Strengthening Digital Skills to Make Life More Convenient & Fulfilling During the Pandemic

Four years ago, 64-year-old Mr Ang Cheng Soon bought a smartphone upon retirement. However, he soon realised that he could not use basic functions such as answering calls.

 

“In the past, I’ve always pressed (the telephone keypad) on my old mobile phone. No matter how hard I pressed on the new smartphone, I could not answer calls. As I kept 'pressing', I accidentally missed out on a lot of information and alerts. It wasn’t until I asked my son about it, that I discovered I had to use my finger to swipe on the screen instead!” Mr Ang recalled.

 

Mr Ang, who used to be unaware of how to turn on his smartphone in the past, says that he has come a long way since then and can now participate in our interview through Zoom. “It is great learning how to use digital technology! You see, I did not have to leave my house to 'meet' you! Not only that, but I can also use my mobile phone to order takeaway food. It is amazing and convenient!” he shared in the interview.

 

It turns out that Mr Ang had actively attended various IT courses to learn how to use the smartphone, including IT courses from XIOHOO, one of the National Silver Academy’s (NSA) partner organisations. In 2021, he attended NSA courses such as “Using WhatsApp”, “Using Zoom”, “Shop & Pay Online”, and “Cloud Storage and Sharing (Google Drive)". Now, he is very comfortable with using both his smartphone and computer.

 

With the COVID-19 situation, Mr Ang believes it is more important than ever to upskill his information technology skills. One example that he stated was how learning to use a video conferencing platform has enabled him to communicate with his friends and attend courses online, enjoying a fulfilling life.

 

Attending two consecutive courses with a patient and understanding trainer

 

Mr Ang enjoys taking pictures of nature. When he noticed that his phone storage was becoming low, he attended a course to learn how to use online storage and file sharing on cloud services.  

 

“I found these digital skills extremely useful. The more I learn, the more interested I am. The trainer is also very patient, showing us demonstrations and helping us whenever we require any help. Within one month after the course, I can still ask them for advice. The more I attend these courses, the greater desire I have to seek new knowledge,” Mr Ang explained.

 

“Sometimes, I even attend two courses a day: three hours in the morning, three hours after lunch. Although the total duration is six hours, I don't feel tired at all!”, he added.

 

Mr Ang pointed out that there are subsidies for these courses. He also uses his SkillsFuture Credit to pay for these courses. Sometimes, he only needs to pay $10 for the course fees. “I don’t have to spend much to pick up useful knowledge. It's very affordable,” Mr Ang shared. 

 

From a learner to teacher: Teaching his friends to use various digital tools

 

Mr Ang used to do clerical work in the arbitration tribunal. Besides graduating with a Degree in Business, Mr Ang also has a professional diploma in social work. After retiring, he devoted himself to social services and often volunteered at NTUC Health and O'Joy Care Services to help care for the elderly.

 

After acquiring digital skills, Mr Ang and his friends often learn from each other, discussing the tips of various digital tools, such as Zoom and WhatsApp functions. If a friend seeks advice from Mr Ang, he will teach or demonstrate to them, based on what he had learnt.

 

“We often learn together on how to use these digital platforms, and use them in our communications with each other. I believe if we use them more frequently in our daily lives, we would be able to master using these smart devices and platforms,” Mr Ang shared.

 

He observed that some seniors are fearful of learning new things, scared of making mistakes or even embarrassed to ask others for advice when they encounter something they do not understand. Mr Ang encourages seniors to overcome their psychological barriers and try to experience and learn.

 

“I think we should treat learning as something fun. Learning new things can bring freshness, vitality and even delay the ageing process. Most importantly, you should not feel hesitant to ask when you are in doubt. This can help to accelerate your pace of learning, making the whole learning experience easier,” Mr Ang concluded.

 

**Special thanks to Mr Ang who accepted our interview, we wish him all the very best in his lifelong learning journey.

 

Source: Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.