Development of an online course for older adults focused on the development of digital content creation competence in times of COVID-19

Abstract

Due to COVID-19, the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) had a significant increase, and consequently, the existingdigital gaps grew to be more noticeable in different groups. The elderly is one of the groups excluded from all the benefits and opportunities the ICTs provide, there are not enough available spaces where elder people can become computer illiterates, and their needs and wants are fulfilled. The objective of this paper is to present an ICT content-creation-approach online course for the elder sector in “El Programa de Alfabetización Tecnológica” from Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Mexico. This project uses an instructional design methodology, ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate), and it has been categorized as a development project. The results showed that the students developed a competency in digital content creation; the outcomes ofthe activities were useful for the students in multiple areas; and a significant improvement in the elder students’ learning process due to the use of andragogy principles within the design, development, and implementation of the online course.