'Making the Building Blocks Small' - the participative and capital-enhancing development of digital literacies in older adults

Feeney, Drew; Ryan, Frances V.C.; Brazier, David; Webster, Gemma

Abstract

Older adults are disproportionately affected by deficits in digital literacy development and by present learning environments which are either difficult to access or not conducive to their specific needs. Participatory research frameworks offer compelling approaches to these convergent issues, and opportunities to build capital-enhancing networks around such skills development could place socially situated learning at the heart of effective provision here.

Data was collected for this short project via structured surveys and in-person workshop sessions from a cohort of self-defined older adults (N=7) active within the Scottish public library network. The data was examined by quantitative methods and thematic analysis using the NVIVO software.

This analysis shows that older adults themselves respond positively to working within a participative ethos, which here allows them to identify, assess and understand their own digital literacy needs and to directly challenge the causes of them. A re-evaluation of both the learning environment and of its consequences on fear and confidence around digital literacies is emergent.

Older adults summatively place high value on the creation of peer-led-and-supported social spaces in which to develop digital literacy skillsets. Utilising participative approaches can positively impact this development and shape future research agendas, whilst also unlocking the ongoing and sustainable social capital benefits to be gained from engagement in this way.

Citation

Feeney, D., Ryan, F. V., Brazier, D., & Webster, G. (2025, June). 'Making the Building Blocks Small' - the participative and capital-enhancing development of digital literacies in older adults. Presented at CoLIS 2025: 12th Annual International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: CoLIS 2025: 12th Annual International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science
• Start Date: Jun 2, 2025
• End Date: Jun 5, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 28, 2025
• Journal: Information Research
• Print ISSN: 1368-1613
• Publisher: University of Borås, Information Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4134889