A report summarizing the results of the Skills Anticipation Workshops, conducted as part of WP2, has been published on the SILWERS project website. The report is available in five language versions: English, Polish, Greek, Czech, and Icelandic, to facilitate the use of project results in each partner country and to support the broad dissemination of its findings.
The Skills Anticipation Workshops focused on identifying key educational and competency needs for working with older adults in the context of artificial intelligence and digital security. The collected feedback from educators shows that interactive and engaging methods work best in senior education: small group work, practical exercises on devices, discussions, as well as problem-based and situational approaches. At the same time, the report emphasizes the necessity of “chunking” content – using short training blocks, breaks, and frequent repetitions, with a flexible pace tailored to the participants’ abilities. A key element of effective teaching is also high readability of materials (simple layout, visual support, large font) and language adapted to the audience.
The findings also indicate that an atmosphere of safety and trust is a key success factor. Educators point out that seniors are more willing to engage in learning when they feel at ease, are not afraid to ask “basic” questions, and have the space to exchange experiences. In this context, real-life examples (case studies), participants’ stories, and team tasks prove particularly effective, as they strengthen group integration and help translate new content into real-world situations.
The report also highlights the most frequently observed barriers and challenges. In the area of cybersecurity, these primarily include: low awareness of threats, a lack of simple and accessible education, and the difficulty of keeping up with rapidly changing technology. Psychological barriers are also significant, such as the fear of “breaking” a device or low self-confidence in using digital tools. In the context of AI, it was emphasized that seniors may perceive artificial intelligence as something unclear or potentially dangerous; therefore, it is particularly important to provide a calm, practical introduction based on everyday examples and to build a sense of agency in using technology.
