Abstract:

The rapid digitalisation of society has intensified the risk of social exclusion among older adults, making digital competence a key factor for active participation, lifelong learning, and autonomy. Within this framework, this study evaluates the effectiveness and participants’ perceptions of a large-scale digital skills training programme aimed at reducing the digital divide among older populations, developed under the “Vida Digital” initiative.

The main objective is to assess both the feasibility and perceived effectiveness of the programme by integrating structural evaluation and user experience perspectives. To achieve this, an innovative evaluation framework combining the CIPP model (Context, Input, Process, Product) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was applied. This approach enables a comprehensive analysis of both programme implementation and participants’ perceptions of usefulness and ease of use.

Data were collected from 1,712 participants through a structured questionnaire including Likert-scale items related to satisfaction, perceived usefulness, ease of use, learning outcomes, and overall training experience. The analysis includes descriptive statistics, reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha, and regression models to identify key predictors of satisfaction and perceived effectiveness.

The results reveal high levels of satisfaction and perceived usefulness among participants. Instructor-related factors—particularly clarity of explanations and pedagogical support—emerge as the most significant predictors of positive evaluation. However, variations across instructors and implementation contexts highlight the importance of instructional quality and consistency in adult digital education.

The findings underscore the importance of pedagogical adaptation, accessibility, and user-centred design in training programmes aimed at older adults. This study contributes to the field of adult education by providing an integrated evaluation framework that supports the design and assessment of effective digital inclusion initiatives, helping to bridge the digital divide in ageing societies.

https://gransactius.org/es/

Keywords:

Digital inclusion, older adults, adult education, digital skills training, CIPP model, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).