Improving the Liveability for Older People in South Gippsland I would like to introduce you to one of the projects within the Improving the Liveability for Older People project within South Gippsland Shire Council

Community Survey Findings Need for Information Communication Technology Skills To ensure: Choice Self direction Access Information And…. From the community survey that was conducted at the start of the ILOP project the need for ICT skills was very clear. Older resident within South Gippsland shire indicated that they wanted choice, self direction, access, information and most importantly…..

Connection To stay connected with their community, their family. Access to information and communication options connects people to news locally, nationally and internationally, allows people to stay in touch with family and friends. Things that today are part of our everyday life.

I don’t know how! It’s a new language Google it Find that on the net Here’s the link This is the address for that Just search for it People told us that when asking for information this is what they are told – google it, you can find that on the net, here’s the link for that, this is the address for that, just search for it. What they then told us is that they Don’t know how!!

Tech Tasters was created Who knows technology better than a teenager? So Tech Tasters was created. In exploring further we were told that the traditional lecture model of teacher out the front and students following did not work, the pace may not suit, the device may not match theirs, for a range of reasons people told us they had tried a class but it didn’t suit them. So we went to the experts, and who knows technology better than a teenager?

Tech Taster model Uses teenagers as mentors Allows learning at own pace Uses own device Pursues areas of own interest 1:1 learning with mentor Accesses the resources of Secondary College The tech taster model uses teenagers as mentors, allows learning at the participants own pace, where they have one uses the participants own device (ipad, phone, laptop), allows them to pursue areas of their own interest (how to improve your golf swing, recipe’s, activities for the school holidays with the grandchildren), uses 1:1 mentors, accesses the resources of the school – teacher, venue, computers, internet

People used ipads – use them travelling, take when visiting, vusually good size – accessed e- books from the library, alarms, emails, photos, clocks of the world, exchange rates, skype and facebook

People could bring in their own laptop, to help with maintaining skills when they went home

Using the phone, not to be taken for granted that everyone knows how to use their phone – activating SIM, making, receiving, adding credit, txt storing emergency phone numbers.

A great secondary outcome that occurred was the relationships that developed between the participants and the teenager mentors. An understanding of how technology is used currently within schools was shown and allowed teenagers to showcase their knowledge and skills breaking down some of the barriers and myths between the two groups.

Outcomes Development of skills in a range of ICT Communication with family and friends Access to information Skills / Independence / Empowerment Respect and understanding of teenagers Model can be and has been replicated Is accepted and desired within schools the outcomes of the program were clear, everyone developed some skills in a range of ICT skills of their choice, these skills promoted connection to family and friends, promoted access to information of their choice, developed the participants skills, independence and empowered them, developed respect and understanding of teenagers. This is a model that can and has been replicated, with a second program currently running and a third planned and hopefully time for a fourth within the life of the ILOP. It fits within the school community, is desired and well accepted within the schools

Stay Connected Most importantly it allowed people to stay connected with their community and their family – through developing ICT skills

Thank you Tania Ryan ILOP Project Officer South Gippsland Shire Council taniary@southgippsland.vic.gov.au