Teaching smartphone settings and social applications to 60+ audiences through weekly classes and remote interventions
Abstract
This work investigates the factors that allow the elderly to use technological resources to improve their quality of life and aging, as well as presenting the challenges associated with this process. The goal is to write the principles and methodology of a digital educational program for seniors' education developed in interdisciplinary collaboration and supported by a system and a mobile application to remotely monitor and promote the generalization of learning. Before participating in the course, a frequency of use of the smartphone in its basic functions was identified, however, there was a low sense of self-efficacy or competence in using it. The mobile app, called "digital helper", was used as a didactic resource and considered a valid resource by 76% of the participants, as it stimulated or increased student involvement with practical tasks sent home remotely. At the end of the study, it was possible to observe the interest of the elderly population present in literacy classes in using mobile devices and the communication and leisure applications offered by it. The use of an innovative methodology, which adds a digital helper, facilitated the teaching and learning of students, especially in the learning of social networks (Facebook and WhatsApp). The classes demonstrated the relevance of digital literacy programs for seniors. Future studies will be conducted to establish comparisons between specific methods - such as the one described here, and traditional methods for digital literacy in the elderly.
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