OPALESCE – Online Portal and Active Learning System for Senior Citizens in Europe

Luís JacobRUTIS – Association Third Age Universities Network

Luís JacobPresident of RUTIS

Teacher at Escola Superior de Saúde de Bragança

Giselle JaneiroGerontologist of RUTIS

Teacher at Escola Superior de Saúde de Bragança

Authors

THE OPALESCE PROJECT

Erasmus+, NA of Portugal

2014-1-PT1-KA204-1044

5 partner organisations

01. Sep. 2014 – 31. Aug. 2017

http://opalesce.eduproject.eu

WHY DO WE DO THE PROJECT?

RATIONALE:

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:

Seniors suffer the risk to be left-behind.

Technology offers great opportunities.

Enhance independency, decrease helplessnes.

Engage with others, decrease loneliness.

Tackle intellectual decline, foster self-esteem.

OUR SUGGESTED SOLUTION!

ACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM(mobile application)

ONLINE PORTAL

CLAIM1 hour-barrier

BASISLearning theoriesAndragogy acc. to

KNOWLESCTML acc. to MAYER

BROWSELEARNING CONTENTS

USE MICRO UNITS

TEST THEIRKNOWLEDGE

SEE PROGRESS &STATISTICS

ACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM(mobile application)

MANY MORE

ONLINE PORTAL• Account administration

• Micro Unit catalogue

• Author information

• Guided Authoring Tool

• Help & FAQ

• …

• Highly focused and concise

• Lengths of 10-15min.

• Microteaching Setting

• Elements & Views

• Learning Support Functions

• Assessment fosters self-evaluation

MICRO UNIT-APPROACH

EVALUATION (INFORMATION)

10 participants (4w, 6m)

Aged 60-85

5 from rural areas, 5 from cities

Semi-structured interviews

Visited at home

OBJECTIVE:

Perceived usefulness and quality of LCD.

Estimation of the acceptance of such a system.

Information for the User-Interface design.

NOTE:This was an early evaluation, to get general information. It is only one of many evaluations focusing on different target groups, and outputs.

PARTICIPANTS:

EVALUATION (RESULTS WITH SENIORS) „In my opinion, this project is very important and useful. For me it is important that it is simple.“

• Thought through design, and the target groups‘ needs are met.

• Clear preference towards images, audio, and video elements; Text elements should be used cautiously.

• Do not combine too many elements in one Micro Unit.

• Need for easy gestures, due to impaired manual dexterity (e.g. athritis sufferers).

• Practical orientation/ easy to follow content structure/ avoid academic contents.

EVALUATION (FIRST EXPERIENCES, OUT OF THE BOX)

• Creation only of Micro Unit-concept needs 8h. (unexperienced creator, high quality standard)

• 8-10 min. are perfect – 15min. are maximum (dependent from the Elements used)

• Highly transferable into other contexts (business, university, etc.)

• Useful for Blended Learning and Inverted Classroom approaches

• Advances in the field of assessment are necessary

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!.