Pupils from Greenhill Primary, Coatbridge have joined up with tenants at James Dempsey Garden Retirement Complex in an intergenerational project to help improve digital skills.
Our project aims to educate older residents about digital technology through one-to-one training with young people.
With support from the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland programme, the council received 200 iPads and MiFi boxes which were distributed to tenants in retirement complexes across the area. The first project took place in Drummond Drive, Wishaw last year and was such a success, it is now being rolled out to other complexes.
In Coatbridge pupils and tenants discussed periods of the older people’s lives, such as childhood memories, school life or favourite songs, before the pupils brought them to life on the iPads using their digital skills.
James Dempsey Gardens tenant Isabel Malone said: “I really enjoyed working with the young people. They really took the fear out of it and made the whole process more relaxed and enjoyable. They were so patient and tolerant with me and helped me to download a reading app on my iPad, which I really enjoy."
P6/7 pupils from Greenhill Primary who took part were Daniel Hamill, Summer Munro, Sophie Young, Blake Kilpatrick, Nadia Lawniczak, Leah Fleming and Connor Martin.
"It was such a lot of fun working and talking with the tenants at James Dempsey Gardens, we got to learn what their interest were and able to show them how to access them on the iPad,” said Sophie.
Daniel added: “We got to teach them new skills about using apps like Pic Collage."
Mr Kearney, class teacher at Greenhill Primary School, said: "It was a joy to see the children interact and use their own skills to help others. They are developing their digital skills, as well as using their social skills to engage with a different generation of learners. It has been a pleasure to take part in this project. The children have been a credit to our school!"
“This is an excellent example of the council’s commitment to improving the digital skills of local residents and pupils, helping everyone to access online services,” said Katrina Hassell, Chief Officer Business and Digital Solutions, North Lanarkshire Council.
“Our project brings people of different generations together to learn new digital skills as well as having fun and respecting what they have in common and each other.”
