Teach Technology to Seniors
As time progresses, technology continues to improve and become more complex to use. For a variety of reasons, older people are less tech-savvy than younger people and may need more help to use a technology device. You and maybe some of your friends can get together and teach a group of seniors some new technology skills, so that those seniors can become more connected with the people they love.
How might this help your community?
You could start by instructing your grandparents and their friends, or you could host this program in a senior centre and invite as many people as you're able to help.
The older adults in your community will benefit from this project because they'll be able to do more things with their technology skills. For example, they'll be able to chat with friends and family whenever they want, find resources in their community, and watch videos on YouTube.
In addition to learning how to use technology that can enhance their quality of life and make a variety of tasks more convenient, you will also gain more insight about the elderly in your neighborhood.
TIPS FOR WHEN & WHERE
On a weekday after-school
Local senior centre or retirement home
Suggested Action Plan
Check with your local senior centre to see if they would be interested in this program and if a room can be reserved. Book a date and time.
Create and print a flyer to recruit student volunteers to become tutors. Post the flyers around the neighbourhood and on social media to advertise them to youth who might be interested. Ask your friends if they might be interested in joining too.
Get people to sign-up through text, email or Google Forms.
Talk to seniors in the seniors centre and sign them up.
Come up with a few lesson plans and email them to the tutors so they can prepare in advance.
Match seniors and student tutors.
Run the event!
POTENTIAL RESOURCES
✓ A place to have your event
✓ Youth volunteers
✓ Flyers to print out (around $10-$15)
HELPFUL LINKS
YoutTeachingAdults has a list of sample lesson plans that youth can use to teach seniors: https://youthteachingadults.ca/workshop-resources/
Here is a guide to reference in your lesson plan for seniors: https://www.papa.com/resources/blog/how-to-teach-technology-to-seniors
Have yourself and your fellow volunteers read this article to better understand the importance of this project: https://www.oecd-forum.org/posts/why-it-s-become-crucial-for-older-adults-to-learn-new-technology