GRAND Spring 2021 Vol. IV Ed. I

A national literacy organization is
hoping to change this by improving
the digital literacy skills of adult Canadians.
Through ABC Life Literacy
Canada’s Youth Teaching Adults
program, seniors can access free
downloadable resources on tools that
help people virtually connect with
friends and family. These “lesson
plans” are written in clear language
and formatted as step-by-step guides
for at-home learning, showing adults
how to use Skype, Zoom, Google Duo
and FaceTime in a way that’s easy to
understand.
These lesson plans come at a
much-needed time as many adults,
particularly those in disadvantaged
communities, face isolation.
Video calling platforms can help
support the development of a stronger
sense of connection and maintain
already existing relationships. In one
study, older adults who used video
chat technology such as Skype had
significantly lower risks of depression
than those who did not video chat.
“We know that digital literacy is an
important skill that Canadians need,
especially with 84 per cent of jobs
currently requiring computer and
technical skills,” says Mack Rogers,
executive director of ABC Life Literacy
Canada. “We are pleased to offer
programming to help our Canadian
seniors, who need these skills now
more than ever. Digital literacy plays
a huge role in maintaining social relationships,
and our hope is that seniors
will access these free lesson plans on
our website and equip themselves
with the know-how to use these important
tools.”
While accessing technology can
seem overwhelming, Rogers advises
seniors start out with a small goal to
set themselves up for success.
“Don’t set yourself up for failure
and frustration by wanting to do it
all at once. If you’re just starting out,
set yourself a small achievable goal,
like sending your kids or grandkids
an email,” he says. “If you’re more advanced,
aim to master a new software
program or platform, like InDesign or
WordPress. Depending on your goal
and level of expertise, you can find
resources online or among friends and
family.”
For more advanced users, he cautions
them to not skip over learning
the basics, as it’s important to make
sure you have a solid foundation on
which to build. For example, learning
best practices for staying safe online,
such as never opening an email from
an unknown sender and looking for
secure “https” sites when entering
personal or financial information,
are important for those who will be
spending a lot of time online.
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