Abstract:

As with the rest of the world, many senior citizens in Singapore are learning Information Communications Technology (ICT). One of the reasons is to feel connected with their family and the society [1]. Many researches have found that ICT can improve the quality of life in senior citizens[2]. However, senior citizens are often faced with different challenges while learning ICT, as compared to the young or adults. Many of the ICT trainers may have the expertise in their technology fields and the experience in teaching adult learners but these attributes may not work well when applied to teaching senior learners. When  trainers are not  able to recognize the challenges faced by senior citizens, they may facilitate the class in an unfavourable style for senior citizens' ICT learning. Such styles of teaching may leave a negative experience for senior citizens, as they feel anxious, stress, fear and shame [4]. In some cases, this may result in possible mental blocks and refusal to engage with ICT in the future.

This paper studies the challenges faced by seniors when learning ICT, and suggests ways to help seniors  learn with greater ease, there by achieving greater results. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through seniors who had gone through our ICT classes.

Keywords:

ICT, seniors, senior citizen.