Intergenerational and informal learning in communities

Building a bridge across the age-based digital divide

Abstract

Digital Drop-In is a pilot project that aims to provide an informal social environment where older adults can come together to enhance their digital skills through facilitated informal peer and intergenerational learning (IGL). This qualitative study explores the digital skills assistance provided by a small sample of secondary school students aged 15 to16 years to older adult participants in a series of pilot workshops in a secondary school in Ireland during Autumn 2023. Feedback solicited from participants following completion of the workshops yielded the following preliminary observations. First, from the perspectives of the students, all of whom had volunteered for the project, agreement that the learning experience was successful and that their motivation for volunteering was worthwhile. Second, from the perspective of the older adult participants, there was value in the personalised nature of the one-to-one learner-led exchanges by contrast with instructor-led offerings. Finally, from the perspective of the facilitator, guiding learner-led exchanges in informal social environments requires flexibility to meet the needs of individual learners. In Spring 2024, data are planned to be collected from both generations through an online survey instrument and generational focus groups.
When complete, this study will contribute to the field of intergenerational research by exploring the perspectives of mid-teenagers involved in an intergenerational exchange to support the digital skills of older adult community members in Ireland. It has potential to offer a contribution to the field of informal peer learning by proposing the role of a facilitator to guide and support the digital skills knowledge exchange in informal social settings.