UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1093

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Sihan Jian
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She, her, hers
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): sj23a@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: Vanessa Dennen
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: vdennen@fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable): Education, Health, and Human Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Educational Psychology and Learning Systems
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/20061/Sihan%20Jian.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Older Adults and Digital Literacy
Project Keywords: Seniors, Learning, Instruction, Community, Design, Digital Literacy
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors

Project Location:: Sometimes we might visit senior centers and nursing homes in and around the Tallahassee area.
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: If travel is needed off campus, I will provide the ride.
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 8
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
Technology can greatly enhance the lives of older adults by helping them stay connected, manage household tasks, access healthcare, and navigate transportation. Despite these potential benefits, the “gray digital divide” highlights a significant gap in technology usage between older and younger generations. Many adults over 65 face difficulties in developing the digital skills needed to fully participate in today’s increasingly online world, often leading to their marginalization from digital spaces. 
This project focuses on examining the current digital skills and confidence levels of older adults. Findings from this work may inform future collaborations with local community organizations to design training approaches tailored to older adults’ learning preferences, with the goal of increasing their confidence and participation in digital spaces.

Research Tasks:
1. Conduct literature reviews on topics related to older adults’ digital literacy, including summarizing key findings from scholarly articles and reports.
2. Assist with on-site data collection at locations such as senior centers and nursing homes, which may include setting up online surveys, tabling at events, handing out flyers, distributing paper surveys, and helping participants complete them.
3. Conduct interviews (online, by phone, or in person) with adults aged 55 and older, following an interview guide, audio recording (with consent).
4. Clean interview transcripts and code qualitative data according to established procedures.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
We are looking for students who bring both interpersonal skills and attention to detail to support this research project.
Required:
1. Openness to and comfort with communicating respectfully with older adults
2. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Recommended:
1. Experience creating and managing survey forms in Qualtrics
2. Prior volunteer or work experience with older adults

Mentoring Philosophy:
As a mentor, I aim to create a supportive and respectful environment where mentees feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and trying new approaches. I believe learning is most effective when it is collaborative, and I see my role as both a guide and a partner in discovery. I encourage open communication, value diverse perspectives, and provide constructive feedback to help mentees grow in confidence and skills. My goal is for mentees to leave this experience not only with new research abilities, but also with a stronger sense of their own potential and direction.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://sihanjian.notion.site/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
September 4, Thursday, 7:00-7:30 pm
September 5, Friday, 1:30-2:00 pm

https://fsu.zoom.us/j/7117970622


Roundtable Info:
- Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 7:00
  End Time: 7:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/7117970622
- Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 1:30
  End Time: 2:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/7117970622

UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes
Faculty Advisor Confirmation: Yes

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: Yes
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Year: 2025
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=qMgap_9KWtwpyr0G8HJVCb7Qn8DliPR136iXVgTf3UM