Xishu Elementary School in Tainan City’s Southern District creates a digital cafe for seniors to help the elders shorten the digital gap

In the past, I would get nervous when seeing a pop-up screen pop up on my phone, fearing that I would lose money if I pressed the wrong button; now I can scan the QR code to order a hot latte by myself, and I can also pay with my phone! In response to the trend of a super-aged society, Xishu Elementary School in Tainan City's Southern District has built the Ministry of Education's "Digital Demonstration Experience Field for Elderly Learning". With age-friendliness, digital inclusion, and local practice as the core, a "Digital Senior Cafe" is created that combines learning, communication, and daily life applications to help the elders shorten the digital gap.

Huang Huaihui, principal of Xishu Elementary School, said that from space planning, hardware optimization to curriculum introduction, the starting point is daily application. The classrooms are decorated with warm wood tones, and are equipped with round-table group learning areas and sofa communication areas, creating a relaxing learning environment like a coffee shop, allowing elders to safely access technology in the company of their peers.

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The course integrates into daily situations, leading students to experience QR code coffee ordering, online food ordering, and digital payment. It also records life through mobile phone photography, video editing, and AI picture card creation, allowing the elderly to feel the convenience and sense of accomplishment brought by technology.

Director of Education Zheng Xinhui said that in addition to hosting learning activities, the demonstration site also provides one-on-one digital consultation services. Training for "digital helpers" began in May, covering senior teaching skills, digital tool operation, problem solving, digital security and fraud prevention, etc. Currently, 33 digital helpers have been trained to help the elderly solve problems encountered when using mobile phones and digital services.

Cai Bingzhen, the digital administrator of the Southern District Senior Learning Digital Demonstration Area, said that after several months of promotion, the students’ progress has been amazing. A student shared that he used to be nervous when he saw the screen on his mobile phone and was afraid of causing damage by pressing the wrong button. Now he can not only scan the QR code to order food by himself, but also learned to use the self-service ordering machine of a fast food restaurant and pay with his mobile phone. He said with a smile: "Next time I go out with my grandnephew, let me treat him instead!"

The Education Bureau stated that in the future, it will continue to use the "Digital Senior Cafe" as a base to deepen consultation services and mutual learning between grandparents and grandchildren, so that technology can truly be integrated into the lives of the elderly and become a good helper to connect generations and improve the convenience of life.