Digital Inclusion

New IT learning centres for seniors in Singapore

By Amelia Kwok | 24 November 2008

Two new IT learning hubs termed as the Silver Infocomm Junctions (SIJ), have been established to promote IT literacy among senior citizens.

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The announcement was made by RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and The Arts, and Ministry of Education at the annual Silver Infocomm Day. The Silver Infocomm Day1 is a special day dedicated to senior citizens who embrace and use IT in their daily lives.

Silver Infocomm Junctions

The two new SIJs are located at the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) Multi-Service Centre in Bukit Panjang and at the Marine Parade Family Service Centre (MPFSC). These are in addition to the first SIJ set up last year in the Bishan area. The two new additions are part of Infocomm Development Authority’s (IDA) IT outreach efforts to set up eight such centres in the heartlands for senior citizens by 2010.

These SIJs offer affordable and accessible IT courses from as low as US$1.30 to US$4 per training hour. Over 4000 senior citizens have attended training classes or practice sessions at the first SIJ at RSVP Singapore since its launch last November. Some of the early trainees have since stepped forward to be ‘cyber guides’ to impart their infocomm knowledge to their peers.

Customised and Bilingual IT Tips

IDA has engaged RSVP Singapore and MPFSC to jointly develop a new set of bilingual (English and Chinese) IT curriculum to increase IT literacy among senior citizens. There are two tracks, iBEGIN and iLIVE, for senior citizens to learn basic IT and digital lifestyle skills, respectively.

iBEGIN is a module that will guide senior citizens on basic IT activities such as how to use a computer, surf the internet, create an email and instant messaging accounts, as well as protecting themselves with simple security tips. iBEGIN also teaches senior citizens to make an audio or video call using the internet. The iLIVE track which is a more advanced module, offers lifestyle related IT skills. For instance, senior citizens can learn how to conduct online transactions, including booking of air tickets and publishing digital photos.

The curriculum is presented in a step-by-step and easy-to-understand format, supported by visuals and graphics. All SIJs will be making use of this curriculum for their IT training courses.