Digital Wisdom - teaching old dogs new tricks and new dogs old tricks

by Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI CDAA (Assoc) ASA

Terms like 'digital literacy,' 'social media' and 'Google it' can strike fear and terror in the hearts and minds of people over 55 (often referred to as digital dinosaurs).

On the other hand, helping people under 25 (often referred to as digital natives) apply wisdom online can also be tricky.

So how can the gap be closed?

Do we just bring these two age groups together and wait for the magic to happen?

How can we help people who are wise be comfortable in a digital world?

How can we help people who are digital natives be wise in the real world?

Here are a few of my musings...and I would be happy to hear yours (just add them below)!

Helping wise people go digital

1) Different learning style - Start with reminding them how they were taught to learn. They started writing with crayons, then pencils and then pens. Before they were allowed to use a pen regularly, they had to know every component of the pen, master it, be assessed and then be given permission to use it regularly. This methodology often prevents older people from giving new technology a go - because they mistakenly subconsciously believe that they need full mastery and permission before they can start using it.

2) One step at a time - Old dogs can learn new tricks, but only one trick at a time! So there is no point asking a person under 25 to show an older person 10 tricks in 10 minutes. It is time to slow down, learn the steps (with whatever aids, prompts or notes are required), complete the task, practice the task, master the task and then move on to the next task without rushing, using fast language or sharing too much new information at once (without a frame of reference).

3) Explain the how and why - Build on what the wise person already knows. In many cases, they can already understand principles, can work out short cuts and know how to choose what is of real value! Teach them the principles of what is happening and then ASK them how they could apply it. You may be intrigued to realise that they know a lot more than you think - they just need to know the how and why first and then they can apply the what, when and where to suit their circumstances. I defy anyone to remember a string of 50 new steps all at once.

4) Be positive - Invite them to ask questions at any point and under no circumstances, mock any question, ridicule any answer or treat them in a patronising manner. Just because the topic is new to them does not mean that they are stupid - they are just uninformed. It also helps to be positive and acknowledge their suggestions and ideas. Education in years gone by was often a place where people were named and shamed for bad performance - they don't need a reminder of that when they are learning something new.

5) Decide what is important - Smile, be patient, friendly and have a bit of fun. Celebrate some wins, recognise wisdom and learn what is really important. Sometimes converting something to a digital version is not the best way to complete a task. For example, sometimes you can achieve much better results if you talk over the phone rather than send a text message! Converting every process to digital is not always best. It may be more important for them to learn how to make a telephone call on Skype rather than how to send a Tweet.

Helping digital people become wise

1) Be educated and apply strategy - Wisdom is often gained after years of trial and error - for example, many people say that you can be successful in your own business after 12 years of mistakes! There is another way to increase wisdom a little more quickly - it starts with good quality education and learning, but more importantly, application of a sound strategy! This type of wisdom can be used to avoid time wasting activities and stay on purpose. Many digital technologies are good for distraction rather than results!

2) Be choosy - Wisdom also relies on making good choices. Certainly, a person comfortable in a digital environment can find it easy to 'fill in boxes on a screen.' But a digital person does not always put the right information in those boxes or choose the best places to enter their details. A little contemplation before pressing enter can save hours of time trying to have content deleted, modified or responded to after a crisis has occurred.

3) Be real - The digital world is changing the way so many people communicate. Conversations of all sorts are being reduced to a short string of characters and so much narcissism, loneliness and bullying has developed as time speeds up and people abbreviate every aspect of their lives and turn it into characters on a screen. Wisdom is when you learn to turn off the digital world and get back into the REAL world - where people are people.

Today I walked past a guy carrying a 'free hugs' sign - he was doing a roaring trade! Are we losing touch with each other so much that we feel the need to hug a stranger because our friends are so busy looking at a screen and doing something far more important?

4) Keep updated - I once heard the expression, 'there is no such thing as a new idea.' I was devastated! But the reality is, many wise people have 'seen what we see now before.' Certainly, it may not have looked exactly the same, but you can be sure it is some sort of version of something else. The wisest people choose to constantly learn and keep themselves updated, so don't assume, just because you have some digital capability, that you are therefore wise or smarter than someone who cannot use the technology at this moment.

5) Start filing and archiving - In the 'good old days,' information was archived on paper - which if it didn't get burnt or wet, could 'last' for 500 years or more! On the other hand, digital information is given a 'life' of only 50 years. So this makes it really important to start keeping some records of your achievements (on your own website for example). Filling up social media, blogs hosted by others or company records could see all of your hard work 'disappear' in a moment. Start keeping a record of what you have done so there is an archive of your achievements and proof of your developing wisdom can be stored.

I hope you find these quick tips useful for working with both digital natives and digital dinosaurs.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of the digital dinosaur!

Don't assume that digital literacy guarantees digital success!

Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI has recently started teaching at the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) in Melbourne on the topics of iPhones, personal computers and WordPress websites.

Keywords

#digital literacy #digitaltraining, #digitalnatives #digitaldinosaurs #digitalwisdom

First Published:  23 October 2014
Last Update:  4 March 2016

--
If you believe this article is helpful, please:

1) Like it right now - and add a personal comment or question
2) Share it as an update on LinkedIn
3) Add the link in your next post on social media
4) Provide a link in your next email newsletter
5) Ask me for more information about LinkedIn related to your Purpose
6) Bookmark this page so you can come back to it later!

Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI CDAA (Assoc) ASA
Connect with me at https://au.linkedin.com/in/sueellson
Learn more about me at https://www.sueellson.com
Ask me a question via sueellson @ sueellson.com
Call or message me direct via +61 402 243 271
Book a Skype appointment sueellson

See my other posts on LinkedIn at
https://www.dhirubhai.net/today/author/sueellson

See my other personal presentations at
https://sueellson.com/presentations

See my other written articles at
https://sueellson.com/publications

See my books online at
https://120ways.com

Author - 120 Ways To Achieve Your Purpose On LinkedIn - Tried and True Tips and Techniques
Chapter Outline, Reviews, Story, Purchase
https://120ways.com/books/120-ways-to-achieve-your-purpose-with-linkedin-sue-ellson/
Digital book via Amazon
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B01BTR8QBC
Printed book sent to you at no extra charge via Book Depository
https://www.bookdepository.com/120-Ways-Achieve-Your-Purpose-with-Linkedin-Sue-Ellson/9780994287502