A Novel Approach to Improving the Digital Literacy of Older Adults
The global population is living longer. By 2036, it is estimated that 25% of the UK population will be over the age of 65. Several studies have demonstrated that the accessibility of digital technology presents tremendous potential to help older adults retain an active role in their lives and alleviate the ‘burden of care’ associated with ageing yet digital engagement is consistently cited to be inversely related to age. Although interventions to enhance the digital literacy of older adults through formal in-person training have emerged, there has been little evaluation of their effectiveness. This paper presents some insights into the attitudes, needs and challenges of older adults in becoming digitally literate, including results from our preliminary user studies conducted with older adults and also a survey of younger adults (YA) to understand their role as an informal support system. Based on these insights, we proposed an innovative approach to digital literacy training for older adults by combining a senior-friendly learning management system with informal inter-generational learning support.
Keywords
Digital Literacy, Older Adults, Blended Learning
Staff
[Dharini Balasubramaniam]{db9} and [Kenneth Boyd]{kmb6}