Cindy: I Want to Bring Tech Knowledge to People Who Are Like My Grandma
Like every Gen Z peer, Cindy grew up in a tech world with digital advancements - from the rise of mobile phones and computers to the dominance of tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. While the young generation has gotten used to the pace of the digital age, older adults haven’t. Cindy noticed a significant gap in technological engagement among the older generation, which became apparent during the pandemic.
Disconnection Among Older Adults During the Pandemic
“I felt like older adults who are homebound were especially or more likely to be disconnected. I feel like just living at home with my grandma like I saw that happening through my personal experience.” She discovered the Virtual Senior Center (VSC) online and connected with our Volunteer Coordinator to offer her assistance. Then, she started to teach the class Everyday Technology For Beginners to fill the gap.
Impressed by Members’ Initiative to Learn New Things
Considering older adults’ knowledge of different technology tools, Cindy will ask for older adults’ suggestions at the beginning of the class and integrate them during the class. “I share my screen, and then we go through it step by step in a very introductory way.” Since the members use different devices in the class, she will also keep in mind that the class should apply to anyone.
Because this tech class for members is very basic, Cindy teaches something that we have used every day, like the Google account. In the class, she told the members how to open Gmail, how to use YouTube, how to mark things on Google Calendar, etc. The enthusiasm of VSC members to embrace new technologies has been a source of inspiration for Cindy. “I’m really impressed that they show initiative to learn a new skill, even though it might be unfamiliar or scary to learn in the first place.”
Volunteering at the VSC also improves Cindy’s presentation skills and her confidence. The fact that members are not afraid of learning new things influences her as well. “I feel like I've learned a lot from them as they've learned from me. I want to express my respect for all the facilitators who help support the program and also all the students who are in the program, and the staff who make everything run smoothly here.”
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We also invite you to join our Virtual Senior Center as a volunteer. Discover how you can make a difference. Click here.