Core Insights - The aging population in China necessitates the development of elderly education as a key component of lifelong learning, with open universities emerging as significant facilitators in community elderly education [1] - There is a notable mismatch in the elderly education curriculum, with an overemphasis on traditional arts and insufficient practical courses like technology application and health management, leading to underutilization of educational resources [2] - The digital divide poses challenges for the elderly in accessing online education, with many facing difficulties in using digital platforms and lacking necessary digital literacy [2] - The community elderly education sector suffers from a structural shortage of qualified teachers, with high turnover rates and inadequate professional training systems [3] - Funding for community elderly education is inconsistent and often reliant on temporary measures, limiting the quality and sustainability of educational services [3] Digital Transformation Strategies - Optimizing the curriculum by collaborating with universities and industry associations to create a dynamic course development mechanism that addresses the core needs of the elderly [4] - Building an intelligent platform with user-friendly features tailored for the elderly, including voice interaction and large font displays, to enhance their digital learning experience [5] - Establishing a comprehensive training system for teachers that combines online and offline resources, promoting professional development and collaboration among educators [6] Successful Case Studies - Jiangsu Open University’s "Silver Age Classroom" project has successfully served over 100,000 elderly learners by offering practical courses like smartphone applications and photography editing [6] - Shanghai Open University has innovatively launched "Smart Elderly Care" micro-courses focusing on essential knowledge areas such as home safety and health monitoring, addressing the adaptability issues faced by elderly learners [6] Future Directions - The open university sector is encouraged to leverage its systematic educational advantages to create an inclusive elderly education service framework, supported by government policies and funding [7]