A Multilevel Model of Older Adults' Appropriation of ICT and Acquisition of Digital Literacy

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2022 Dec 11

PMID 36497789

Authors

Eija Karna

Lotta Aavikko

Rebekka Rohner

Vera Gallistl

Kaisa Pihlainen

Claudia Muller

Anja Ehlers

Roberta Bevilacqua

Stefano Strano

Elvira Maranesi

Katerina cerna

Lisa Hengl

Franz Kolland

Franz Waldenberger

Gerd Naegele

Sieun Park

Moritz Hess

Verena Reuter

Susanne Frewer-Graumann

Kristiina Korjonen-Kuusipuro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Digital literacy refers to a set of competencies related to the skilled use of computers and information technology. Low digital skills can be a barrier for older adults' full participation in a digital society, and COVID-19 has increased this risk of social exclusion. Older adults' digital inclusion is a complex process that consists of the interplay of structural and individual factors. The ACCESS project unwrapped the complexity of the process and developed an innovative, multilevel model that illustrates how societal, institutional, material and pedagogical aspects shape adults' appropriation of digital literacy. A holistic model describes factors contributing to older adults' digital literacy, acknowledging sociocultural contexts, environments, learning settings and instruction practices for learning digital literacy. Instead of seeing older adults' reasons for learning digital skills purely as individual choice, this model recognizes the interpersonal, institutional and societal aspects that implicitly or explicitly influence older adults' acquisition of digital literacy. The results offer a tool for stakeholders, the research community, companies, designers and other relevant stakeholders to consider digital skills and the given support. It demands diverse communication between different stakeholders about the things that should be discussed when organizing digital support in digitalized societies.

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