As a pie in the sky concept, I have started to think about a community literacy project idea. Initially, my goal was to craft a community outreach-style program that would address the lack that I observed in existing tech outreach programs aimed toward the elderly. As my research toward this goal progressed, it became all the more apparent just how challenging of an undertaking this would be for me. As such, I have decided to focus my project more around addressing what this lack entails for elderly people attempting to learn the ins and outs of technology, while also providing insight in the form of case studies about existing programs to see where they excel and where they fall short. In this blog I will be examining various existing programs and dissecting them to ascertain the ways in which they function, and the ways in which they could function in a better way if key components were to be changed.
One such program that exists in Ottawa is termed the Older Adult Plan and it addressed the recognized need to have programs in place that train elderly people to learn the basics of technology navigation. This initiative, run out of the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is a computer literacy program that provides additional skills and training to those who have already participated in the library's basic computer training that was already previously offered. This bilingual program can be used outside of the library setting and is easily accessible through the library's website. The curriculum offers a ground up approach that begins with walking seniors through early-on mouse navigation, and concluding with internet searching and the use of web mail.
After a careful analysis of this existing program, I have determined that the strengths of this program are as follows:
-This program can be shared with community members and is able to be used outside of the library by using the library's website link
-The program is available in both English and French
-The documents were reviewed and meet the desired accessibility needs of the community
-The program evolves from the basics of computer navigation through to internet searching and accessing web mail
-Library staff engage community volunteers in this reciprocal learning opportunity by teaching them how to introduce this technical material to the elderly
-This is being taught at the Ottawa Public Library and also in community centres that were identified as neighbourhood hubs
-Believed to have the power to facilitate social inclusion and participation
-By the end of 2014, 1,111 elderly people had participated in this program
Why this program still doesn't address this gap to the extent it could:
-This program is only accessible to those that can make it to the OPL or other community centres, but is not an accessible resource for seniors in retirement homes, etc.
-This program is still heavily tech-focused and in that way disregards seniors that would prefer to read on hard copy about how to navigate computers before putting their skills to the test
-The Older Adult Plan deals strictly with computers, but this doesn't explicitly specify what type of computer (Mac or PC). Also, some seniors may be interested to learn how to navigate through a tablet or mobile device, but this support is not offered
-This program doesn't address the use of Skype, Facetime, social media sites and in this way, it is a very bare-bones approach to a larger issue of technological communication and inclusion that is not being adequately addressed
One such program that exists in Ottawa is termed the Older Adult Plan and it addressed the recognized need to have programs in place that train elderly people to learn the basics of technology navigation. This initiative, run out of the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is a computer literacy program that provides additional skills and training to those who have already participated in the library's basic computer training that was already previously offered. This bilingual program can be used outside of the library setting and is easily accessible through the library's website. The curriculum offers a ground up approach that begins with walking seniors through early-on mouse navigation, and concluding with internet searching and the use of web mail.
After a careful analysis of this existing program, I have determined that the strengths of this program are as follows:
-This program can be shared with community members and is able to be used outside of the library by using the library's website link
-The program is available in both English and French
-The documents were reviewed and meet the desired accessibility needs of the community
-The program evolves from the basics of computer navigation through to internet searching and accessing web mail
-Library staff engage community volunteers in this reciprocal learning opportunity by teaching them how to introduce this technical material to the elderly
-This is being taught at the Ottawa Public Library and also in community centres that were identified as neighbourhood hubs
-Believed to have the power to facilitate social inclusion and participation
-By the end of 2014, 1,111 elderly people had participated in this program
Why this program still doesn't address this gap to the extent it could:
-This program is only accessible to those that can make it to the OPL or other community centres, but is not an accessible resource for seniors in retirement homes, etc.
-This program is still heavily tech-focused and in that way disregards seniors that would prefer to read on hard copy about how to navigate computers before putting their skills to the test
-The Older Adult Plan deals strictly with computers, but this doesn't explicitly specify what type of computer (Mac or PC). Also, some seniors may be interested to learn how to navigate through a tablet or mobile device, but this support is not offered
-This program doesn't address the use of Skype, Facetime, social media sites and in this way, it is a very bare-bones approach to a larger issue of technological communication and inclusion that is not being adequately addressed