Never too old for social learning
We couldn’t believe our ears when one of our training participants last week asked about becoming a digital coach. Let’s call her Shirley; oh, important fact, she’s 92!
In the training she was talking about the role our digital coaches play in the welcome sessions, and how she used to be in hospitality so it totally made sense to her. Her presence in the session was energetic, she engaged in some banter with some of the other participants and bit of cheeky to and fro with one of our facilitators as well.
Needless to say her impact on the tone of the session was fantastic and as we wrapped it up she asked the question.
It’s a curious one for us to think about. She is building her confidence in using the technology, has been attentive in the learning process and diligent in doing lots of practice between sessions as well. An ‘A’ student you might say. So why can’t she be a digital coach, using her life experience and digital confidence to help her peers become more ready to engage in the learning? Too often we let our unconscious biases dictate our decisions - a digital coach is not about age, it’s about attitude. When thinking about digital coaches we look for people who are empathetic, patient, understand learning and coaching and how it happens successfully. Being a digital expert is not the most important thing for the experience of our clients - our digital coaches ‘wrap around’ our clients to make sure that all barriers to learning are removed.
The other thing that Shirley reminded us of though, is the value of the social learning that happens as part of the YourLink programs. Getting groups together who may be at different levels of digital confidence, but may have similar living circumstances and so can connect with each other on a number of levels and support each other. She told us she loves helping people although “I do get a bit frustrated when they forget things that I have told them”. Hard to keep a straight face when your 92 year old friend is saying that, but she reminded herself, “I just need to be patient, everyone learns differently”. She also recalled the great saying, “teach someone once, means you learn twice, so it helps me get better too”. She’s an optimist, our Shirley.
Learn how to become a Digital Coach
The injection of live-wires like Shirley always adds to the fun, but the fundamental humanness of social learning is what has the biggest impact. It’s like a domino effect ‘in the room’. As we see some of the more outgoing participants get involved - asking questions and having a go, that gives others the confidence to also take that step forward into their learning space.
And that is the key - moving them ever so gently and with a high degree of care, out of their comfort zone into that place of some discomfort where they will learn. Our facilitators are very focused on their reactions, making sure at every step they know they can’t break their device and leading them through their learning.
The impact of social learning is not only on the learning experience itself but also enhances the retention of content - especially if they apply what they’ve learned between sessions. The basic principles of adult learning - to have content that is relevant to them now, practical application outside the ‘room’ and the social learning environment. This is because they can ‘recall’ content, questions, etc by associating them with the person who asked it or who made a comment or told a story. Those triggers are useful to help them remember the content they need to then apply.
The moral of this story - Shirley’s request to be a digital coach stimulated a great conversation about bias, and the possibilities of what future digital coaches will look like. It also reinforced for us that the approach we take with social learning for our carers, seniors and care workers is absolutely the right solution for them and their digital confidence journey.
We’ve seen people like Shirley time and time again. So give us a call if your organisation wants to support the Shirley’s your organisation helps in the community or care sector.
Contact Richard Scenna, Director by email richard@yourlink.com.au or phone 0408 742 743.
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