Issues related to Maltese elderly people : developing an interactive CD-ROM for home economics secondary school students

Abstract

The aim of this research project was to produce a software package consisting of information and interactive activities, designed to enhance Secondary level students' effective learning of the topic 'The Elderly' in Home Economics and to prepare them for their Matsec examination. Prior to the production phase, a Needs Assessment survey was conducted amongst the universal sample of Home Economics teachers, with the intention of facilitating choice of informational content and activities for the proposed resource pack on the elderly. The software developed utilises the English language and consists of three main sections: 'Nutrition', 'Safety in the Home' and 'Leisure'. Each of these sections is further sub-divided into three sections - an information section and two different educational activities. A Software Handbook was also produced with the software. The CD-ROM and Handbook were also evaluated by a group of teachers and students. Results obtained show that the software package has the potential of being an effective and valuable resource for aiding the teaching and learning of the topic 'The Elderly' at Secondary level.