An Intergenerational Information and Communications Technology Learning Project to Improve Digital Skills: User Satisfaction Evaluation

Francesc López Seguí; Marc de San Pedro; Eva Aumatell Verges; Salvador Simó Algado; Francesc Garcia Cuyàs

doi:10.2196/13939

An Intergenerational Information and Communications Technology Learning Project to Improve Digital Skills: User Satisfaction Evaluation

JMIR Aging. 2019 Aug 9;2(2):e13939. doi: 10.2196/13939.

Authors

Francesc López Seguí^{1

2}, Marc de San Pedro¹, Eva Aumatell Verges³, Salvador Simó Algado³, Francesc Garcia Cuyàs^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ TIC Salut Social, Generalitat de Catalunya, Mataró, Spain.
² Centre for Research in Health and Economics, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
³ Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain.
⁴ Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 31518276
PMCID: PMC6746070
DOI: 10.2196/13939

Abstract

Background: "Digital Partners" is an intergenerational information and communications technology learning project carried out in the municipalities of Vic and Centelles (Catalonia) from April to May 2018. Within the framework of the introduction of community service as a subject in secondary education, the Centre for Health and Social Studies (University of Vic) created a training space with 38 intergenerational partners (aged 14-15 years and >65 years), with the aim of improving the senior users' digital skills in terms of use of smartphones and tablets, thus helping reduce the digital divide in the territory.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the satisfaction of both junior and senior participants toward the intervention and to explore its main drivers.

Methods: Participants who volunteered to participate in the study were interviewed. Quantitative and qualitative data gathered in paper-based ad hoc surveys were used to assess participants' satisfaction.

Results: The experience shows a broad satisfaction of both junior and senior users. The project's strengths include the format of working in couples; randomly pairing individuals by operating system; the ability to practice with the device itself; individuals' free choice to decide what they wish to learn, develop, or practice; and the availability of voluntary practice material that facilitates communication and learning. With regard to aspects that could be improved, there is a need to review the timetabling flexibility of meetings to avoid hurrying the elderly and to extend the project's duration, if necessary.

Conclusions: This activity can serve to create mutual learning through the use of mobile devices and generate security and motivation on the part of the seniors, thus reducing the digital divide and improving social inclusion.

Keywords: ICT program; active aging; civic participation; community service; digital inclusion; intergenerational relationships.

©Francesc López Seguí, Marc de San Pedro, Eva Aumatell Verges, Salvador Simó Algado, Francesc Garcia Cuyàs. Originally published in JMIR Aging (http://aging.jmir.org), 09.08.2019.