Strengths scenarios

Older adults in your computer coaching session may have conversations about their lives and experiences.

Older adults engaging in new technology may face opposition within themselves or from others. Strengths they could draw on to overcome these obstacles include: bravery, being persistent, being honest, authentic and enthusiastic.

To help older adults acquire or use new knowledge the strengths they could draw upon include: being creative and curious, having the desire to explore and learn new things, thinking things through and examining information from all perspectives and through wisdom.

To assist older adults to relate with what computing can provide and give it context they could draw from the following strengths: appreciation of beauty & excellence, being grateful for the good things that happen, being hopeful, using humour and finding meaning and purpose.

We have selected three scenarios that provide examples of how conversations can improve our understanding of a person’s strengths and what motivates them.

We encourage you to discuss these scenarios with someone else to uncover the strengths to help you discover what they may enjoy doing on the computer or tablet.

Scenario 1 - Belonging

Tina is part of a local community group and has been involved in the committees for many of the events they organise. Tina likes cooking or creating things and doesn’t like being in the front-line so she will usually contribute by working happily in the kitchen. She is really proud of using her great-grandmother’s recipe for the delicious scones being sold as a fund-raiser at the local market.

Strengths – did you see these? Can you see more?

Reveal answer

Creativity - cooking and creating

Teamwork - contributes to the community

Spirituality - has a purpose and values the past

Humility - chooses not to be in the front line

Kindness - volunteers her time for others

What do you think Tina may enjoy doing on the computer?

Reveal answer

Create a book of recipes – could be sold as a fund-raiser

Use apps that have a creative element

Video clips of cooking or food photos

Social media

Check Padagogy Wheel: Create and Apply

Scenario 2 – Giving/Kindness

Frank and Carmel have a big extended family, and they really like to help them and others in the community when they can. Carmel used to deliver meals on wheels twice a week and help out with providing morning teas for the local church. Frank is an avid gardener and spends time helping others in the street with their gardens up keep, with weeding, watering and pruning. He is also a dedicated church goer, and has a small circle of friends. Carmel likes to use the computer, even though she is not that good at it, but she is having trouble with her memory, so Frank wants to learn to help out.

Strengths – did you see these? Can you see more?

Reveal answer

Frank:

Love - close connections with family

Kindness - generosity and willingness to help others

Teamwork - sense of social responsibility supporting his neighbour’s gardens

Hope - optimistic about learning the computer, looking towards the future

Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence - enjoys nature and is a skilled gardener

Spirituality - dedicated church goer, having purpose

Carmel:

Love - close connections with family

Kindness - generosity and willingness to help others

Teamwork - sense of social responsibility supporting meals on wheels

Bravery - not shrinking from a challenge and continues to use the computer

Perseverance - persisting with the computer and not giving up

What do you think Frank may enjoy doing on the computer?

Reveal answer

Creating a handbook for new gardeners

Photograph gardens

Gardening websites

Keeping connected through email, video calls, social media

Check Padagogy Wheel: Understand and Apply

What do you think Carmel may enjoy doing on the computer?

Reveal answer

Keeping connected through email, video calls, social media

Brain games and challenges

Check Padagogy Wheel: Remember and Apply

Scenario 3 - Exploring

Rob and Jean are in their 80’s. They used to enjoy caravanning and until recently would organise a trip away each year. Rob explains how much he loved the adventure, exploring the Australian bush and talking to locals about what to see and where to eat. He loved to discover hidden, ‘out of the way’ destinations.

Jean approached the holidays quite differently and spent the weeks and months leading up to the trip planning. She would research all the places they could visit and the things they could do.

For both Rob and Jean the highlight of these trips was their appreciation of the stunning scenery – the ocean, bushland and mountains. They both used their cameras to capture these scenes and experienced much pleasure looking at the photos after returning home.

Strengths – did you see these? Can you see more?

Reveal answer

Rob:

Curiosity – exploring, adventure, discovery

Appreciation of beauty and excellence – appreciation of the scenery

Gratitude – the photos giving pleasure

Love of learning – talking to locals, finding out new information

Zest – loved the adventure, enthusiastic

Jean:

Judgement – planning and thinking things through

Leadership – being responsible for the planning and organising

Prudence – doesn’t leave things to chance or take risks, she plans

Appreciation of beauty and excellence – appreciation of the scenery

Gratitude – the photos giving pleasure

Love of learning - researching

What do you think Rob may enjoy doing on the computer?

Reveal answer

Searching websites to discover new information

Facebook

YouTube

Photo book or photo cataloguing

Check Padagogy Wheel: Apply and Understand

What do you think Jean may enjoy doing on the computer?

Reveal answer

Photo book, prints, posters, collage

Researching things of interest

On-line study

Check Padagogy Wheel: Create and Apply

Next topic:The Impact of Memory on Successful Learning