Effectiveness of Instructional Strategies Designed for Older Adults in Learning Digital Technologies: A Systematic Literature Review

Nahdatul Akma Ahmad; Muhammad Fairuz Abd Rauf; Najmi Najiha Mohd Zaid; Azaliza Zainal; Tengku Shahrom Tengku Shahdan; Fariza Hanis Abdul Razak

doi:10.1007/s42979-022-01016-0

Effectiveness of Instructional Strategies Designed for Older Adults in Learning Digital Technologies: A Systematic Literature Review

SN Comput Sci. 2022;3(2):130. doi: 10.1007/s42979-022-01016-0. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Authors

Nahdatul Akma Ahmad¹, Muhammad Fairuz Abd Rauf², Najmi Najiha Mohd Zaid³, Azaliza Zainal², Tengku Shahrom Tengku Shahdan³, Fariza Hanis Abdul Razak⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Perak Branch, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 35400 Tapah Road, Perak Malaysia.
² Faculty of Communication, Visual Art and Computing, Universiti Selangor, Bestari Jaya, 45600 Selangor, Malaysia.
³ Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universiti Selangor, Bestari Jaya, 45600 Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia.

Abstract

An ageing population is a universal phenomenon experienced worldwide. In parallel with these demographic changes, a significant breakthrough in digital devices has also influenced this digital age. Designing instructional strategies to promote meaningful learning among older adult learners has been a long-standing challenge. To enhance older adults' life-long learning experiences, implementing instructional strategies in the process through which such adults learn can help to improve effective learning. Despite significant calls for research in this area, there is still insufficient research that systematically reviews the existing literature on older adult learning needs and preferences. Hence, in the present article, a systematic literature review was conducted of the effectiveness of instructional strategies designed for older adult learners through the use of digital technologies. The review was guided by the publication standard, which is ROSES (Reporting Standard for Systematic Evidence Syntheses). This study involves articles selected from two established databases, Web of Science and Scopus. Data from the articles were then analysed using the thematic analysis, which resulted in six main themes: (1) collaborative learning; (2) informal learning setting; (3) teaching aids; (4) pertinence; (5) lesson design; and (6) obtaining and providing feedback. The six main themes produced a further 15 sub-themes. The results from this study make significant contributions in the areas of instructional design and gerontology. The findings from this study highlight several important strategies of teaching digital technology, particularly for older adults, as follows: (1) to enhance instructional design use in teaching digital technology based on the needs and preferences of older adult learners; and (2) to highlight the factors for, and impact of, learning digital technologies among older adults.

Keywords: Digital technologies; Effectiveness; Instructional strategies; Older adults; Systematic literature review.

Publication types

Review