Newcastle Library – Adult and Culture Services
Libraries, Information and Lifelong Learning

In addition to 1-2-1 taster sessions and classes on basic Internet Skills and e-mail we also offer sessions on music downloading, online shopping, social networking and will be doing a session on online dating at the end of July and we are planning sessions on eBay, digital photography and file management. We plan new sessions based on public demand and feedback from taster classes – for example we found that by doing the music download sessions that the area that most customers had issues with was basic file management, which is something that most of us take for granted but is essential to both downloading music and moving images from a camera to a pc.

The 1-2-1 sessions are done using handouts that the customer can keep. The taster classes follow the same format using the handout as the basis of a Power Point presentation. We take a show and try approach but this sometimes depends on the skill level of the group.

Taster sessions are aimed at all ages. Although we do not currently gather information on the ages of those taking part a very high proportion are aged over 50. Library customers like the tasters because often they have a specific issue that they want help with and don’t always want to sit through a number of classes on a prescribed course. Our staff are flexible enough to be able to tailor sessions to individual needs and often a taster is a springboard to finding an appropriate course.

From the taster classes we recruited a group of Silver Surfers who meet in the City Library on the first Thursday of the month. After consulting with the group we are working on a monthly programme where we look at a different topic each month. The group wanted to start with basic keyboard skills and we looked at this using My Guides and in the next few months we will be looking at e-mail and file management. So far the Silver Surfers seem to enjoying being in a group setting and are supporting each other and forming friendships as well as engaging with the digital world.

I’ve found the Digital Unite website useful to refer to and really appreciated the link to the ILC-UK report by Simon Roberts on The Fictions, Facts of Older People and Technology as it was thought provoking.

If you would like to share you example of how you or your organisation is helping older people get to grips with digital music get in touch by emailing kate.norman@digitalunite.net

Improving your typing skills has a lot of benefits. Besides the obvious typing speed, people who type with ten fingers make fewer mistakes, spend less time in front of the monitor and suffer less wrist pain.

Here are some free online typing lessons that you or people your are involved with helping along with their IT can try out. They vary from the very formal to the BBC’s version for children (which is just as fun for adults).

Typing Practice 1
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/typing/

Typing Practice 2
http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/lessons.php?lang=EN&lesson=1

Typing Practice 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/flash/stage1.shtml

Typing Practice 4
http://www.typeonline.co.uk/copypractice.php

Typing Practice 5
http://keybr.com/

Have you got any others which you can suggest and how to you incorporate them in a session?

‘When it first was introduced it was very alien and very niche, directed at younger people.

‘Now it is part of everyday life. There are new sites such as those set up by Saga, or clothing sites for older women which are targeting this new audience.

‘Travel companies such as those who organise coach and cruise holidays have also created an online presence which appeals to older consumers.’

The British internet audience increased from 36.9million in May 2009 to 38.8million in May this year.

Internet surfers over 50 accounted for 53 per cent of the overall increase.

Men in this age bracket were responsible for 38 per cent of this growth — 722,000 of the increase.

According to the figures, more than 12million people over 50 now regularly use the internet.

However there remain concerns that while the internet is achieving a more mature audience, the most elderly are still being left behind.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1290755/One-internet-users-50.html#ixzz0sK4XTSLv

When I was asked to lead a small team to commission a website for my older women’s network, I had no idea how huge a challenge it would be.  We had first to learn enough about websites and designers to pick the right company for us.  Then we had to learn the jargon, understand how websites are constructed, commission a logo, choose a colour scheme, collect photographs, and provide all the necessary information, including bringing much of it up to date!  By launch day I was exhausted!

Although most of our members have little IT experience, we optimistically chose to have a built-in content management system, and were given a manual to help us manage the website ourselves.  My blogging experience helps for editing information, writing news pages, and adding images.  We also manage a Google map of our local groups, an events calendar, and a database of members signing up for their special section; and we receive both membership and media enquiries from the website.

When I set out on this journey, I thought that once the website was live I would be able to withdraw and leave it to my colleagues.  That was before we opted for a CMS (content management system).  I now seem to be deeply embedded in the fabric (the structure, the wire frame, whatever). Despite the hard work and the non-stop commitment, it has been so interesting and satisfying to work on, and I have invested so much of myself in it, that I am finding it impossible to leave.

You can see the results of Judith’s hard work here

From ‘Computers for the Terrified’ at Newlyn Cornwall to the Silver City Surfers from Aberdeen there were 1,600 events on or around the 21st May, with an estimated 32,000 participants. The campaign to give over 55′s a day which is all about what they are interested in learning about the digital world has had its greatest year yet.

Thanks go to Sir Terry Wogan and Dame Vera Lynn who were our ambassadors this year and helped up get an unprecedented amount of media coverage which we are currently totalling. The BBC support meant that not only did we get coverage of Silver Surfers Day on a large number of their regional stations and The Jeremy Vine Show but also were centre stage on the BBC 1 Breakfast Sofa and an item on Working Lunch.

We saw more primary and secondary schools taking part in the growing ranks of ‘Schools for Silver Surfers’ initiative. Simpson Primary School in Bathgate West Lothan is a new school taking part this year who have organised a day for their community with the pupils from the age of 7 passing on the skills. A fun filled day included 11 zones which visitors could enjoy and which the whole school all had a hand in running. Ms Black who first heard about Silver Surfers Day and wanted to get involved this year said:

“Primary 7′s are very talented at ICT and passing it on. It was an opportunity for them to show off their knowledge in different subjects which all have an aspect of using the internet. The whole school is looking forwards to having a fun filled day of teaching and learning”.

More Housing Associations have also joined the ranks with Chevin Housing Group on of those new editions. They thought it would be nice to see what the take up would be for running an internet taster session for older people.  They set up 3 computers for residents to have a go at accessing the web with I.T and other members of staff available to help out and guide people.  Joe Howey, ICT Assistant at Chevin said

“Residents were queuing up at the beginning of the session; it was great to see so many people interested.  Some residents had more experience on computers than others but nearly everyone who had a go commented it wasn’t as hard as they had first imagined.  The taster session definitely gave some people the confidence to not be afraid to have a go on their own.  It also highlighted the fact that there is another outlet for them if they are not able to get out and about, knowing that they can access shopping and banking on-line”.

We also had fantastic support again from libraries and UK Online centres which have a great track record of supporting the day. These places and community centres up and down the country do an amazing job of helping their communities throughout the year.

The team at Digital Unite would like to thank all of those event holders and volunteers who took part without which Silver Surfers Day would not be possible. So whether you are a veteran event holder since 2002 or just had your first taste of how running an event can benefit your organisation and community – we hope that you will join us again next year to break another record!

You can read more about the experiences of volunteers at the libraries who give their time in this article on Library ‘computer buddies’ share their experiences.

Next year – when Digital Unite celebrates the 10th anniversary of Silver Surfers’ Day – many more Events will be accessible to even more older people so if you didn’t get involved this year you can start thinking and planning how you can celebrate with us in 2011 contact us or call 0800 822 3951.

One silver surfer eager to learn more about the internet is Leonard Turner aged 84 from Port Talbot in Wales. Leonard contacted the virtual call centre from the ‘Skype Day’ silver surfer event being hosted by pupils at the Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot. He wanted to find out more about Skype so that he can stay in contact with his grandson who is currently travelling around New Zealand. “My grandson Steffan has been away from home for three months now and I don’t get to talk to him very often as it is so expensive to call New Zealand. I really miss him and want to hear about his adventures, so when one of the pupils at the school told me about Skype I was excited to learn more. Arianna at Skype told me how to get started and make a video call using a web cam. I can’t wait to give it a try.”

Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion commented:  ‘Four million UK adults are currently socially and digitally excluded, of which more than a third are over the age of 65.  We want to champion these individuals so that they can enjoy the benefits of being online in the next three years.  Silver Surfers’ Day is a great event that helps introduce older people to the joys of the Internet.’

Stewart Purvis, Chair of the Digital Participation Consortium and Partner, Content and Standards, Ofcom said: ‘Silver Surfers’ Day is an exciting opportunity for older people to learn about going online and for regular Internet users to share their knowledge.  The Internet offers something for everybody, regardless of their age, and Silver Surfers’ Day is a great way for Digital Participation Consortium members to work together to support older people on their digital journeys and to help them make the most of the online world.’

“Helping older people get online is vital, and part of a wider transformation” says Bill Thompson

The net is not just for the young gives Bill’s further pearls of wisdom for those who take their digital literacy for granted. It goes on to remind government strategist to ensure that those over 55 who are not online are given these opportunities to gain the skills and confidence to access services on the internet.

You wouldn’t be required to go anywhere, but just to do a pre-recorded link-up using your webcam.

If you’d like to take part, the contact at the BBC is Beverley and her direct number is: 0208 225 8672

And do let us know so that we can watch!

So, if you missed our ambassador for Silver Surfers Day Sir Terry Wogan on Friday talking about how you can find a Silver Surfers Day near you on Friday 21st May, you can enjoy it here.

Terry says “This is an attempt to get people of ‘a certain age’ not to be afraid of new technology – fear is the biggest barrier.” He wants older people to think again about seeing the internet as something they should try and says Silver Surfers’ Day is a great way to start.