[PUBLIB] Re: Teen Computer Tutors (fwd)

[PUBLIB]

Sender: "Mary Ann Meyers" <ljmmam at hypermall.net>
Subject: Re: Teen Computer Tutors

Having trained seniors to use online catalogs and databases (not Internet
searching or email), I found them to be capable learners.  Perhaps it was
the pace of learning that impeded them?

Perhaps hearing difficulties--I'm not diagnosed as hearing-impaired--but
like many older people I have trouble screening out background noise so I
can hear foreground noise.  Additionally, young people tend to speak more
quickly and in a less-enunciated manner than older people are accustomed to
or are able to follow.

Older people learn well, but may not learn at the same pace as younger
people.  As I have gotten older, I discover that I *do* forget details of
newly-acquired studies--and that repetition of physical actions (e.g. mouse
and keyboard) helps to reinforce what I have learned.

Are the cheat sheets printed in a larger font than other materials you give
to the general public?

Did you speak to any older Internet and email users in your patron community
to get advice/hints for better instruction *before* you tackled this
project?  Remember that there is a large body of qualified older people who
have been using and honing computer-related skills since the 1970's.  They,
too, are a resource for teaching others.

I believe that having teen computer tutors is a clever idea, but perhaps not
effective as older tutors--unless of course, the teens are better instructed
on their teaching skills.  Mature folks (seniors) may like to spend time
with younger folks (I do), but may also prefer to be taught by their peers.

Certainly there must be educator-members of PUBLIB who could draw on
learning theories to suggest better ways to teach mature adults (seniors).

Mary Ann Meyers
Presently expanding my usage of Access
and researching privacy issues via Internet resources
ljmmam at hypermall.net



----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Bauer" <alligator95 at yahoo.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <publib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 6:57 PM
Subject: [PUBLIB] Re: Teen Computer Tutors


> We had a group of tutors, mostly high school students,
> give one-on-one training in using hotmail.  It was not
> organized by the library, but by a volunteer at a
> local senior center.  It didn't seem to work very
> well.  Several of the students (all senior citizens)
> came back to the library and found that they couldn't
> remember what they had been taught, even though they
> had been given cheat sheets.  Some had such a hard
> time using the mouse and/or keyboard that they became
> very frustrated.
>
> I don't think the kids necessarily did a bad job, but
> I'm not sure anyone prepared them for the task.  It
> may have never occurred to them that there were people
> in the world who didn't know how to use a mouse or who
> had to have hyperlinks explained to them.
>
> It could be a great learning experience for everyone,
> but training the trainers is essential.
>
> Julie Bauer
> Weston Public Library
> Weston, MA
>
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