E-seniors, promoting access to ICT (E-seniors)

The aim of this eInclusion project is to promote access and training for new information and communication technologies for seniors, with the purpose of bridging and shrinking the digital gap between generations, caring for elders by fighting their isolation and opening new horizons to efficiently use free time.

Policy Context

The project is designated for senior citizens who have difficulties with ICT using and/or who want to improve their skill, learn more about life in different countries and modern technologies. The project wants to provide access to ICT for senior citizens and help them to overcome barriers in this filed, stimulate them to work and self-learning, exchange experience and extend their knowledge The project disseminates computer literacy in the group of senior citizens, distributes idea of opportunities resulting from using ICT and raised senior citizens to cooperation The project contributes to improvement of inter-generation communication. Senior citizens will come close to young generation, they will find new information and activities. It also helps to disseminate the idea of life-long learning.

Description of target users and groups

Senior citizens living in the city of Paris and, further on for our European project, in Prague, Seville, Selb (Germany) Helsinki, Cracow.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

We work togother with other European countries in order to compare and improve aour teaching methods Multi-channel issues: Introducing new teaching methods in the field of computer literacy and exchanging their experience on senior citizens teaching (special needs of senior citizens learners, difficulties, positive and negative aspects) Organizing a special competition - Senior Olympic Games - that will enable senior citizens practise ICT skill and compare their skills in international context with colleagues from different countries. It will also help to disseminate the need of good ICT using and the idea of self-study, cooperation and experience extension. Contributing to inter-generation dialogue improvement in two possible forms. First form includes direct contact of senior citizens with young people. Young people are going to introduce chances of modern technologies and take part in teaching of senior citizens. The second form means contact of both groups via internet (e-mail/web page). This activity will bring new contacts, new information on different European countries and life-styles.

Technology solution

We use classical PC computers with Microsoft software, as the seniors mostly buy their own computers in big commercial centers and do not need to know about open-source technologies.

Main results, benefits and impacts

The main aim of the project includes providing access to ICT for senior citizens and dissemination of computer literacy in this group. Senior citizens will be able to overcome barriers in this field. Participation in the project will help them on personal and social development, stimulation to work and further self-learning. The project also contributes to improve the intergenerational dialogue because senior citizens will learn from young people and communicate with them via modern technologies. They can learn a lot about the modern world, the younger generations and different life-style or different European countries. The project will have positive effect on promoting the idea of life-long learning. Innovation: The innovation is to use ICT teaching to fight against loss of memory among people suffering from MCI (light Alzheimer troubles).

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Lessons learnt

Teaching seniors forces us to invent a new pedagogy, as there are big differences with teaching young people or adults still working. The aims are not the same, as well as the learning rythm. People come to our courses to meet our seniors and prefer, therfore, group teaching better than individual assistance Scope: International