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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Introducing older learners to information technology through life history writing | | Author(s) | D T D James, F Gibson, G McAuley |
| Journal title | International Journal of Lifelong Education, 1995 |
| Pages | 8 pp (proof copy only) |
| Keywords | Memory and Reminiscence ; Writing ; Information technology ; Computers ; Adult Education. |
| Annotation | Older people have mostly been prevented from acquiring computing skills, because of inavailability - until recently - of suitable machines, and because of a perception that computers and older people are incompatible. However, some familiarity and competence with computers could make their lives safer and intellectually more stimulating. This paper reports the experience of introducing a group of older people (mean age 70, some physically frail) to computers, by means of the positively motivating and potentially therapeutic medium of personal life-history writing. Compared to younger users, participants expressed similar views about the ease of use of computers, but less confidence in using them unaided and less certainty in restarting computer use after a few days absence. Much infectious enthusiasm was generated among participants, with changes in their general mental health in a strongly positive direction. Further work is aimed towards establishing a communications network for use by older people, while their particular learning requirements are being incorporated in self-instruction software. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000615210 A |
| Classmark | DB: HKP: UVB: 3O: GP * |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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