Promoting the Quality of Life of Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 13; p. 6813
• Main Authors: Lee, Chia-Jung, Hsu, Yen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 25.06.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Cellular telephones; COVID-19; Distance learning; E-books; Older people; Online instruction; Smartphones; Students; Teaching methods
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136813
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827

This study explored the technology learning model of the elderly in a senior learning center under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many senior learning centers were closed during the pandemic, and many of them adopted the mode of online education. However, problems such as decreased motivation and a lack of peer interaction still exist. To solve these problems, this study used the easy-to-implement calligraphy AR approach and E-book approach to conduct a quasi-experiment on the elderly of a calligraphy course offered by a senior learning center. The results show a higher learning motivation among the elderly who use calligraphy AR. The learning effectiveness and technology acceptance of the elderly in the E-book learning group were higher than those in the calligraphy AR group. The elderly mentioned that the E-book learning approach is more user-friendly. In general, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the suspension of classes in senior centers, education through the development of technology has stimulated the growth of education in advanced learning centers. Through this kind of scientific and technological learning method, it will bring a whole new experience to the elderly. It can improve the stress relief methods, mental health, and quality of life of the elderly during the COVID-19 emergency shutdown, and provide a novel calligraphy technique learning experience for the elderly. Therefore, we believe that the calligraphy AR learning approach and the calligraphy E-book learning approach are practical and may promote quality of life and mental health of the elderly during the emergency closures due to COVID-19, providing elderly attendees with a novel calligraphy technology learning experience.