Active aging and education

The remote teaching experience for the public 60 plus

Abstract

The increase in longevity is fostered or the emergence of new challenges for all social segments, such as urban mobility, digital inclusion, public health, among others. Being a long-lived country in a context permeated by social inequalities like Brazil does significantly increases these challenges. In order to contribute to the reduction of these inequalities together with the elderly population, the Ânima Institute has been carrying out the Open University Program for the Elderly since 2017, which offers various courses and offices. This program is an opportunity for people over 60 years old or older to continue to learn, develop new skills and socialize with other people of the same age group. In March 2020, the pandemic caused by Covid-19 imposed several restrictions on social interaction and increased concern about solidity and isolation, mainly for the elderly public that, in general, does not use or has difficulty using electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers. With this, it becomes more evident to create strategies to digitally include the idious public. Our challenge was to give continuity to the activities of the Program through the modality of remote teaching. For isso, in 2020 we carried out a research using electronic forms to understand the profile of the suitable public in the city of Belo Horizonte and the metropolitan region, especially in relation to the use of electronic devices and supports that they have at home for the use of these tools. Based on two results obtained, we developed an inclusive remote teaching methodology, considering the specificities of this public and, since then, we have offered courses and offices for remotely interested people. Main results we find improved digital skills, reduced dependence on other people without the use of technology, greater stimulation of cognitive, emotional and behavioral functions, as well as better self-esteem and self-confidence. Likewise, in a general way, one can perceive a better quality of life in the social conviviality of the elderly public, thus contributing to its active aging process. The purpose of this work is to present the research carried out, as well as the methodology used for the remote teaching and to socialize the results achieved in the project due to the need for implantation of the remote teaching.