About

The Idea behind the Project

How does life for seniors vary in different countries of the European Union?

What connects seniors from Poland, Italy, Finland or Slovenia?

What are the methods to encourage seniors to use the internet and to integrate with other seniors from around Europe?

These are some of the questions that the authors, organisers and participants of the project Senior on the Web were working on jointly during the workshop that took place from 21 April to 28 April in Kraków, Poland.

The Polish-German Association in Kraków in cooperation with the Voivodeship Public Library in Kraków has carried out over ten programmes within the framework of School of @ctive Senior (S@S) since 2007, including seven European Grundtvig projects. This was a significant basis for the conception and development of the project Senior on the Web aimed at sharing personal experiences and imparting the professional knowledge about the methods used to encourage seniors in using computers, internet and modern information and communication technologies in their daily lives, as well as for local senior activities.

The project was carried out in the form of a workshop to share as many methods and useful tips as possible, based on cross-sectional analysis of the senior society in Europe.

Attached you will find the Jerzy Jedliński's presentation about the activities of the Polish-German Association in Kraków and the idea of the project. Here you can visit the homepage of the Polish-German Association in Kraków.

Programme of the Grudtvig-Workshop Senior on the Web

Information about the Project

The authors of the project, Kamila Mazurek, Maria Lidia Jedlińska and Jerzy Jedliński shared their experiences during the project and combined their knowledge on senior issues focusing on the following three areas:

Aim and Objectives

The project pursued four main objectives which are as follows:

• improving the quality of life by increasing seniors' competencies in using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and, therefore, an increasing presence of seniors on the internet
• creating a representation of this group and an international network of seniors based on the workshop participants seen as leaders of the local networks
  • stimulating cross-generational dialogue through the use of the internet by both youths and seniors
  • fighting the common stereotype of inactive seniors as main beneficiaries of health and social care

Methods and Workshop Topics

While creating and planning the project, the authors used many different methods:

• using ICT and internet tools to accomplish the learning objectives
  • learning by doing
  • working collectively
  • sharing experiences and examples of good practice
  • alternation of presentations with research on the field for creating products
  • constant assistance, guidance and feedback
  • reflection and evaluation

One of the important parts of the workshop was gaining or deepening competencies, practical skills and methods in using internet tools on an interpersonal, local and European scale. Thus the participants were occupied with the following tasks:

• operating the computer and using the keyboard
• using internet browsers (primarily Mozilla Firefox)
• using emails (Gmail)
• using the Social Web (Facebook or professional networks)
• using time management tools (Doodle or Google Calendar)
• using photo and video management tools (Picasa or YouTube)
• using common files on the Internet (Google Drive)
• using translators in the internet (Google Translator)
• using communication tools (Skype)
• learning how to write a blog (WordPress)
• planning a senior network with ICT

Furthermore, the participants got familiar with educational web sites concerning issues like establishing partnerships, intercultural education or financing of local initiatives for seniors using funding provided by the European Union.

Structure

The workshop consisted of the four following sections:

• senior on the web: learning of computer operating, characteristics of Social Web, tools and methods of work in the internet as a way of self-realization, inspiring other seniors, as well as learning the communication tools and planning a senior network with ICT
• senior in the network of interpersonal communication: helping to gain interpersonal competencies, group work, empowerment of seniors in their local community, creating creative space
• senior in the European network: gaining competencies in the field of European integration, intercultural competencies, knowledge of Europe
• stimulating and creating a personal network via exercise and integration games