Navigating Digital Spaces: The Impact of Cultural Contexts on Seniors’ Digital Literacies Practices

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Digital Teaching and Learning With Adults (Table 2)

Abstract

Seniors' adoption of emerging technologies is vital for their social connectedness, well-being, and digital participation. However, a digital literacy gap persists among seniors, particularly immigrant seniors, due to various complexities such as accessibility, design, and cognitive limitations. This paper explores the intersection of sociocultural factors and immigrant seniors' digital literacy, an under-researched area. We aim to explore the cultural elements influencing seniors' digital literacies through interviews, observations, and analysis of digital artifacts from immigrant seniors. Our findings offer insights and recommendations for designing culturally sensitive digital literacy programs that support lifelong learning for all seniors.

Authors

• Quincy Q. Wang, Simon Fraser University

• Ching-Chiu Lin, Simon Fraser University