The document summarizes an intergenerational program called "Getting To Know Your Techno" that brings together young people and older adults to teach digital skills. The program has involved over 100 young people and older adults over several sessions at the local library and nursing home. During the sessions, the young people help the older adults learn skills like using laptops, iPads, email and the internet. Both groups build relationships and the older adults feel more connected in their community. Feedback from participants shows the value of intergenerational learning and sharing of skills.

1. Getting To Know
Your Techno
Wanda Mackay
Youth Development Officer

3. AIMS
• Young people learn how to use technology to pass on their knowledge and skills
• Young and older people build positive relationships
• Older people share memories and their own skills and knowledge with young people
• Young people become more confident, respected, responsible and successful
• Older people feel safer in their communities
• Young people become more aware of the lives of people with visual impairments and
help them with technology
• Young people gain a Saltire Award
• Young people use the experience towards their ASDAN Award

4. Who was involved and when
So far, Getting To Know Your Techno courses have run for:
• 40 weeks with 3rd year ASDAN pupils in the library
• 40 weeks with 4th year ASDAN pupils in the library
• 4 weeks with one of the Black Isle Highland Youth Parliament reps in the local nursing
home
• On average there are 10 young people plus 5-10 older people at each session
• Partners include – Fortrose Library, Fortrose Academy, High Life Highland staff and
the Youth for Christ Worker (school based)

5. What the young people did
Young people planned and prepared courses by:
• Liaising with library staff to check availability of open learning room
• Creating posters which they put up around the Black Isle
• Preparing the sessions
During the classes young people:
• Helped set up – ebay accounts; Gmail email addresses; facilitated webcams
Demonstrated use of iPads; e-readers, Talking Kindles; laptops; showed how to
make and receive calls and texts on mobile phones; Showed older people how
to use the internet and particularly looking at photos in Cromarty image library.
• Showed how to play DVDs on laptops

7. What the older people got out of it
Learning how to:
– Use Laptops
– Use Ipad
– Use Computers
– Set up E-mail Address
– Play DVD
The older people built relationships with the young people and felt safe in their community.

9. Final comments
Some comments from participants and partners:
• “learning with young folks has been great fun”
• “seeing young and old working together, fantastic”
• “course is brilliant ….. getting rid of predictive text, wish I could have known that
months ago”
• “to become familiar with technology … brilliant … more sessions please”
• “these are definitely skills that today‟s teenagers have! How brilliant to have the
opportunity to share with members of the community”
• “it was a great day and was great to see some of the older people actually show
young people how to work the Kindle that talked”
• “to see the young and old mix and build strong trusting relationships and learn from
each other was really positive, everyone enjoyed the day”

10. Other intergenerational projects
‘A Grand Day Out’ - September 2011
„Award winning‟
Festival for Older People in the Black Isle
&
„My Black Isle‟
The portable notice-board for the over 55s
Fortrose Disability Access Challenge – May 2013
Young people working together with
Ross and Cromarty
Disability Access Group

11. ‘A Grand Day Out’
Young People from Fortrose Academy supported the Black Isle Ward Forum: Older
People‟s Working Group to organise very successful Older People's Festival
•Over 800 people attended
•Learned more, tried new experiences, signed up for classes & activities
•15 young people helped to steward the event
•Staffed stalls, promoted activities, manned help desk and assisted with parking.
“When is the next one?”
“Its great to see how much is on in our area”

12. ‘My Black Isle’
‘My Black Isle’ – a directory of activities and services for people aged 55+
•Primary School Art competition; „Our Black Isle‟.
•Prize giving at „A Grand Day Out‟
•More than just services - food, dialect, cycle routes, walks, favourite locations…
•All activities -– not just those targeting older people
“I think this would be great for any resident / visitor, not just
the over 55s”.
“I feel very proud to show it to visitors”

13. Fortrose Disability Access Challenge
Ross and Cromarty Disability Access Group worked together with Young People
from Fortrose Academy and organised a Disability Access Challenge in Fortrose
• Planned the project together
• Photographed access issues around Fortrose Academy
• Disability Awareness Training from Scottish Disability Equality Forum.
• Young People planned the challenge and set tasks.
• Teams of 3 or 4, including volunteers from local businesses and organisations.
• Present results as recommendations – concentrating on good practice in place.

15. Police Scotland's Internet Safety Talk
• Two police officers from the internet safety team came and gave a talk to 10 young
people and 20 older people
• The officers spoke about how to use the internet safely when paying for things online
• How to keep your self safe when using the internet – don‟t give out your personal
details.
• They spoke about different virus‟s and how they affect computers and how they can
affect peoples lives

16. Ian Murray
Chief Executive
High Life Highland
12-13 Ardross Street
Inverness
IV3 5NS
Tel: 01463 663824
ian.murray@highlifehighland.com
www.highlifehighland.com