Featuring: Cynthia Stewart, PhD
Date: Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Southeastern NY Library Resources Council, 21 S. Elting Corners Rd, Highland, NY

Are you interested in helping older adults avoid scams? Come learn about a project called DART (Deception Awareness and Resilience Tools). This group created a puzzle game for seniors called Deepcover. It is free on the App Store, and gameplay involves exposing players to various deceptive tactics and language scammers use. In addition to being fun to play, the game helps players become more familiar with language and tactics used in scams. In addition to the game, DART also has a library subscription model for their e-learning platform.

Our speaker, Cynthia Stewart, recently presented to a group of Digital Navigators to discuss her research and preliminary findings on playing DART Academy in libraries, senior centers, and other educational institutions. Our Navigators wanted to see the product in action, so we have invited her to our conference room to share with you.

What is DART? It is a cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional, user-centered effort to develop games to help older adults recognize and navigate scams. Online deception disproportionately targets seniors with disastrous effects. The DART platform helps seniors recognize threats and protect themselves. A collaboration between researchers, game designers, and community organizations, DART is unique in tailoring its curriculum and using gamification to make training accessible and engaging for seniors.

Who is this program for? Anyone who works with older adults and wants new and creative ways to help them improve their relationship with technology is welcome. You do not need to be a Digital Navigator to do this work! Library workers from all types of libraries are welcome. This event is free.