Program Overview

Teaching technology to seniors at St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit

Introduction

We teach seniors to use smartphones, tablets, and computers through group classes with at least 2 volunteers per class - one main presenter and one available for personal support. 8-week program with instruction adapted to the group's pace.

Focus: video calling family, healthcare portals, scam recognition. We document accessibility issues for companies wanting to improve products for older users.

Mission

Help seniors learn technology through patient, personalized teaching. Build confidence with technical skills. Fear of "breaking something" often prevents learning.

Core: When seniors struggle with an interface, it's usually just due to a design flaw, not the senior.

Approach

Class Teaching with Personal Support

Classes have at least 2 volunteers - a main presenter and one available for individual help. This ensures everyone gets support when needed.

Repetition & Documentation

Practice makes permanent. Written guides, weekly task repetition, physical backups (printed passwords, step-by-step cards).

Real-World Focus

Teach actual platforms they need: their doctor's portal, grandkids' video app, pharmacy refill system.

For Volunteers

Help seniors connect with family and use technology

Getting Started

Need volunteers who can commit 4-5 hours every other week for 8+ weeks. We need consistent volunteers.

Next: Get in contact with us after reading this section through Menu → Contact.

Requirements

What You Need

• Patience (repeat explanations often)
• Basic smartphone/tablet skills
• 4-5 hours every other week commitment
• Ability to explain without jargon

Helpful But Not Required

• Second language (Spanish, Korean, Cantonese helpful)
• Experience with elder care
• Teaching background

Empathy matters more than tech skills. Good volunteers remember their own confusion.

Training Process

If you meet the requirements above, training is simple and straightforward. You'll start by observing experienced volunteers, then gradually move toward teaching on your own.

Responsibilities

During Sessions

• Arrive 15 minutes early to set up
• Focus on helping seniors
• Document progress in learning journal

Between Sessions

• Review next week's material (30 minutes)
• Attend monthly volunteer meeting
• Keep up with platform changes

Communication

We keep it simple - volunteers will be added to a GroupMe in which all communication flows through. Email coordinator for schedule changes. Ask for help early.

Implementation

Program structure and delivery

8-Week Curriculum

The program consists of 4 meetings, held every other week over 8 weeks. Each meeting is approximately 4 hours. Start with basics, build to independent use. Adjust to individual pace.

Meeting 1 (Weeks 1-2): Device Basics

Power, charging, volume, touch gestures. Start with the physical device before apps. Practice holding the device comfortably, understanding buttons and ports, navigating the home screen, and basic accessibility settings.

Meeting 2 (Weeks 3-4): Communication

Phone calls, texting, video calls. Setting up contacts, understanding notifications, using camera and photos app, sharing media with family.

Meeting 3 (Weeks 5-6): Healthcare Access

Patient portals, telehealth, pharmacy apps. Use their actual systems. Creating and managing health accounts, booking appointments, accessing test results, medication reminders.

Meeting 4 (Weeks 7-8): Safety & Review

Passwords, scam recognition, troubleshooting. Review all previous concepts, create backup plans for forgotten passwords, identify common scams, practice independent problem-solving.

Teaching Methods

Clear Instructions

Use simple, physical descriptions. Say "tap once with one finger" instead of "click." Avoid technical terms until they're comfortable with the actions.

Practice With Mistakes

Show that mistakes are fixable. Demonstrate how to recover from errors. Build confidence by showing undo buttons and recovery options.

Real-World Examples

Explain why each feature matters. Connect skills to their daily needs like video calling family, checking medical results, or refilling prescriptions.

Regular Review

Start each session by reviewing previous material. Use friendly language like "Let's warm up with..." to make reviews feel natural.

Physical Backups

Provide printed step-by-step guides in large font. Encourage written password notebooks. Focus on building independence with reliable fallbacks.

Partnerships

Working with organizations

Coming Soon

Partnership docs coming soon. Contact us directly to discuss collaboration.