1. Breaking Down the Barriers for the Aging Population
George Head-IT743 Chen, Spring 2014
The Practical Use of
Technology for Seniors

2. • Winter Texans in Woody Acres RV
Park
• Seniors with minimal or no
exposure/understanding of technology
• Slightly more affluent
a. They travel extensively
b. Go on cruises and purchase travel
packages
Audience Background

3. • Constructivism/Motivational
(favors processes over end product,
and is learner centered)
1. Social Negotiation
2. Encouraging Ownership in
Learning
3. Collaborative Learning and
Problem Scaffolding
Learning Theories Incorporated

4. • Some of the biggest interface design barriers that
complicate navigation for senior computer users are:
1) Disappearing desktops
2) Drop down menus
3) Overlapping windows
4) Missing or disappearing buttons
Barriers that Seniors contend with…

5. Barriers that Seniors
contend with…

6. Learning Objectives/Goals
• The Following Goals are Specific for this Group of
Learners
1. Increase their knowledge of available technology
2. Encourage Learners to Share Discoveries During
Training
3. Linking new knowledge gained to what they already
have
4. Assist these senior learners in creating meaningful goals
for themselves therefore enhancing their way of life

7. Increase their knowledge of
available technology

8. Increasing their knowledge of
available technology
This falls under assisting senior learners in creating
meaningful goals for themselves therefore enhancing
their way of life.

9. Motivational Strategies
• The Following Strategies are Specific for this Group of
Learners
1. Using group work along with one on one training
a. Enhances the experience
b. Allows for perspective taking and reflection
c. Encourage Learners to Share Discoveries During Training
2. Pique curiosity with personal choice and control
3. Purposeful learning activities
a. Accessing Health related websites
b. Creating online albums
c. Using Skype or FaceTime with friends and family

10. Motivational Strategies
• The Following Strategies are Specific
for this Group of Learners
1. Empower learners to make choices
– Help them see how outcomes will vary
– Reassure them to continue exploring
2. Stay with learning goals as to not
discourage
3. Help the senior learner feel efficacious
about the tasks presented and
explored

11. Learning Strategies
Bold Print Handouts
Instruction/Demonstrations
Sharing Time/Reflections

12. Bold Print Handouts
• Easy to read for
seniors
• Simple step by step
instruction
• Supplement with
large screen and
LCD projection
system
Materials for older adults was developed by the National Institute
on Aging

13. Instruction/Demonstrations
• List the things they will cover in
the lesson/demo
• Identify an aspect of the lesson
which they think their approach
was useful
• Ask the learners how they
would approach the task
differently

14. Instruction/Demonstrations
• Supplemental instruction
provided online
• Images reflect familiar scenes
from the area
• Provides links to online
resources

15. • Remind learners of their own previous
successes at similar tasks
• Use verbal persuasion to get leaner to
attempt a task
• Help students realize that a little bit of
nervousness actually enhances
performance.
• Remind Students of the Role THEY Have
Had in Their Own Successes
Sharing Time/Reflections

16. Review of the Process
Increase their
knowledge of
available
technology
Encourage
Learners to Share
Discoveries
During Training
Linking new
knowledge
gained to what
they already
have
Assist these
senior learners in
creating
meaningful goals
Enhancing their
way of life

17. Thanks for your attention!