Anyone who has tried to call a grandparent over Skype for the first time knows that technology is not always intuitive for the older generation.
But a project led by a group of Ontario high school students is helping to change that by teaching seniors basic computer skills. It is a step toward closing the digital—and the generational—divide.
A few months ago a group of grade 12 students at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School in Oakville started tutoring local seniors on technology 101: how to use email, Skype, social media, and other basic Internet functions.
The program, led by the school’s Grads Giving Back committee, is helping seniors connect to loved ones online and giving them a new sense of independence, says teacher Sherida Scott, who helped launch the initiative.
“They want to connect to their families who they might not get to see a lot,” says Scott. “So what we’re seeing is that not only are they building their skills and learning how to use technology, but I think it’s been really enriching for them.”
