teachers & trainers | Target groups | Ageing in the Digital Age

Foundation for Digital Opportunities

Since its founding year in 2002, the Stiftung Digitale Chancen (Foundation for Digital Opportunities) has been committed to researching the social consequences of digitalisation, to advocating for equal opportunity access to the internet for all people and to strengthening their media literacy. Its goal is to promote the digital integration of all social groups and to counteract the threat of a digital divide. The Digital Opportunities Foundation is under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

The internet offers opportunities for more information, more participation and social engagement. The foundation wants to create the conditions for all people to participate in the digital society and actively shape it. The foundation’s guiding theme is digital inclusion – to this end, it works in particular in the following thematic areas

Promotion of media competence
Online security
Usability / accessibility

To make it easier for other institutions to create digital training offers for seniors, the foundation has created a guide. With the guide “Digital Competences for Older People”, the Digital Opportunities Foundation wants to contribute to older people acquiring the necessary competences in dealing with digital applications and to strengthen their self-confidence. https://www.digitale-chancen.de/assets/includes/sendtext.cfm?aus=
11&key=1553

The Foundation is registered in the European Transparency Register at: http://ec.europa.eu/
transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=948042627375-19

Source: https://www.digitale-chancen.de/

Access date: 13.05.2022

Thirsty for knowledge

The internet portal Wissensdurstig.de (thirsty for knowledge) is part of the service point “Digitisation and Education for Older People”. The service point exists since 2017 and is a nationwide point of contact for questions on the promotion of learning and education in old age and specifically on education in the context of digitalisation.

Thirsty for knowledge:

supports older people in finding educational offers and events in their area,
qualifies multipliers in educational work in the design of suitable learning opportunities,
advises those responsible in local authorities, the federal states and the federal government on setting up sustainable structures.

The work of the Service Agency is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

At wissensdurstig.de, there is information on educational opportunities for older people throughout Germany, tips and materials on digitisation and education in old age, interesting facts for education providers, good practice examples and current information on digitisation, education, projects, campaigns and more. Education providers can register on wissensdurstig.de and enter their education offers online themselves or use an automatic interface to their own event database. The providers should be organised on a non-profit basis and the offers should be inexpensive.

Initial ideas for a continuing education course for older people are offered by wissensdurstig.de via the brochures “Neugierig bleiben” (Stay curious) and the “Wegweiser durch die digitale Welt” (Guide to the digital world).

Informational youtube video on the work of wissensdurstig.de: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6q3O0C7Ios&t=3s

Source: https://www.wissensdurstig.de/

Access date: 13.05.2022

Digital senior citizens

DigitaleSenior:innen (digital seniors citizens) is the service point for digital education for seniors in Austria. Their goal is to ensure that all people have access to the opportunities of digitalisation. In doing so, the educational institution offers support through advice from experts in the fields of adult education, media pedagogy, information technology and organisational development.

The offer of digitaleSenior:innen is aimed at educational institutions as well as trainers. They provide support in planning and implementing educational programmes for older people. As contact persons for senior-friendly teaching and learning, they help with the development and visualisation of projects.

The Service Point provides free advice on the development, planning and implementation of offers in the context of digital senior citizens’ education. Examples of advice could look like the following:

How can I reach my target group even better?
How can I ensure the low-threshold nature of my offers?
What didactic and methodological variety can improve my offers?
What simple steps can be taken to improve or ensure quality?
What training and further education opportunities are there for trainers?
How can I implement my offers in an online setting?

In addition, a wide variety of training materials are available for download on the website in the form of brochures, information sheets, presentations, explanatory videos & quizzes and step-by-step instructions. https://www.digitaleseniorinnen.at/leistungen/schulungsmaterialien/

Source: https://www.digitaleseniorinnen.at/

Access date: 13.05.2022

Golden Internet Award – Digitally Active in Later Life

The 60-plus generations, and especially those over 70, still use the internet very little compared to the younger population. Yet the older generations in particular can benefit from it. Therefore, since 2012, the “Golden Internet Award” has been honouring people, initiatives and, since 2017, municipalities that support older people in safely entering and using the online world. Last time there were almost 100 submissions nationwide.

Facilities can apply for the award in the following categories:

Category 1: Digital participation – supporting people in times of Corona
Category 2: Internet for all – the diversity of target groups!
Category 3: Community participation – the diversity of digital ways!

Special Award: Respectful – active for fair treatment on the net!

Source: https://www.goldener-internetpreis.de

Access date: 13.05.2022