We know that there are several initiatives in society to raise the necessary digital skills. However, the need for training is huge and growing. In addition, the cost of maintaining concrete individual measures is high. Why is today's education not sustainable enough?
After the internet saw the light of day, courses and person-dependent meetings have been the solution to today's digital problems. This is also the case in 2022, despite the fact that 70 percent want the municipality's guidance offer to be made digitally (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills).
Kakadu's collected data from Suldal Municipality shed light on many of the challenges associated with traditional education of the elderly. Suldal is one of 20 municipalities that received funding from the central government to improve citizens' digital skills. In a small municipality, you'd think this would be a fruitful contribution. With good intentions, a skilled administration, and enthusiasts on the team, there have nevertheless been several challenges in stacking a mentoring offer on its feet. It is difficult to find course holders who possess both the right competence and the ability to communicate. There are also no learning outcomes.
Good help, but not sustainable
The digital training that takes place to a large extent is based on informal learning from children and acquaintances or NGOs. Training will be random and sporadic. In addition, there are large differences in local government Norway related to resources and competence bases.
It turns out that it is challenging for employees in the municipality to establish permanent, quality-assured training offers to citizens. Several municipalities report that they rely on volunteer resources and third parties to implement guidance. This is due to the lack of necessary skills to conduct digital training.
The offers are not for everyone
A common denominator is that the tutoring offers are varied and resource-intensive, despite the good efforts and benevolence of those who supervise. Another challenge is that, for various reasons, not everyone shows up for physical tutoring offers. Those who need it most may end up being left at home, unaided.
For many, having a digital helper in close relationship will be valuable training. Unfortunately, this offer is not open to everyone. In addition, the offer varies in terms of level of competence, educational approach and accessibility. In other words, one of the most used resources is not sufficient. According to the Directorate of Higher Education and Skills, it is also challenging that this form of assistance creates an obstacle to becoming better yourself. The user becomes dependent on informal help structures. Fragmented learning does not contribute to sufficient skill building, despite the good efforts of those who are learning away and those who are going to acquire new skills.
