Techstart: Guidelines for promoting technology utilization among the elderly for lifelong learning in Thailand

“The digital learning platform is divided into two aspects: designing sitemaps and wireframes, encouraging innovative educational tools to integrate technology for elderly communities. A total of 706 participants across Thailand, aged 60–78, were involved in assessing digital skills across four learning areas. To facilitate learning, a matrix was created as an outline of recommended platform functions, aiming to align pedagogical approaches with learning preferences and digital competencies.

Findings highlighted the importance of adaptable approaches in engaging elderly individuals in digital literacy and provided a foundation for more inclusive and effective learning environments. This study aimed to address the digital gap and enhance the quality of life for older individuals in a digital society. It also has implications for educational policy and practice to strengthen digital skills for lifelong learning in Thailand.”

Chulalongkorn University has a vision to be the center for academic learning and professional excellence through the pursuit, development, dissemination and application of knowledge. Chulalongkorn University works to educate students with professional know-how and research skills, as well as preserve the arts, culture, and values. The academic knowledge and learning at the university hopes to instill in students a sense of morality, social responsibility, and public service. Therefore, we have created a platform to promote teaching and learning strategies, particularly aimed at enhancing digital technology skills among elderly groups in Thailand. This strategy aligns with our core values of fostering technological literacy, promoting hands-on learning, and nurturing problem-solving skills from the elderly age in the communities in Thailand.

Function, Feature, and Implementation

This learning strategy involves integrating learning platform for elderly communities in Thailand, includes:

1. Online learning platforms: Features and functions can be developing the learning courses, brain training games, certificates, assistance, notifications, font resizing, voice assistants, and language switching, as well as supplementary functions such as learning resources, learning assistance, knowledge exchange, and a credit bank
2. Problem-solving activities: Encompasses basic technology skills, communication, content creation, digital safety, healthcare, useful applications, and entrepreneurship.
3. Implementation and development: Through this platform, the elderly communities can pursue the training programs and download the learning materials which provided by the authors

Embracing New Technology

Provided the learning platform exemplifies our commitment to promoting technology in education for everyone as well as elderly communities, which are in the elderly age. By incorporating features from daily activities, such as social media, we created an accessible platform that promotes comfortable learning principles. This approach simplifies complex technological concepts and engages elderly communities in Thailand.

Creating an Environment Valuing Teaching Excellence

According to the institution purposes that promoting for teaching excellence through engaging learning strategy as follows:

1. Incorporating learning platform based on the curriculum from the higher education institution, with implementing a key learning tool
2. Offering comprehensive training programs that empower elderly communities practices
3. Engaging continuously learning based on introducing the platform through the integration of digital technology ensuring effectively strategies

Enhancing Learning Experiences

Digital learning platforms enhance learning experiences by:

1. Providing a hands-on, interactive approach for elderly communities with the multiple learning styles
2. Encouraging collaborative problem-solving as their teams and working together in groups
3. Offering the challenges to enablers of the progress of learning in their viewsCreating opportunities to contribute to learning development through fostering innovation and mentorship

Strategic Alignment

Using technological integration in the learning activities aligns with the university’s strategic plan:

1. Advancing our commitment to STEM education and digital literacy
2. Positioning our university as a leader in innovative teaching methodologies
3. Supporting our goal of nurturing a continuous learning of technologically adept and creative problem-solvers

By      Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University