The young tutors who teach the Grandparents on the Internet Courses attend middle school. Notwithstanding their young age, they proudly tell us that they have been using computers for over six years.
At first, they were anxious, timid and reserved, but their character came through and they have learned to skilfully instruct grandparents to use of PCs and the Internet with patience and understanding. Some smile when they see a grandparent struggling with a mouse; to them, it has become second nature. How, then, should they teach the grandparents? What strategies and techniques should they employ? In the meantime, the grandparents practice with the solitaire game hoping the cursor doesn’t run amok!
The unusual lesson seems to last a second. While the teacher illustrates the basic notions and concepts, tutors make sure that their “students” carry out their exercises and practice correctly.
Cecilia Stajano,Head of Empowerment and Development of Local Learning Communities for the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, is present at the course. Maria, a grandmother attending the course, proudly tells her that they learned to turn the computer on and off on their own!
IT Grandparents - The “Grandparents on the Internet” Project recounted by the Children’s News Programme “GT Ragazzi” on Rai 3 [Watch the Video].
