Schoolgirls teach their elders a thing or two

Two generations learned from each other, for the second year in a row, in a special programme organised by transition year students from the Dominican College in Taylor’s Hill.

The ‘Log On, Learn’ programme that gets older people back into the classroom to help them become confident technology users has proven again that age is no barrier.

Sponsored by An Post, Microsoft and Intel, the programme has been hugely popular with about 16 ‘older’ students in each class returning to education. Many of the second level students shone as tutors and what were interesting and fun role reversals.

The one to one aspect of the training means that the programme is tailored to suit each older person’s needs, as it takes their initial skill level, learning pace, interests and hobbies into account.

The sexa-, septu- and even octogenarians have relished the opportunity to get online and explore unknown virtual worlds that had up to now been unknown to them. Many of them overcame their fears of technology and the learning gave them a new lease of life.

For some, sending an email was achievement enough, while for others, the thrills of eBay, Google Earth and TripAdvisor were the main attractions.

Read more in today's Connacht Sentinel