Developers on the project
The "Clear Internet" project is a well-structured, rational system for teaching quality computer literacy to senior citizens and people with disabilities. A system was developed for registering and maintaining an open electronic queue, a system for interactive monitoring, the collection of statistical data on teaching quality via an internet resource; a new curriculum was developed, staff of the ministry's social institutions were trained, and methodological guidelines for the classes were prepared and put into use.
Staff of the Ministry of Social Policy, together with specialists from Google (for the section devoted to learning to use the Internet), developed an illustrated study guide for pensioners (a workbook). The guide has been published online and is available to all Russian-speaking users (computer.minsocium.ru/book). This workbook is unique in Russia and was created specifically for the older generation, drawing on leading Russian and international experience. The guide is distributed among pensioners taking courses in the computer classes of the Ministry of Social Policy of Nizhny Novgorod Region. Thanks to the project's partner, Google, the workbook is currently distributed free of charge in Nizhny Novgorod Region.
Principles behind the assistance
- uniformity and consistency
- openness, transparency, and accessibility of the service
- quality of instruction, analysis of this group of citizens' needs for mastering information technology
- record-keeping and oversight
Objectives of the project
- Socialization of the older generation;
- Narrowing the digital divide between generations by involving young people in teaching their grandparents.
- Informatizing the region and building a positive public image of open government authorities;
- Using tools for collecting information and feedback via the Internet to optimize the quality of social services provided to the population.
Interim results of the project
As of today, 80 classes for elderly citizens operate in the region; an interactive map and information on them are available on the project's information resource (computer.minsocium.ru). Of these, 47 are at social service centers, with 530 seats in the classes. Computer classes have been organized for the hearing-impaired, this year training began at the regional social rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, and classes are running at sanatorium institutions of the social protection system. In some districts, online instruction is practiced. As of January 31, 2013, 6,110 people are taking part in the project, of whom 2,359 had already completed training since April 2012, with 3,751 people in the queue for training.
Up to 4,000 people are trained in the classes each year. With the introduction of the new curriculum and the opening of additional classes, training for up to 6,000 people a year is expected. The program is designed for 20 academic hours, with classes held for 2 hours twice a week. Groups range from 2 to 10 pensioners, and classes are conducted by specialists from social protection institutions.
Since March 2012, registration for training by social protection institutions and computer class instructors has been conducted electronically only.
A bit of statistics on the students
- 80% women, 20% men.
- The oldest student is 82 years old.
- Social status. More than 90% of students are pensioners. About 30% are veterans of the Great Patriotic War or people who have been recommended for state awards. About 15% of those taking the "Clear Internet" program are people with disabilities.
- Living situation. More than 70% of trained pensioners live with family or relatives. 30% of respondents live alone, and for them the ability to use the Internet is one more way to overcome loneliness.
- Computer use. More than 80% of pensioners spend time searching for various information. Also, more than 60% of pensioners use the Internet's capabilities to communicate with friends and relatives. More than 10% have mastered various services for obtaining government services online. An interesting fact is that about a third of all the pensioners surveyed enjoy computer games.
- More than 90% of those trained said they would like to have their own computer at home.
- 95% of pensioners want to have Internet access at home.
- Assessment of training quality. More than 80% will definitely continue learning and improving their computer skills. They note that they liked the instruction and the attitude of the staff. They gained a lot that was useful to them.
- Assessment of knowledge level. About 80% of trained pensioners rate their skills as average or above average. They already know how to find the information they need and communicate online. They have also learned to create and edit electronic documents using a computer, and to use services online — for example, government services or utility bill payments. And 5% of respondents consider themselves to have excellent computer skills and to be able to handle any task independently.