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Virtual and Real Learning and Competence Network for Older Adults (ViLE e.V.)

The “Virtuelle und reale Lern- und Kompetenz Netzwerk älterer Erwachsener e.V.” (Virtual and Real Learning and Competence Network for Older Adults) was founded in December 2002 by senior citizens and staff of further education institutions from all over Germany.

The network offers introductory courses in the technical basics of virtual learning, virtual literature circles, its own online newspaper for adults interested in further education (www.lerncafe.de), project and seminar work, workshops and travel offers in the sense of research-based travel. The members work together virtually and in real life, also in regional groups.

The association’s latest project is the production of an information brochure on educational opportunities for older people at universities: The “Digital Study Guide for All”.

Source: https://vile-netzwerk.de

Access date: 01.06.2022

Seniors go digital

New Opportunities for Low-skilled adults to acquire essential skills and in response to the recent migration movement across EU and the effects that it has on social inclusion, access and participation, the SENIORS GO DIGITAL project pioneers to design, implement, monitor and evaluate a TOOL KIT that will support organisations and authorities to design, develop and monitor their own INCLUSIVE STRATEGIES based on their needs in order:

This project aims to:

  1. to offer disadvantaged seniors opportunities to acquire, re-skill or up-skill their digital competences in order to be able to become active citizens and socially included in the digital world.
  2. to design, implement, monitor and evaluate a TOOL KIT that will re-skill or up-skill seniors’ digital competences to guarantee their activeness, social presence, e- governance, e-access, e-participation and personal development.
  3. to pilot-test the ‘ONE STOP SUPPORT CENTRES’ in partner countries, both online and in-house that will offer various innovative, targeted and high quality lifelong learning opportunities for the acquisition of digital skills and competences.
  4. to support in a systemic way active aging, access, social inclusion, participation and personal development through the use of the digitalized learning eco-system, as well as through the e-services, e-governance, e-participation and e-communication provided in each partner country.
  5. to upgrade the lifelong learning opportunities provided by adult organisations, as well as enhance the teaching material and resources used in order to meet the needs of senior citizens.

Target groups:

  1. direct: adults 60+ (seniors) retired, unemployed, marginalised, in rural areas, with few opportunities, low-skilled etc.
  2. indirect: adult educators and related organisations in the field of adult education such as NGOs, VET centres etc.

Results:

  1. Reports: research reports (from Italia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece) to identify the seniors’ profiles and needs in relation to the current scene in each country and 1 comparative report with the main findings to map the provision, gaps and challenges of adult learning for digital active aging.
  2. Teaching and learning material: a report which presents principles and guidelines for designing Guidebooks, e-learning material in relation to the needs of seniors’ citizens and the curriculum. The curriculum consists of 5 modules:
  • Compuer Basics and Problem Solving
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Safety
  • Information and Data Literacy
  • Digital Content Creation

which have been translated in each partner language and a guidebook is provided for the e-Services in each partner country. The training course was written along with checklists for the course creator and the adult educator concerning the development and the delivery of teaching material.

  1. E-learning platform and the eco-system for the assessment and validation process: http://seniorsgodigital.iit.demokritos.gr/
  2. TOOL KIT for developing, implementing and monitoring innovative strategies for offering and supporting the up-skilling programmes

The project Partnership includes organizations from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Sweden,

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

Source: https://seniorsgodigital.eu

Access date: 04.12.2020

Innovative methods for increasing effectiveness of teaching English of 55+ learners (InMETE 55+)

Teaching foreign languages, especially English, to seniors, is becoming one of the most crucial elements of education in later-life in Europe. Existing analysis concerns mainly the needs and current state, but there are not enough didactic materials which would support teachers in their daily work with learners 55+. This concerns in particular those materials that go beyond the traditional language course, and include such elements that are emotionally engaging, motivating, and provide new incentives: mental, physical and sensory – so essential in later-life pedagogy.

Bearing in mind the above, the main objective of the “Innovative methods for increasing effectiveness of teaching English of 55+ learners” (InMETE 55+) project under the Erasmus+ Programme was to develop tangible propositions of innovative methods for increasing effectiveness of teaching English to 55+ learners.

Through well-structured cooperation, researches, discussions, international meetings, three tangible intellectual outputs of the project were prepared:

  • resource pack of possible resources: materials, ideas and guidelines which could be used during the English lessons to increase cognitive functions of elderly learners, in particular, their attention, motivation, emotional involvement, memory functioning, senses and body involvement, communication sensitivity and capability, and also their well-being;
  • nine detailed lesson outlines together with teaching/learning materials for teachers and students (each for two levels: elementary (A2-B1) and intermediate (B2) including innovative elements taken from external sources like art, historical heritage of our countries, memory rules and methods, music, poetry, body expression and para-theatrical forms, etc.;
  • two curricula for a one-year (60 hrs) course for learners 55+, two levels – elementary (A2-B1) and intermediate (B2).

These three products are available free of charge for seniors’ educators from the non-profit sector.
The project Partnership includes organizations from Poland, Hungary and Italy.

Source: https://inmete55plus.blogspot.com/

Access date: 10.09.2021

Digital Skills for People Living in the 3rd Age – Effective Digital Access to Public Services

The project “Digital Skills for People Living in the 3rd Age – Effective Digital Access to Public Services” aims at training elderly people on developing specific digital skills needed to access public services online, and thus to better adapt to digital-oriented changing world and to feel confident using online tools to manage and improve their health and life quality.

Tangible results:

  • Public services roadmaps providing information on the most relevant online public services in 5 EU countries
  • Training programme for improving basic digital skills and developing specific skills for digital access to public services
  • E-learning and e-assistance platform with a Virtual assistance tool for digital inclusion of the elderly
  • Effective methodology for high-quality work with elderly people by applying confidence-building approach and interactivity
  • Policy recommendations for improving active ageing and digital literacy of elderly
  • Triggering word of mouth events for presenting the project results and supporting their exploitation at local, national and European level.

Intangible results:

  • Improved ability of people living in the 3rd age of effective digital access to public services;
  • Increased digital literacy of elders;
  • A step forward active ageing: by obtaining digital skills senior citizens can feel a better accomplishment and personal satisfaction into their lives leading to a more active and healthier 3rd age;
  • Knowledge and experience gained by partner organisations in the field of transnational cooperation, project management, innovative practices to inclusion of elder people;
  • Exchange of good practices and lessons learned on active ageing and social inclusion within and across nations.

Digital Access outcomes are available as free on line resources.

Source: http://digital-3rd-age.eu/

Access date: 28.02.2022

Educational Senior Network (EduSenNet)

„EduSenNet“ is a Erasmus+ Programme project which focused on the learning possibilities of the elderly over 50 on the chosen UTAs and countries with the aim to realise pedagogical research with the outcomes about formal, non-formal and informal learning of the elderly. The partners focused on learning possibilities of UTAs, evaluated them and described links with formal education at the universities.

The main goals of the project supported fulfilment of the learning needs and their development in their own environment. Project topic showed, that learning of the elderly is very important not only for the individuals but for whole society throughout Europe.

Main results:

  • Review Table presenting the learning possibilities revealed in the study
  • Research on learning conditions, methods and learning needs, comparison of results about motivation and barriers of the elderly participants in adult learning programs
  • Curriculum innovation within the study programmes
  • Recommendations for further development of non-formal and informal learning with promotion of the interests of new learners.

The project results have been summarised and documented in the project booklet “Education for seniors in Europe” and brochure “Educational Senior Network”, as well as on the project website.
The project partnership consisted of 7 partners from 6 European countries (Czech republic, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Spain).

Source: https://edusennet.efos-europa.eu/

Access date: 28.04.2021

Digital Angel

The project “Digitaler Engel” supports older people in using digital services – close to everyday life, personally and locally.

Booking trips online, staying in touch with the grandchildren online or converting your own home into a smart home: the mobile advice team offers help with specific questions about digitalisation. They teach older people in a practical, personal, and on-site manner how daily routines and habits can be enriched and made easier through digital applications. For this purpose, the project team travels through the rural regions of Germany with an information van.

In addition, brochures, videos, instructions, and tips are made available online to provide further information about the digital world. This material is available here: https://www.digitaler-engel.org/materialien

For senior citizens – the Digitaler Engel outreach team

Our Team goes wherever older people go in their daily lives: from the marketplace to senior citizens’ meetings. In personal conversations, digital offers are presented, concrete questions are answered, and fears are reduced.

For knowledge mediators – shaping digital participation on a sustainable basis

The project team shows opportunities to enrich and facilitate everyday life with digital services. Everyday challenges can be overcome more easily through digitalisation. Knowledge mediators are gladly supported in their local work through tailor-made offers on site.

For regional providers – guide to digital offerings.

The project supports the transfer of digital skills by networking of local actors. Together with partners from the region, the project facilitates the dissemination of their existing offers for older people.

Source: https://www.digitaler-engel.org

Access date: 12.05.2022

Slow Learning: Developing the skills of IT trainers of older people

“Slow Learning” is a Erasmus+ Programme project aiming in training IT educators to acquire the competences and skills they need, in order to be able to train effectively elders in new technologies, by using innovative methodologies and tools.

The training of older adults requires andragogically well-trained providers, who are familiar with the theory and practice of adult education, know the characteristics of the life course of the members of different age cohorts and those effects on the readiness for education, understand that older adults are an extremely diverse group of adults with very different needs and require tailor-made approaches and modes of work in educational programs.

Learning & education can play a very important role in reducing age segregation, as it regulates imbalance between generations and opens up new opportunities for social inclusion to older adults.

Main objectives of the project are:

  • better understanding of senior expectations & needs in learning environments, focusing on IT training
  • improved knowledge & use of pedagogical tools, new technology in educating seniors
  • exchange of good practice among partners
  • create the basic theoretical foundations for the implementation of education of IT to older adults
  • get to know older adults as an extremely diverse group of adult learners for whom education is being prepared according to their needs and for them.

Target groups of the project are adult educators, teachers, mentors, trainers, professionals in IT and seniors.

Results:

  • Compendium of existing innovative and effective practices and tools in teaching technology to seniors
  • Job Profile of IT trainers of seniors
  • Training programme for IT trainers
  • Video for sharing the successful experiences by teachers and older people.

Partnership of the project was composed of the organizations from Slovenia, United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Spain.

Source: http://www.slowlearning.eu

Access date: 30.03.2022

Inclusive Senior Education through Virtual U3A

The main goal  of the project entitled “Inclusive Senior Education through Virtual U3A” is to create a system of inclusive education of seniors (based on the common methodology) with the use of information technology and active engagement of the seniors into the creation of the content of individual courses, including participation in their implementation. Another project objective is to systematically engage the youth into the education of seniors.

Within the project, a new methodology is created. The methodology integrates innovations leading to improvements of inclusive senior education and elimination of weak points. The main focus is on accomplishment of four pillars:

  • social inclusion,
  • use of ICT,
  • active seniors’ participation,
  • engagement of the youth into senior education

Results:

  • Three analysis developed by common instructions based on the results of questionnaire for seniors
  • Comparative case study
  • Methodology of inclusive senior’s education (without barrier) based on smart using of ICT, cooperative learning, social learning, integrating of youth and boost senior’s confidence.
  • New virtual classroom as a result of implementation of designed methodology (at least in applicant organisation). Virtual classroom was implemented in the Moodle platform. Although this environment is in English, particular courses are created and lead in national languages.
  • Courses: ”seniors to seniors”.

Platform and courses are available on the link: https://isev.osu.cz/

The project was participated by 4 institutions from Czech Republic, Portugal and Italy.

Project co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme.

Source: https://projekty.osu.cz/isev/

Access date: 11.09.2020

Live eLearn: blended experiential learning for adults

Project under the Erasmus+ Programme entitled „Live eLearn: blended experiential learning for adults” is targeted to senior learners aged 65 and above. It addresses lifelong learning in a context where senior learners keep gaining knowledge about topics they are particularly interested in (such as arts, sociology, philosophy, etc), thus they are intrinsically motivated. They learn with the purpose to keep active, up-to-date and integrated. Educational institutions offer this educational activity based on theoretical content (conferences, workshops, etc) and practical activities (extra academic activities, workshops done outdoors). In this project it is integrated in other subjects and courses digital competences, which provide the capacity of information, communication, creation of networks, dissemination, etc.

The project aims to extend and develop the competences of the staff involved with non-formal and informal education of senior learners through the effective use of ICT. The project promotes social inclusion and digital inclusion, active participation and collaboration through innovative ICT-based methods, providing tools for educators for assessment and validation of competences learnt.

Main target groups of this project are the non-formal and informal trainers and educators (touristic guides, trainers, tutors, facilitators…) that are currently offering extra-academic and cultural activities or other kind of activities done outdoors, as trekking, visiting of villages, museums, etc… to senior citizens in adult education institutions and wish to promote their digital inclusion and potentiate the skills and competences acquired.

Products:

Source: https://www.liveelearn.eu

Access date: 04.05.2022

Digital senior citizen

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