Leadership project offers free computer seminars
Leadership project offers free computer seminars
High school teenagers aren’t necessarily savvy, high-tech gurus, but the connected generation has a lot of knowledge to offer their elders when it comes to basic computer skills, Web navigation and social media.
Recognizing this, the Class of 2012 Leadership San Benito County is offering free computer seminars that pair up the generations to help share teens’ knowledge with senior citizens.
This past Saturday at San Benito High School, 22 local seniors showed up for one-on-one time with teens in a computer lab, as Leadership students – who are local business people – and computer teacher Michael Schurig, facilitated.
“For some, it started with the basics like how to turn on the computer,” said Barbara Mauro, the recording secretary for the San Benito County Water District.
Each senior checked in and was assigned to a student, most of whom attended the high school – though some volunteers were in junior high school.
“The students have been wonderful,” said Mauro, as Schurig offered tips on computer basics, Web navigation and searching the Internet safely. “It’s important to have the senior do the work instead of the students typing for them.”
Donna Holmes of the Leadership group said she came up with the idea after hearing from seniors that they “don’t have a lot of knowledge about the computer, but they’d like to. That planted the seed.”
The first class was offered April 21 at San Juan School and another is scheduled for May 19 at San Benito High School.
Carol Porteur said “the students are awesome” as she watched them lean over the shoulders or sit next to their senior partners to answer questions as they worked the mouse at their personal workstations.
Mauro said the student volunteers were encouraged to “pretend you are teaching to your grandma or grandpa.”
“The rapport (between the generations) was immediate,” Holmes said.
One senior at the workshop said they planned to head to Best Buy that day to buy a computer.
Schurig also commented on the rapport between the seniors and their young helpers.
“The students showed their ability and skills and as well as a lot of patience,” he said. “The seniors really had an eagerness to learn. We had those who want to buy a computer and those who want to use what they have.”
SBHS junior Brian Tobias and his brother, Russell, were among the student helpers at last week’s event.
“I showed him how to use the mouse and manage the buttons,” Brian said. “They grasped the concept, they just had to get used to the physical motions.”
Russell said he volunteered as a continuation of the service projects he does with the local Future Farmers of America organization.
One of the senior participants, Dolly DeVasier, said she attended the event because she wanted to make sure she bought the right computer for her needs.
“I knew very little before today,” she said, “but this event was quite good. It was a good idea to put this on.”
DeVasier said that the various organizations to which she belongs increasingly rely on email and computerized applications, so expanding her knowledge would help them as well.
Eighty-year-old Willard Toelscher, who was assisted by Kyle Cameron, said he learned “quite a little something” from his interaction. “I picked up a lot of the basic things. I thought it was very helpful.”
When the session started, Toelscher admitted that he “didn’t know what I wanted to learn.”
“I’ve had a computer for a few years, but I’m self taught,” he said, noting that he was happy to learn more about the Microsoft Word application during his work with Cameron.
The next computer seminar in Room 477 (on the new campus of San Benito High School) requires an RSVP to 831-205-1799 or by email at [email protected]. The May 19 event will include instruction from 9-11 a.m. and an open session from 11 a.m. to noon.
