Centre for Policy on Ageing



A U3A without walls — using the Internet to reach out to isolated older people
Author(s)	Rick Swindell
Journal title	Education and Ageing, vol 15, no 2, 2000
Pages	pp 251-263
Keywords	Information technology ; Computers ; U3A ; Isolation ; Australia.
Annotation	A range of health-related and situational factors prevents many older people from enjoying and benefitting from adult education activities. Isolated Bytes (IB) is an experimental U3A "without walls" in Australia using the Internet to provide cognitively challenging adult education programmes to isolated older people. The characteristics and aspirations of 29 participants, and their perceptions of two 8-week long pilot courses are described. Most were women, and most were aged 65 and over. Few were experienced Internet users. More than half lived in large cities, but considered themselves isolated by circumstances such as poor health or caring for an ageing spouse or friend. All rated the Internet course very highly. This suggests that adult education courses provided over the Internet may be able to enrich the lives of isolated older people. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-001031215 A
Classmark	UVB: 3O: V5A: TP: 7YA
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.