1) The document discusses intergenerational learning programs that use video conferencing to connect students and elderly people living in aged care homes. 2) It provides an overview of best practices for conducting intergenerational video calls and examples of topics discussed, including history, English, and health. 3) The programs have led to positive outcomes for both elderly participants and students, including socialization, improved mood and learning. The document concludes by discussing expanding the programs.

1. Friday 12th March 2021
Intergenerational learning using video conferencing
Professor Emeritus Anneke Fitzgerald
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
Greg Cronan: Researcher / Program Director
Intergenerational Learning Australia
Presented by:
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

2. Intergenerational learning using video conferencing
An overview of intergenerational practice in Australia
by Emeritus Professor Anneke Fitzgerald
• Maranatha House – Regional NSW
• Mornington Peninsula – Victoria
• Interest from NSW Crown Land
• Intergenerational Practice Pilot – Perth (Western Australia)
• The Hub – Intergenerational Practice Collaboratory (Cromwell)
• MRFF Grant Intergenerational Practice
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

3. Intergenerational learning using video conferencing
Overview by Greg Cronan
Observations and assessment of intergenerational learning in a ‘virtual’ environment
Technology best practices for intergenerational learning via video conferencing
Share experiences about intergenerational learning programs
Scaling and expanding the program – barriers and solutions
Q & A
Important role of the Facilitator: Wellness / Activity Coordinators and Teachers
Thank you for this opportunity!
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

4. Intergenerational learning using video conferencing
Recording of highlights from intergenerational learning video conferences
with comments from a Residential Aged Care Home Facility Manager
and School Students
(4 minute video)
Our objective was to achieve a simple method that enabled weekly video calls while
minimising additional workload to staff at the aged care organisation and school.
Minimal Equipment Required: Laptop, Speakerphone, TV and Internet
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

5. How did you get to school?
Question by a student at the back of the room.
Purposeful Reciprocal Learning aligned with School Curriculum
English: Biographies.
2. I rode my bike
for 10 miles to
get to school in
Adelaide.
4. I walked for
five minutes
to get to
school.
3. It took us
about half an
hour to walk
to school.
5. I used
Shanks’ pony
to get to
school!
2019
Students developed their
communication, language,
interpersonal and socio-
emotional skills by
interviewing the elders.
Elders were informed about the topic a few days before the video
call, to prepare their questions and achieve reciprocal learning!
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

6. Healthy Lifestyles and Foods, PDHPE and History
3. Junk food?
Hamburgers! Did
you eat hamburgers
at school or going
to school?
1. Did you
ever have any
junk food?
2. What do
you mean by
‘junk food’?
4. Hamburgers weren’t around when I was
at school. They hadn’t been invented then.
Matter of fact, I’ve never eaten a
hamburger in my life…. and I’m 93!
(Students were shocked to hear Rex say he had never eaten a hamburger!)
2019
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

7. Range of School Subjects: History, English and Sports
1. What was your
favourite subject? Why?
3. Why was English
your favourite subject?
2.English was my
favourite subject.
4. I loved poems
and writing poems
6. In Mauritius
I learnt French
and English
5. In England, we
just did the 3 R’s:
reading, writing
and ‘rithmetic
7. I loved sports
like footy. I was
not good at
English or Maths
This discussion led to students
working in groups of four to write
poems about each resident. These
poems were recited by the students in
the subsequent video call.
2019
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

8. Grade 6 Classroom and Video
Conference Equipment Setup
Laptop with
internal camera
Speakerphones
(wireless) for students
Script &
Agenda
Two students
as ‘hosts’.
Best practices for intergenerational learning via video conferencing
Whiteboards
Wi-Fi or 4G
Modem
Windows
covered
COVID-19
Seating!
2019
Black Table
Cloths
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

9. Laptop elevated to
enable camera to view
students in classroom
Student to turn pages
in Script folder as
host students speak
New Words, Phrases, Vocalisations
and Non-Verbal Communication
written on Whiteboard and by students
Best practices for intergenerational learning via video conferencing
2019
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

10. 2020
Music: Five groups of students
sang and acted parts of a song
History: World Wars and
Remembrance Day
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

11. Multi-Classroom
Video calls
Topic was History
Learn and
compare difference
between schools,
subjects and
teachers from
1920’s to 2011
2021
4 Wireless
Speakerphones
1 x Cabled (USB)
Speakerphones
4 Wireless
Speakerphones
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

12. Multi-Classroom
Video calls
English and
History topic was
Precepts and the
novel “Wonder”
Students learnt new
precepts from
elders, books the
elders read at
school and authors.
2021
One speakerphone requires a student to
walk to the front of room.
Motorised (PTZ)
camera enables
closeup views of
students.
Standard web
camera cannot
provide closeup
views of students.
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

13. Multi-Classroom
Video calls
Topic was History
Learn and
compare difference
between schools,
subjects and
teachers from
1920’s to 2011
2021
Close-up view of an
elder enables
students to view the
elder’s eyes and
facial expressions
in more detail.
Important for
students furthest
from TV.
Immersive
Experience
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

14. 2021
2021
Close-up view of
a student enables
elders to view the
student’s eyes
and facial
expressions in
more detail.
Important for
elders with
eyesight
conditions.
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

15. Technology best practices for intergenerational learning via video conferencing
1. New Words
2. New Phrases
3. Vocalisations
4. Non-verbal communication
5. Other data based on topic e.g.,
English: biographical
information, name of poets,
favourite poem
Science: space travel,
technology. Forms of transport
History: World Wars, Great
Depression, Careers, School
Maths: Currency, differences in cost of goods now and over past 90 years
Personal Development: Healthy foods and lifestyles, exercise, sports, school canteens, lollies!
Recreation: Reading, games (indoor / outdoor/ non-technology!), cooking, building ‘billy carts etc
Students record the data below into their folders (or tablets / other devices).
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

16. TV Room - Residential Aged Care Home
• Background noise was challenging
• Glare from sunshine through glass
doors reflecting on TV screen
• Camera performance due to sunshine
• Black linen was placed on tables to
reduce reflective glare to the camera
4G Modem
• Arrangement of seats and tables to
ensure all elders could view the TV
and were seen by the webcamera
• Lighting was adequate.
• A 4G wireless modem was used due
to poor Wi-Fi.
Technology best practices for intergenerational learning via video conferencing
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

17. Next Phase:
Involving elders living in their own home with
Intergenerational Learning Video Calls and Technology Solutions
Set Top Box Video Call device with API
for integration with Electronic Medical
Records + more
Set Top Box Video Call device with
smart camera and microphones + more
Australia
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

18. Outcomes
Elders
• Socialisation
• Purposeful mental stimulation
• Improved mood, sleep, appetite
• Reduces loneliness and negativity
• Laughter
Students
• Attentiveness
• Improved learning / Weekly Reward!
• Empathy
• Improved behaviour / Calmness
• Historical / Societal context
Staff at Aged Care Home
• Happier Staff
• Enjoyment of interactions
• Positive socialisation with elders
Teachers / Parents
• New insights student personalities
• Engaged and calmer students
• New enjoyable dynamics
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

19. 1. Handbook
2. Curriculum Guide
3. Information Document and Consent Forms about this program for Parents,
Students, Teachers, Elders, Aged Care Staff, Visitors
4. Legalities
5. Recordings of Video Calls and Access to Recordings
6. Surveys – Quality of VC, Ageism, Well-being, Working in Aged Care
7. Criteria for participants in aged care home
8. Parental Involvement
9. Discussion at home by students about elders: Re-creating the village!
10. COVID-19
11. Media Interest – 66,000 views of TV News Report in 6 days
12. Funding and Grants
13. Next Steps – Elders living at home alone
14. Physical and Technical Solutions for video calls in challenging room environments
Topics for further discussion. Contact us!
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

20. Questions?
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/

21. Intergenerational learning using video conferencing
Professor Emeritus Anneke Fitzgerald
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
Greg Cronan: Researcher / Program Director
Intergenerational Learning Australia
Contact Details:
Int’l :+61-433-387-209
Email: greg@intergenerational-learning.com.au
Web: www.intergenerational-learning.com.au
Office: +61 755 527 043
Mob: +61 410 609 832
Email: anneke.fitzgerald@griffith.edu.au
Web: www.intergenerational-learning.com.au
All content and intellectual property Copyright 2021 © Intergenerational Learning Australia Contact Greg Cronan + 61-433-387-209 http://www.intergeneational-learning.com.au/