Abstract:

Educational institutions teach ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) to promote the adoption of the Internet use, tablets, smartphones, services and other advantages of the information society. It is also important senior citizens to be part of digital society (e-inclusion) or what is called the knowledge socity. Training institutions tend to focus on adoption, benefits could be reach thanks e-inclusion.

In this paper, we wanted to know how can the senior citizens’ quality of life improve by the offer of courses and educational activities on Information and communication technologies. We applied this study in the Senior Citizens’ University of the Jaume I University. This is a Third Age University, with students average 67 that learn to use ICT while we promote also de digital inclusion. We analysed which are the best topics, models and methods that could impact the quality of life components (considering Cummins and Shallock dimensions) and to which extend the education and acquisition of competences influences the subjective quality of life perception.

Since 2002, the Senior Citizens’ University offered ICT courses, varying since then the offer, but also the approach and methodology. We focus this study on the last academic year (2015/2016) but comparing with the evolution and perspective of present achievements.

We offer of ICT activities (conferences, workshops, practises) in the Senior Citizens’ University of the Jaume I University. In deep interview after the academic course ending. Assessment of the subjective perception of well-being, digital inclusion and quality of life of the ICT activities provided during the course.

We found out that the best approach is to teach ICT from an interdisciplinary path; with theoretical and practical methods; non-formal and informal models, and also as a content and as a pedagogy. Quality of Life components as perceived control, support, emotional well-being, personal development… were the ones that increased most significantly.

We showed that thanks an educational activity it is possible to influence the quality of life of senior citizens, and increased the protective factors (self-esteem, perceived control and optimism) against other factors that could jeopardise quality of life (health, resources, security..). Digital inclusion affects quality of life and it is crucial that educational institutions offer an adequate socio-educational activity.

Keywords:

Quality of life, ICT, senior, andragogy.