Helping seniors come to grips with technology

BACK TO SCHOOL: Volunteer tutors Hans Kwak and Jill Hudson prepare for the new Senior Net term that starts on February 7. People are welcome to come in and check out courses at the Senior Net Open and Enrolment Day at the Cossie Club on Wednesday. Picture by Liam Clayton

JUST AS parents are preparing their children for the return to school, grandparents can also check out learning opportunities at the Senior Net Open and Enrolment Day between 11am and 3pm on Wednesday (February 1).

Older people are welcome to pop into the Senior Net rooms upstairs at the Cosmopolitan Club, and have a cuppa and chat with tutors about computer courses for the new term.

Secretary Hans Kwak said while most courses were two hours a week for eight weeks, there were also some shorter workshops and individual tutorials available.

“Senior Net provides small, friendly classes for older people to give them the skills and confidence to enjoy using technology. Our tutors are all volunteers and we enjoy sharing our knowledge and continuing to learn from each other and from our students,” Mr Kwak said.

Getting started, word processing, email, internet searching and photo enhancing are some of the courses on the programme. Four-week workshops on using an iPad and tablet are also on offer.

Course confirmation will depend on interest shown and tutor availability.

“Whether we realise it or not, computers are such a big part of all our lives these days, that not knowing how to use them is quite a disadvantage,” said Mr Kwak.

“We are very grateful to the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club for their support in helping us to help others with computer skills,” Mr Kwak said.