Tech Savvy Elders is a program that invites Aboriginal Elders and students to learn and share together with technology, the internet and tablet devices.
The Tech Savvy Elders program provides Aboriginal seniors with a chance to share their knowledge and insights with young people and the broader community. In so doing, the program allows us to appreciate and acknowledge the wealth of wisdom and breadth of life experience that seniors have to share.
The program employs an intergenerational approach where students support Elders with their learning by demonstrating, explaining and coaching them in using a digital device. Students then interview Elders about their stories and record the interviews using tablet devices. Importantly, Elders and their communities retain the ownership of their stories as they are edited and uploaded to their Storylines community site for future generations to share in and learn from.
In July 2019, a Tech Savvy Elders event was held at Nicolson Ave Primary School in Whyalla. With the tablets, we learned about Google maps by looking up places such as where we live, our school and where our families are from. Then we used YouTube and found the best singer ever, checked out the internet and played some games. We then took some photos and videos to capture some memories that we can keep forever. Lyn and Aaron brought their VR equipment and we had the best experience — it’s like a different world! We had fun exploring the different technologies.
