Catalysts of Enthusiasm in Teaching Older Adults how to use New Media: an Exploration of Pedagogical Approaches among Trainers of Older Adults in Poland

TL;DR

This study explores teaching methods that help older adults in Poland learn new media, emphasizing practical and motivational approaches used by trainers.

Contribution

The paper identifies specific pedagogical strategies that effectively boost enthusiasm for learning new technologies among older adults.

Findings

Learning by doing and multimedia tools are most effective for teaching older adults new media.

Empathetic approaches and educational games are frequently used to motivate older learners.

Constructivist and humanistic teaching paradigms align with successful methods for digital inclusion.

Abstract

The article analyses effective methods of teaching older people how to use new technologies, with a particular emphasis on the role played by the attitudes and motivational skills of trainers. The aim of the research conducted in Poland in 2024 was to identify the methods, forms, and teaching aids considered by trainers to be the most effective in stimulating enthusiasm for learning. A qualitative analysis of 192 responses from participants in an e-learning course identified eleven categories of activities, among which the most frequently mentioned were learning by doing, an empathetic approach, educational games, group learning, and individual teaching. The results indicate that practical and problem-based methods, supported by multimedia tools (games, films), are the most effective in the process of increasing the digital inclusion of older people. The solutions used are in line with the constructivist, humanistic, and andragogical teaching paradigm, which emphasises personalisation, cooperation, and the active participation of learners. The conclusions from the research can form the basis for developing recommendations for institutions and trainers involved in the development of digital competences among older people.

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