“The students tutors, Professors Stella Perrone and Roberta Borgnino, and Headmaster Ugo Rapetti from IIS “A. Castigliano” in Asti, along with a manager from the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Rosy D’Elia, have met today (10 July 2015) with a generation of 9 over-sixties who are ready to meet the world of technology and learn from young students, becoming themselves students once again for a 15-lesson course.”
This is the beginning of the Log Book that the protagonists of the Grandparents on the Internet at the Post Office Project have kept lesson after lesson, jotting down the opinions of tutors, grandparents and teachers.
Log Book, September 23. This is what coordinating teacher Stella Perrone wrote for the eleventh lesson:
“As I enter the classroom, I notice that the grandparents and tutors are already there and at work on their activities. The grandparents are interested in learning. They want to improve their ICT skills. I must admit that it’s very touching to see their commitment and desire to acquire new knowledge. I like to observe this exchange of experience, to see the eyes of the grandparents watching the young tutors. They get on perfectly.
I’m almost sorry to “interrupt” them and disrupt their autonomy, but I need to teach them about the web and explain about the safe use of the Internet. They are becoming good at it, expert surfers, and they are discovering a new world. Next week, managers from Poste Italiane will speak about on-line services … It doesn’t feel right to leave them along to surf this sea full of dangers. They have become experts who surf the web and check e-mail. They write, share, use attachments and access social networks. They download images, share photos … I want them to become experts, but conscientious experts. So, we speak about viruses, worms, Trojans, phishing, on-line scams, netiquette, accounts, passwords, home banking. They are attentive, ask questions and take notes. I love to look in the eyes of these juniors and seniors. They are all concentrated, learning together, while the tutors teach and grow … We are at lesson 11 and I know that I will soon miss these moments.”
Tutors and grandparents also wrote a fun recipe book that they shared on Google Drive. It includes entrees, main courses, cakes and typical recipes from Piedmont such as the "bagna cauda."
Meeting after meeting at the Post Office on Corso Dante 55 in Asti, we have reached the fifteenth and last lesson.
The Fondazione Mondo Digitale is represented by Rosy D'Elia, but we are really all there, following the community and eager to hear more about you …
Grandparents on the Internet at the Post Office was conceived to help elders navigate the web and learn more about new communication technology. Poste Italiane opted for the Grandparents on the Internet Model developed by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale to promote its digital literacy pilot project in post offices around the country [see news "Grandparents at Post Offices"].
