an educational model for local senior centers or libraries had been developed. Therefore, an innovative offer of ICT courses for seniors aiming at encouraging older people to participate in culture resources and cultural events using new technologies (e.g. accessing e-books, audio-books, visiting virtual museums, buying tickets online, creating and uploading content etc. ) was created. Simultaneously so created teaching program was implemented, tested and adjusted during two cycles of ICT workshops for seniors in each country. The teaching tandems provided during the project a total of 198 hours of workshops for 105 seniors in four countries. Additionally, from among the participants of workshops 8 Digital Ambassadors were selected – people at the age of 60+ whose leadership and digital competences enabled us to include them into dissemination process and in some cases into the process of supporting the trainers in the teaching processes both during and after the termination of project activities.

Results:

Lesson plans of ICT Workshops for Older Adults:

online newspapers,
books on-line (e-book and audiobook),
music and films online,
going out- cultural event,
monuments of the world- visiting historical places abroad.

Tips for trainers. How to approach seniors during ICT trainings.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under Erasmus+ Programme.

Source: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2016-1-PL01-KA204-026593

Access date: 14.10.2021