Designing an E-Learning Course for Seniors(<Special English Issue>Global Supply Chain Management)

抄録

The widescale retirement of Japanese workers in 2007, known as the "2007 Problem," will precipitate the loss of an unprecedented amount of intellectual capital from the Japanese workforce, threatening the future viability of many organisations. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) has been proposed as a tool to support knowledge-retention management techniques, however, many seniors reject ICT use. This paper discusses the conceptual framework and basic architecture of an ICT skills course directed at seniors (PASOLEARN), underpinned by a pedagogical model that seeks to meet and sustain seniors' 'intrinsic motivation.' E-learning was chosen as the platform for PASOLEARN because of its capacity to reach older people precluded from 'bricks-and-mortar' classes by distance, lack of transport or physical infirmity, and also because of the 'self-education' freedom it gives older people with a low sense of efficacy in ICT education. Based on a survey conducted at Kanazawa City's 'Ikigai IT Centre' (IIC), an ICT education facility for Kanazawa residents aged over 55, we found that the PASOLEARN contents impacted IIC members' motivation levels and perceived effectiveness and usefulness of the course. It also revealed gender-based differences in motivation levels.