PEER TO PEER LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: CAN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE, SUPPORTED BY WEB2.0 TOOLS FOR ADULTS AGED 50PLUS, PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION?

Learning in later life often sees a paradigm shift away from academic attainment or qualifications to more of a social learning experience that brings a degree of pleasure and fulfillment to individuals. It is not only about learning per se but about an understanding which extends an individual’s opportunity to remain active, physically, socially and mentally. Hence, learning in later life should be designed to meet aspects such as self-actualization, building relationships and creating social networks.

Despite the digital divide between generations, older people are increasingly enthusiastic about online learning. At the same time, Web2.0 tools can facilitate a wide range of learning experiences enabling users to benefit from new functionalities and provide opportunities to give and receive feedback and comments, as well as creating, uploading, sharing, modifying and to tagging content. Moreover, they can empower older learners to gain and/or pass on knowledge to others, maintaining cognitive ability as well as developing interests in a range of subject areas.
The key elements of learning in Web2.0 settings involve placing the learner at the centre of the learning process; a shift from traditional teaching to learning. Creating a collaborative knowledge environment where learners are co-producers in the learning process is a particular advantage of Web2.0 tools.

However, little is known about what motivates older people to engage in peer learning through 50plus platforms and what the key elements of learning in Web2.0 settings are. There is also limited data on the tools older people would prefer to use for learning purposes.
Based on research conducted within the EU-project ‘PEER – Dare to be wise!’ this paper examines i) motivational factors of knowledge exchange in later life, particularly through 50plus platforms, ii) contextual influences on older people’s use of Web2.0 tools for knowledge exchange and iii) Web2.0 tools which serve older people’s online peer learning best.