elderly people
EduSenior offers a free course on Senior Education
The EduSenior project aims to improve the quality of educational institutions that currently are offering courses and activities or wish to implement a learning activity aimed to senior learners (65+ or retired).
Supported by the European Commission’s the Lifelong Learning Programme, EduSenior is offering from June to September 2013 the free online course “Senior education: A Quality of Life approach to assessing educational institutions”, targeted to professionals, decision makers, students and, in general, anybody interested in the topic of adult and senior education.
The virtual classroom will open on May 27th, and the course will start on June 3rd. The course is 100% virtual and will be offered in English and Spanish (different groups). Participants will also have the option to choose the intensity which best suits their needs:
- A 4 months course: June - September 2013.Average time required: 8 h. per week
- Or a 2 months course: June - July 2013. Average time required: 16 h. per week.
The course is organised by the Senior Citizens’ University (Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain) and the Akademia im. Jana Długosza (Jan Długosz University, Częstochowa, Poland) and is part of the EduSenior project “Evaluation toolkit on seniors’ education to improve their quality of life" (QEduSen).
The topics to be addressed during the online training sessions are:
- Introduction to the needs and requirements of the elderly and potentialities of education
- Analysis of educational factors that help increase seniors’ competences and increase their quality of life, with real examples and other case studies.
- Introduction to the evaluation process to increase quality in an institution.
- Application of the EduSenior evaluation toolkit
The online registration to participate in this course will remain open until 26 May.
CARER+ - Developing Digital Competences of Care Workers to Improve the Quality of Life of Older People
An interdisciplinary and international team of 14 institutions launched the Carer+ project earlier this year for care-workers all around Europe. The project identifies and enhances ICT competences of care-workers who support elderly persons at home - anticipating a new and vital role for care workers. Introducing new, easy-to-use internet-based technology tools for elderly, in the next 2 years scientific research, a competence framework, curriculum and training tools in theory and practice, training for trainers and policy exchange visits as well as an open online learning space and community for care-workers will be put in place to realise the challenging aims of the project.
In today’s social care systems in most European countries, it is possible to receive the care needed at home, especially if one suffers from multiple chronic illnesses. Europe battles with an aging society and with the financial crisis holding a firm grip on European economy, it becomes increasingly crucial to take a close look on social care systems in place. For many elderly citizens the transition to a life in need of care is accompanied by lack of qualified caregivers, an absence of basic services such as transportation, no access to appropriate housing, and loneliness. Recent research has shown that a growing number of older people can be encouraged to use online services, and that modern ICTs and AAL (Ambient Assisted Living) technologies can radically change their lives. The key mediator between technology and ever-day life of elderly people are the domiciliary care-workers.
CARER+ is there to care for care-workers. It will create a unique a list of ICT knowledge and skill-based competences for domiciliary care workers with related certification process for digital competences of care-workers. Based on this framework and non-formal hard and soft skills, a special learning environment and resources will be put in place and disseminated. To make sure, the CARER+ framework works in real-life conditions, the project will pilot its framework and methodology in 5 countries with 500 care-workers. Following the lessons learned during the pilot phase, a complete set of guidelines will be developed to ensure transferability for all areas of the field. News and updates on project events and activities will be continuously shared on the web, on social online platforms and at events.
Details of on the project can be found at the project website: http://www.carerplusproject.eu/
El iPad fomenta la interacción y la creatividad de la gente mayor
Dos estudios de la UOC demuestran que el uso del iPad va más allá de ser una herramienta tecnológica de última generación. Entre sus utilidades, estas investigaciones demuestran que la tableta de Apple puede ayudar a la gente mayor a interaccionar y a fomentar su creatividad. Además, puede ayudar en investigaciones policiales.
El primer proyecto demuestra que el iPad puede ser de gran utilidad para la gente mayor que presenta un grado de salud razonable. Por su interfaz relativamente fácil y por su ligereza, el iPad permite que la gente mayor se acerque y se adapte rápidamente a su uso. La facilidad de acceso a los recursos de esta tableta y a sus aplicaciones potencia las interrelaciones sociales entre la gente mayor y ayuda a fomentar la creatividad.
Este proyecto ha ayudado a la gente mayor a perder el miedo a las nuevas tecnologías en una época en la que prevalece la digitalización. «Se trata de un proyecto que busca acercar las personas a la tecnología y no a la inversa. Muy a menudo pensamos que tenemos que «formar» a las personas para la tecnología, en lugar de considerar que debemos adaptar la tecnología a las personas», considera Margarida Romero, una de las impulsoras de esta investigación. Además de Romero, ha participado en este proyecto Elena Barberà, ambas miembros del grupo EDUS (Educación a Distancia Universitaria y Escolar) del eLearn Center de la UOC.
Este proyecto se ha llevado a cabo en Finlandia. Sin embargo, se espera poder desarrollar este tipo de investigación sobre gente mayor en el Estado español, y específicamente a Cataluña, en los próximos años.
El segundo de los estudios demuestra que «por su naturaleza empotrada y su diseño cerrado» el iPad puede facilitar la adquisición de datos forenses que pueden servir para investigaciones policiales y para la mejora en la resolución de delitos. La tableta de Apple presenta una serie de características para la detección de datos que la diferencian de otras tabletas de marcas diferentes.
Entre estas, el coautor de esta investigación, Luis Gómez, destaca los puntos menos estándares que presenta el sistema operativo del iPad, como por ejemplo los datos almacenados en nube (plataforma iCloud), la capacidad del dispositivo de ser localizado en cualquier momento (servicio Find My iPhone) o la impresión inalámbrica (servicio Airprint), que es una de las claves relevantes de esta investigación. Gómez considera también que «hay otros productos que pueden ofrecer prestaciones similares, pero las diferencias en la implementación hacen que haya que estudiar cada plataforma de forma independiente».
En relación con la resolución de delitos, hay casos comprobados en los que el iPad ha sido concluyente. «He trabajado personalmente en casos de amenazas y chantajes en los que dispositivos que trabajan con el sistema operativo iOS han sido el elemento de prueba decisivo. También es fácil imaginar el iPad como elemento decisivo en casos de fuga de información», afirma Luis Gómez.Este estudio ha sido realizado por Joan Arnedo, investigador del instituto de investigación de la UOC, el IN3, y Luis Gómez, estudiante de doctorado en la UOC.
Con estos dos proyectes se analiza y se demuestra de forma empírica que los usos del iPad van más allá del uso tecnológico propio de la era digital y que las tabletas, en este caso concreto los iPads, ofrecen otras posibilidades de trabajo y de aprendizaje significativo para distintos sectores de la población.
Enlaces relacionados
· EDUS
· IN3
The iPad fosters interaction and creativity among the elderly
Two studies by the UOC show that use of the iPad takes it way beyond being a latest-generation technological tool. Among the uses of the Apple tablet, this research shows that it can help the elderly interact and foster their own creativity. It also provides support to police investigations.
The first project shows that the iPad can be extremely useful for the elderly with a reasonable level of health. Thanks to its relatively easy interface and the fact that it weighs very little, the iPad means that the elderly adapt quickly to using it. Easy access to the resources on this tablet and their applications develop social interrelations among the elderly and help foster creativity.
This project has helped the elderly lose their fear of new technologies in an age dominated by digitalisation. “The aim of this project is to bring people to technology and not the other way round,” says Margarida Romero, one of the driving forces behind this research. “Very often, we have to ‘train' people for technology, instead of considering that we should adapt technology to people.” As well as Romero, Elena Barberà also took part in this project, both being members of the EDUS group (University and School Distance Learning) at the UOC's eLearn Center.
The project was carried out in Finland. However, we hope to develop this type of research into the elderly in Spain, and specifically Catalonia, over the coming years.
The second study shows that “due to its deeply-rooted nature and closed design”, the iPad helps with gathering forensic information to aid police investigations and improve crime clear-up rates. The Apple tablet has a series of information detection features that distinguish it from other tablets by different brands.
Of these, the research's co-author, Luis Gómez, has highlighted the most standard points offered by the iPad operating system, such as cloud stored information (iCloud platform), the fact that the device can be located at any time (the Find My iPhone service) and wireless printing (Airprint service), which is one of the key relevant points to this research. Gómez also believes that “there are other products that offer similar features, but the differences in implementation make it necessary for each platform to be studied separately.”
In relation to crime clear-up, there are proven instances where the iPad has been conclusive. “I have worked personally on cases of threats and blackmail where the devices that work with the iOS operating system have been the decisive element of proof,” says Luis Gómez. “It's also easy to imagine the iPad as key in cases of information leaks,” he added.This study was conducted by Joan Arnedo, researcher at the UOC's research institute, IN3, and Luis Gómez, UOC PhD student.
These two projects analyse and show empirically that the iPad can be used far beyond the confines of the technological uses of the digital age and that tablets, in this specific case the iPad, offer significant work and learning possibilities for different sectors of the population.
Related links
· EDUS
· IN3
28 September 2012
3rd International Conference on Elderly and New Technologies
International conference presenting the latest research and trends on ICT and elderly citizens (over 55). This includes pedagogy of ICT, Knowledge Society, ICT tools for education, social impact and QL, e-inclusion, potentialities, changes.
Researchers, teachers, professionals, and learners are invited to present their recent work and innovations and share experiences and expertise.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play an essential role in today's society. Knowledge of these ICT is increasingly necessary to access a wide range of services, knowledge and new forms of social organization are becoming more and more important in the field of education. Nowadays elderly people need to have some knowledge of these ICTs if they are to remain an active part of our society. All citizens should be included in this new society. Being part of this society offers great advantages, while on the other hand, the risk of being excluded is also an important issue.
Educational institutions, as Universistat per a Majors have created some programs to promote the use of these ICTs among the elderly, ranging from simple e-mail users or search engines to use other tools to get some experience with these technologies.
The motto of this conference: "No one is left behind" promotes the idea of teaching the elderly in the use of ICT so they do not feel excluded from society. The III International Conference on Elderly and New Technologies are intended to facilitate the inclusion of older people in the ICT society. Therefore, this conference aims to expand and share experiences, technology and tools, while discussed in depth the social realities and social impact arising from the impact of technological advances in the field of training of the elderly. Researchers, teachers and professionals from around the world will be taking on the task of explaining the technological development and progress and benefits to present and explain their research and results in the field of ICT for the elderly.
This conference is aimed at researchers, teachers, staff and students over the world. In addition, older students have not only the role of spectators, but once finished the conference, will establish a network among all participants to continue to innovate and exchange experiences, tools, content and other approaches and methodologies in the field of education ICT for the elderly.
Empowering Lives, Supporting Affectivity
ELSA intends to explore the use of Web 2.0 to reach two target groups: family and professional caregivers caring for frail elderly people, including those who live with Alzheimer disease and with dementia.
The main aim of ELSA project is to create videos, slides, texts which can give support and information to those (professionals and relatives) caring for frail elderly people.
ELSA addresses the learning needs of professional caregivers working in residential and home care services (nursing homes, assisted living centers, adult care centers, home services, and the like) and of relatives caring for frail older people living at home or in residential care.
The partners made during the first year a multilingual website, collecting the videos and texts produced in the various countries; now the website is interfaced with Facebook and YouTube for creating social networks, open to professionals and relatives.
Facebook pages are in Italian, German, English and Lithuanian.
The innovative aspects are:
- the idea of exchanging training and information among professionals and caregivers, usually not sharing training on the care of frail elderly;
- the idea of collecting personal experiences and accounts not only from relatives but also from professionals, usually involved only in relation to their professionals skills;
- the use of videos, photos, accounts, short interviews, books reviews made by the project's participants, on themes such as the care of frail older people and the individual and emotional experiences lived by relatives who already went through this experience.