Pew Research Center notes that confidence is a barrier to technology adoption for older adults, and that three quarters say they need someone to help them. Adult children are not always available to provide tech support, even when providing an iPad for Christmas. With smartphone and tablet overviews and classes on today’s new tech skills, Bolder Adults Tech Time fills the gap. The lighthearted sessions are welcoming even to adults unaccustomed to needing assistance.

With playful titles and a conversational, flexible style, Bolder Adults Tech Time takes the intimidation out of technology help. Subjects are chosen based on user requests and emerging features of the technology landscape. For instance, Old Disk, New Tricks helps users transfer files from floppy disks. Scan and Deliver covers scanning features on smartphones. Streaming without Screaming helps users cut the cable cord. ‘Appy to Get You There introduces transit and mapping apps.

San Francisco Public Library launched Bolder Adults as an ongoing series in 2018, and so far more than 100 adults have attended classes at library and community partner sites, including sessions in Chinese. Classes are evaluated using Project Outcome. Attendees say they feel more knowledgeable and confident and will apply what they learned, praising the “conversational, light-hearted approach” and the “laid back, unpressured” format. “[I felt] very comfortable learning new things,” said one Scan and Deliver attendee.