The old new world: Edtech platforms teach senior citizens how to navigate the basics of a digital pr- The New Indian Express

Categorical Information Service

Earlier than the pandemic hit, Ruchika Rana (title modified) had a packed calendar. She volunteered at an NGO thrice per week, met her kitty group and girls’s golf equipment often, and ran her family and a retinue of servants with an iron fist.

As quickly as lockdown was imposed, life got here to a standstill for this Delhi-based 73-year-old. “Every part abruptly moved on-line, I started relying on my kids to log me into Zoom conferences, gave up the family working to my tech-savvy daughter-in-law, and endured quite a few embarrassing moments of digital illiteracy!” 

Rana shouldn’t be alone. A HelpAge India evaluation of the aged launched in August 2020 signifies an amazing enhance within the age-related digital divide after the pandemic. From accessing day by day must social actions, the whole lot went on-line in a single day. Although many city seniors had the requisite smartphones and gadgets, they didn’t know tips on how to use them past the fundamentals.

Realising this, Bengaluru-based sisters Shreya and Surbhi Bajaj launched Straightforward Hai, a digital literacy platform for adults and seniors in April final 12 months. Via phrase of mouth and social media, they’ve taught over 9,000 individuals up to now 12 months, most of whom are above the age of 60.

“They communicate excellent English however they will’t use their telephones, which is a blow to their self-confidence. So, we train them to consider know-how as a language all its personal. For us, it was most essential to create a protected house for our college students. We really feel it’s simple to show seniors as a result of we observe a structured curriculum, assign homework, and preserve following up,” they share.

Whereas Straightforward Hai’s courses are performed on Zoom, American firm GetSetUp conducts them on their web site and thru WhatsApp. With over two million customers accessing their programs throughout 160 international locations, they had been poised for fulfillment after they launched in India in October 2020. “We got down to construct a web-based platform the place older adults would prepare their friends on software program and providers. Projected to be 20 p.c of the worldwide inhabitants within the subsequent 10 years, this massive and essential demographic is commonly ignored. We wished to present them a possibility, so each lecturers and college students come from this demographic,” shares their Senior Vice President of Worldwide Markets, Deval Delivala. 

A authorities survey performed late final 12 months indicated the prevalence of signs of despair in 30 p.c of India’s aged inhabitants. This prompted Seniority—India’s largest on-line buying vacation spot for the aged—to launch their Evergreen Membership, an internet and app-based platform the place seniors can e-meet like-minded individuals whereas studying helpful programs.

Tapan Mishra, Founder, Seniority, sums it up, “Covid has affected us all, no matter age, geographies and socio-economic backgrounds.” This makes the promotion of digital literacy for senior residents 
a worthy occupation. 

HOW TO ACCESS

EASY HAI
Arrange courses by their Instagram web page: @techeasyhai
E-mail: Hiya@easy-hai.com; Value: Relies on variety of courses. Ranges from Rs 200 per class to Rs 3,000 for masterclasses of 10 or extra classes

GETSETUP
Be part of courses by getsetup.io; Value: Free trial with entry to 5 primary classes. $19.99 per 30 days for full entry. $179.99 per 12 months for full entry with low cost. 

SENIORITY – EVERGREEN CLUB
Obtain the app on Google Play and App Retailer
E-mail: Care@evergreenclub.in; Value: 15 classes for Rs 199 per 30 days. 60 classes for Rs 599 per 30 days. Limitless classes at Rs 999 per 30 days. 

“We got down to construct a web-based platform the place older adults would prepare their friends on software program and providers. Projected to be 20 p.c of the worldwide inhabitants within the subsequent 10 years, this massive and essential demographic is commonly ignored.” 
Deval Delivala, SVP, Worldwide Markets, GetSetUp