General recommendation
Old people are afraid of computers and trainings and it is needed to arrange courses especially for seniors (otherwise they don´t feel free to ask and to learn). Our recommendation is in a table below:
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Part |
Recommendation |
Notes |
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Lenght of courses |
5-10 meeting (including introductory sessions and evaluation session) Introductory and evaluation session can be arranged as a party with food and drink, as a discussion session etc.
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We recommend shorter courses for the better motivation of seniors to continue in learning. They can also absorb the information and knowledge easier
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Lenght of lessons |
45 minutes for seniors aged 60+ 90 minutes for younger seniors or for advanced students |
Breaks between the lessons can be arranged as social activities. |
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Number of people in the classroom |
4-8 people We recommend 4 students to 1 teacher or 1 helper. |
Young students from schools and universities as volunteers (individual training of seniors or home assistance) |
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Scheme |
Seniors to seniors Professional trainers Juniors to seniors |
We recommend the scheme of senior-senior as the senior students feel more relaxed. |
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Age of participants |
Group 1 – below 50 Group 2 – 50-60 Group 3 – 60+ |
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Course subject |
Emphasis on: practical experience fun learn with all senses arrance courses in the afternoon or in the mornind slow pace with lots of pictures and other didactic aids small groups group classes adapted to rythm and needs |
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Motivation of learners |
Split subjects into different seminars |
Best way to motivate seniors in continuing learning is to split subjects in shorter part, seminar. |
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Seniors´reasons to attend the course |
Social contacts (seniors 60+) Convivial leisure activity Use of computer in everyday life – making life more simple Active job (CVs, letters, email, job-related websites) Access to information and training Simplified communication |
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Teaching aids |
Detailed content information Summary content information Materials for self-study Access to e-learning |
Paper form, CD, DVD |
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Other activities |
Provide help with purchasing equipment Provide help with choosing the best Internet provider Cognitive and/or physical stimulation of mentally handicapped people through interactive games on consoles or via the Internet Stimulating group activities (exergaming) Memory workshops Computer karaoke Blog writing Sightseeing with Google Earth Language classes (e-learning) E-administration |
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IMPROVEMENTS
Improvement: Types of courses
· Courses for beginners where everything is explained step by step - preparation for normal computer course (this course needn´t be long, e.g. 5 afternoons once a week)
· Courses that are seniors most interested in: special courses for using digital camera; training in using communicators (skype, ICQ); digital banking; use of cellular phone; "Do not be afraid of computers" (course for those who have never used one); English with computer; IT vocabulary (meaning of unknown words - e.g. chat, discussion forum, forum, multimedia)
· Courses in different places - cooperation with public cultural or social centres (different places enables to spread the activities around your town, city).
· Special activities – “Café with the Internet” - meetings once/twice a week in your organization (coffee and cakes free) on different topics: Internet, mobile (e.g. from telephone list to SMS), use of digital camera, scanner, e-bay, USB and Bluetooth, how to choose PC, email, home banking etc. What senior people really appreciate is a fact, that this activity is for old people only, so they don´t need to worry or feel shy. Teacher/volunteer explains everything slowly and "step by step". Discussion and questions follow. Internet is free to use during this time. This activity can be a free trial for visitor who are not sure whether to participate or not in other courses. Approximate lenght of the lesson is 90 minutes.
Other comments: experience on courses for seniors people
· Senior courses are in the afternoon (no need to go out in the dark)
· Courses are very slow, no theory, a lot of pictures and practice
· Courses for little groups , not more then 4 students per teacher.
· Have fun
· Seniors should use all senses while learning
Improvement: Advice on developing mobile courses:
· Important is to ask the participants to bring their manuals as telephones are very different
· Only hands on learning is effective
· Proceeding very slowly and repeating several times is crucial
· Teaching to use short numbers motivates the learners
Improvement: Advice on volunteering:
Volunteers are crucial for most participant organisations as it is sometimes the only way how to arrange free of cheap courses for seniors. But finding volutneers is also a challenge for all partner organizations.
· Young people as volunteers. There is a possibility to open didactic course for young people on how to train old people. These courses should be free and young people should get new qualification (certificate approved by the official authorities). There is also possibility to cooperate with universities - experience with teaching seniors could be taken into account while applying for university studies or taking exams (motivation of students)
· Coopeartion with local schools (secondary schools or other educational centres). This type of activity is very successful in the Czech school where young students teach seniors. The courses are tailor-made.
· Different motivation for young people (Europass)
· Seniors as “job-openers”
· Working as a volunteer must be fun. Arrange special training for volunteers (for better future career), meeting, seminars, some small benefits.
ICT TRAINING IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES
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Activity |
Activity |
Activity |
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Description of activity |
WII Console Interactive games |
DDR Dance carpets |
Music Karaoke with computer program |
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Whom is activity addressed to |
Originally for youngsters, but Nintendo proposes more and more games for seniors (like sports games = playing tennis) or fighting against loss of memory (Cerebral academy), or group games (Cerebrum) |
Originally for youngsters, but if the rythm of the chosen music is adapted , it could be a nice activity for seniors |
All seniors („active“ and people in retirement homes and Alzheimer sick people) |
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Tools required |
WII Nintendo Console Game CD‘s A large screen with videoprojector and loud speakers A large free space in front of the screen |
Computer + link + carpet + Stepmania free software OR Wii + specific carpet + hottest party game |
Computer, Projection screen Microphone Loud speakers Videoprojector Karaoke software + eventually accordeonist „live“ |
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Description of activity |
First steps in ICT |
More specific workshops Numeric image/photo Numeric video Interactive communication tools : Skype, MSN |
Using e-learning to learn foreign languages |
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Whom is activity addressed to |
All seniors |
Seniors with basic background how to use computers |
Seniors who want to learn a foreign language and exchange / chat in foreign languge over the internet |
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Tools required |
Computer |
Computer and multimedia add-ons |
Computer and iADSL connection |
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Description of activity |
1-3. How to use mobile telephone.
The course helps to use mobile telephone. Only the most elementary facts included. |
4. Everything out of my telephone.
Continuation of the course type 1
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5. To the bank without slippery streets.
How to use digital bank.
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Whom is activity addressed to |
The course addresses seniors who hade got or bought a phone, but were not able or willing to use it. |
Those who are able to use the basic functions of their phone, but wanted to take photos, send them etc. |
To help whose you can use computer to use digital bank. This is important as local services are more and more limitted. |
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Tools required |
Participants bring their own mobiles. |
Flap board and computer with projector |
Computer with projector for lecturers. Computers for participants, one for two. |
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Activity |
Activity |
Activity |
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Description of activity |
Senior in the world of culture and art
Major goals are to stimulate active life of senior citizens in order to increase their participation in events organized by cultural institutons and to support integration process of seniors through exchange of accomplishment and information.
These goals are achieved through: - peers meetings, - workshops; - seminars, - lectures.
All these activities are directed towards stimulating and/or further developing seniors interest in culture and art in terms of own activities and/or exhibiting increased interest.
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Seniors in the world of new technologies and information society
Major goals are to provide the senior citizens access to ICT, to disseminate of the knowledge on computers in the senior citizens group, to increase the activity and to improve the inter-generation dialogue.
These goals are achieved through: - computer trainings – various levels; - trainings on how to deal with other modern tools; - lectures on the role of moder technologies in every-day life.
In all types of activities, the educators are usually young people and during trainings and/or meetings inter-generation dialogue occurs as natural phenomenon.
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Senior in public life:towards conscious and full citizenship
The objective is to stimulate civil activity of seniors directed towards representing of the peers interest against public authorities through: expressing the needs of seniors, participation in decision-making proces, monitoring the situation of senior citizens.
These goals are achieved through: - meetings; - trainings; - seminars; - preparing handbooks, directed towards increasing the awareness among the seniors that activity in public life (‚pro publico bono‘) is equivalent to activity for improved their life conditions (‚pro domo sua‘). Legal and practical aspects are dealt with
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Whom is activity addressed to |
For seniors interested in improving the creativity and knowledge in the filed of culture and art, as well as enhancing activity |
For senior who are beginners or advanced in computer literacy. Courses are for 10 seniors (with 2 teachers), once a week when the library is open. |
All seniors |
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Tools required |
Lecture halls (up to 100 people ) Training rooms Computer reading-room Training tools, materials and supplies (stationery supplies, flipchart) Other |
Computers with accessories Screen Projector Own training tools, materials and supplies |
Lecture and training halls/rooms Own training tools/materials/supplies Laptop Projector Screen |
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