An Evaluation of the New Zealand SilverTech Smartphone Course for Older Adults

In contemporary society, where digital literacy is an essential skill, older adults can face disadvantages because they frequently have lower levels of digital literacy than younger cohorts. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a smartphone course developed by Age Concern Otago (a New Zealand non-government organization), with the aim of improving digital literacy among older adults. This was achieved using a pre- and post-course survey study design. A total of 98 participants, aged above 60, from thirteen SilverTech courses (four two-hourly sessions) completed pre-surveys in the first session and post-surveys in the last session of each course. The results showed that participants' smartphone digital literacy was improved across all evaluated indices, and feedback for the courses was positive. These findings illustrate that the SilverTech courses are an effective means of improving the digital literacy of older adults and thus fostering digital inclusion in New Zealand.