Tech Training for Senior Citizens

"Figure it out, figure it out!"

This was the key message we kept iterating in a recent workshop we designed for senior citizens on how to use technology at the Jain Center of America, New York.

The nonprofit in Queens, NYC wanted to build the technology skills of their members.

Our Approach

1. Needs Analysis

We interviewed members to understand what challenges they were facing with using their phones and collated key issues like sharing location on Google Maps, purchasing extra storage for iCloud, sharing contact information, booking a cab, and more.

2. Program Design

We then built an effective and innovative training from scratch approach to address these specific needs.

The key creative learning design ideas we used were:

1. Building an "interaction guide" and having them practice actions on paper (see Image 1 below)

2. Using the metaphor of moving to a new city to build an open mindset

3. Using "rabri" and other cultural references to keep them excited

4. Crafting scenarios from real life to construct challenges, and many more (see images below)

The approach was not to show them "how to do" something; rather, it was giving them the core knowledge, actions, and a framework, and then having them figure out how something is done! It was such a joy to see their faces light up as they learned, and the love they showered on us was remarkable.

3. Program Delivery and Evaluation

We then had two facilitators who ran the program. Instead of using tech experts, we brought high-empathy, skilled facilitators to deliver the training as designed.

Formative evaluation was done between sessions to assess the depth of learning.

Assets

Please scroll to see assets from the workshop.

Image 1: The Interaction Guide we created to support practice on paper and aid mobile phone usage.

Image 2: Scenarios from the audience's daily life used to construct challenges

Image 3: Short formative assessment check-ins between the workshop

Image 5 & 6: Use of metaphors to connect technology with travelling (which is a common relatable experience for most senior citizens)

Image 7: Actionable challenges interspersed at each stage to aid learning.

Would you like us to build a workshop like this one for your audience?