The SMART AGE project has reached an important stage in developing its media literacy curriculum for older learners. The first full version will be completed by the end of June and then sent to external reviewers for additional feedback and validation.
The curriculum is designed for seniors who want to feel more confident in everyday digital life. It will help them understand online information, recognise misleading content, identify possible scams, protect personal data and make safer decisions when using digital tools. It also responds directly to the needs of the target group and incorporates the latest DigComp 3.0 framework.
Many older adults use digital services to communicate, read news, access public services, manage finances or search for health information. At the same time, the online world has become more complex. Messages can be emotional or manipulative, images and videos can be changed or created by artificial intelligence, and platforms can limit what people see. For this reason, SMART AGE focuses on practical judgement, not only on device use.
The curriculum will be organised as a 75-hour learning pathway with an introduction, ten learning modules and a final closing section. Topics will include information and media literacy, disinformation, AI-generated content, algorithms, online scams, privacy, digital well-being, responsible communication and civic participation online.
Learning will be clear, practical and connected to real life. Seniors will work with familiar examples such as suspicious messages, online headlines, social media posts, privacy settings, forwarded content and everyday digital services. The aim is not to create fear of technology, but to help learners pause, check, compare and decide with greater confidence.
After completion, external reviewers will assess whether the curriculum is relevant, understandable and useful for older learners. Their feedback will support final improvements before translation and localisation into the project languages during the summer.
By September 2026, the curriculum should be ready for the next project phase: transforming it into an interactive Massive Open Online Course. The MOOC will allow seniors to learn step by step and at their own pace. Learners who complete the course will receive a digital certificate, while progress through individual modules will be recognised with digital badges.
With this curriculum, SMART AGE is building the educational foundation for a safer and more confident digital life for older adults.
