Help older people learn basic IT skills

EXPERIENCE OF A VOLUNTEER TUTOR

The following is some feedback we received from one of our volunteer tutors. All of our volunteer tutors are trained and are our most precious resource. To be able to offer older learners a facility where they are matched with a tutor that will be patient, understanding, be open to questions and have a real sense of fun is invaluable for people who come to our classes to try and get a handle on the digital world and all it entails. They are taken by the hand so to speak to allow them to dip their toe in the water of the benefits of being online.

This simple idea has benefitted so many older people and supported them to embrace the sometimes scary journey of becoming an “onliner”.

Below is a summary of what Derek and his student Tim covered in the five classes each lasting two hours.

Tim had a very good basic understanding of the iPad device and how to browse and send emails. He was set up on Gmail and had a few applications already installed. So from there they moved on to the following:

1. General iPad navigation including online manuals and searching
2. Finding and installing apps
3. Cables and connectors and their uses
4. Uploading photo's from his camera - planned for next week's last session
5. Editing the photo's using the free app call A Colour Story
6. Google Earth and getting directions
7. Microsoft Word (including copy and pasting from web pages and other documents, and formatting etc)
8. Age Action web site
9. Health web sites and how to search them
10. Various other web sites on the suggested list from Age Action
11. General security tips (phishing emails, 419 scams, suspicious attachments), how to avoid them and good email behaviour
12. Instant messengers and video calling
13. How to search and compare prices and models for a new laptop
14. Differences between Windows and MacOS

In summary it went very well and Tim gained a lot of confidence. He was also very excited about the photo editing and the google earth and Derek could see he had spent quite a bit of time between the sessions on these (as part of his homework).

As you can see from above, most of the subjects that our older learners want to come and learn about is general day to day information that most of us take for granted. To be in a position where you are unable to communicate via the internet with family and friends, to be unable to search for invaluable information that is sometimes only online can be frustrating and disempowering for our older citizens. Supporting all older people to become “onliners” can make an amazing difference to the quality of their lives.

Jennifer Glansford

National Development Manager

Getting Started Programme at Age Action Ireland