(Posted 8:30 a.m., April 1)
Grade 8 students teach gigabyte neophytes some new tricks
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Joan Rathwell gets a few pointers on how to use her e-mail account from student tutor Tyler Franklin. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Whoever said you can't teach an old dog a new trick has never been to a computer class for seniors. For the past six weeks a group of Grade 6 students at Heritage Public School in Navan have been tutoring a group of seniors on how to use the Internet.

The result has been truly inspirational as some of the seniors who could barely turn their computers on six weeks ago are now surfing the Internet like pros and chatting with far flung relatives through the magic of e-mail.

The initiative was the brainchild of Navan Women's Institute member Sheila Minogue-Calver who helped put together a similar program at the former Meadowview Public. She approached Heritage principal Anne-Marie Currier in the fall, who was immediately sold on the concept.

The next step was to recruit the student tutors who would have to give up their lunch time to participate in the program. Anyone who was interested had to first fill out an application form and put together a resume. They then had to go through an interview process.

"Everyone who expressed an interest in doing it, ended up doing it, but we just wanted them to go through the process," said Grade 8 teacher Heather Kirk, who along with Grade 5/6 teacher Jill Noakes oversees the program..

Joan Rathwell receives her certificate after completing a six week computer course for seniors at Heritage Public School in Navan. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Once they were able to get the students on board, the next step was to advertise the program in the local newsletter and the school bulletin. The ads generated about 14 responses, including the mother of one of the teachers at the school.

Navan Women's Institute member Joan Rathwell was one of the seniors who answered the call. The 64-year-old Navan resident decided to take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to e-amil her brother in Florida and friends in Maine and Ireland.

"I'm a complete neophyte," Rathwell admitted during her final lesson in the school's computer lab. "I want my computer to do what I want it to do rather than always being forced to do what it wants me to do, and I'm determined to win the battle."

Rathwell's tutor for the past six weeks has been 13-year-old Tyler Franklin who volunteered out of a sense of being able to make a difference in another person's life.

"It's been pretty good. It's always nice to help someone and teach them a new skill," said Franklin.

Before the end of her final session, Rathwell learned how to take a picture of herself using her computer's built-in web camera, and e-mailed it to her brother.

"Wow, that's incredible. I'm amazed," said Rathwell after checking her "Sent" folder to make sure it had been properly sent.

After the final session, Rathwell and seven of her fellow students received a certificate from their young tutors. All of them were proud at having accomplished something that for many seniors can be a tad intimidating.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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