Instructional Styles, Attitudes and Experiences of Seniors in Computer Workshops

Sixty-four seniors were introduced to computers through a series of five weekly workshops. Participants were given instruction followed by hands-on experience for topics related to social communication, information seeking, games, and word processing and were observed to determine their preferences for instructional support. Observations of sessions as well as pre- and posttest surveys were completed. Overall, participants were more likely to request instructional support that involved scaffolding rather than direct instruction or a combination of instructional approaches. Survey results indicated more positive and less anxious attitudes toward computers over time. Men experienced an increase in comfort and use of computers over sessions. Discussion centers on creating educational environments that optimize computer learning among seniors.