From PC Panic To Computer Tutor

Fiona Pearson was made redundant at the age of 50, and had never touched a computer. Yet now at age 56 she is Reading Development Librarian at the London Borough of Richmond Libraries, where she teaches taster sessions to people who have never used the internet. The transition was not easy, but has changed Fiona's life.

"I cried, I was terrified I was going to break the computer, I thought I was never ever going to be able to learn it, I wondered why did I want to do it," says Fiona. "There was a vacancy at Richmond library and even though I had no computer skills, one of my friends said that I had people skills, so I came as a casual temporary employee for three months. They have taught me everything I know and now I teach other people."

Being a recently converted "silver surfer" herself helps Fiona teach.

"It helps knowing what it's like to not be able to use the computer at all. People all say that their sons or daughters or their grandchild aged seven can do things immediately, and they do it too quickly, whereas I'm quite happy to repeat things three, four or five times, it doesn't matter to me, because I've been there where somebody has said, all you do is this, and you think, I didn't see what you did. I've been there and worn the t-shirt."

These days it is becoming vital to be able to use the internet.

"It used to be that you could get away with not using computers. I used to want to show people how to do it because I thought it was a good idea in that they were missing out, but now it's essential for them to learn because everything, every TV programme, finishes with "www." and so they are being completely excluded from the whole world."

Fiona helps her students take the first steps in breaking down this social exclusion.

"They are all terrified of the computer. Lots of sons and daughters give mum or dad their old computer, and then mum and dad haven't got a clue how it works. They come because they feel that they're missing out, everyone's told them that they should, or because they need to, they aren't going to be able to find another job, but it's changed, it used to be that they came because they had heard about computers and were interested, now however more are coming because they feel that there's a whole world out there that they're not part of."

Helping people use computers and discover the magic of the internet is clearly a rewarding job.

"It's terrific because they come and can't use the mouse, they can't do anything at all, then their face lights up because they can actually see that there is a whole new world. For example they can look at hotels - I'e got one lady who wanted a single room to stay near her brother who was ill and we could actually look up what the room was going to be like - ok it was small but she at least knew before she went."

Jobseekers also benefit from Fiona's help.

"I've had people who've been made redundant and we can look up on the internet to see what jobs are available in their field - because nothing is advertised in the local newspaper likeitused to be, everyone has their website where all their vacancies are advertised."

Learning computer skills also helps people become more employable.

"Even if people have used a computer at work, such as to issue a library book, that doesn't mean they can do other things - they can just carry out the tasks that they've been shown, they only know that particular system. For example you may be able to use a computerised till in a shop to take customers' money and so on but that doesn't mean you can actually use a computer."

Certain over fifties do have an advantage when learning to use the internet.

"At least most ladies in their fifties have typing and keyboard skills, so they have 50 percent of their computing skills, whereas most gentlemen who come have no computing skills at all."

Learning how to use a computer gives people who have been made redundant a sense of achievement.

"It gives them confidence because it means that they've mastered something. What are you going to do before you get your pension, if you're a gentleman aged 52, you've got another ten or dozen years before you're going to get any money."

In the modern workplace it is essential to know how to use a computer, and some enlightened employers are helping their older employees to do this.

"I've got one lady whose work is very good, they're sending her to me to give her more skills. She couldn't surf the net so they've been allowing her to come for an hour once a month and I just give her the confidence that she can do other things. There are very few employers who would do that."

Genealogy is another area that's popular with Fiona's students. (If you are interested in researching your own family tree you can begin at 50connect's genealogy area.)

"Lots of them are interested in family trees, which I help them do. The internet is brilliant, you can look back on your family to 1841. Our library and several libraries in the UK have a subscription to the Ancestry website, and people can come to the library and do their research for their family trees on the computers. I normally get people who have computer skills for family tree sessions, but not all have, although they have the interest so I can show them. During Silver Surfer Week I've got people coming for a session to learn how to use the computer and then another session in order to search for their family trees."

Fiona points out that you don't need to own a PC to use the internet.

"All my people who come think that they have to buy a computer, however the majority of libraries now offer free internet access so you can use the computer for at least an hour a day, which is what I recommend for them to learn how to use it before they go out and buy something. I say to them to come to their library and practice and then they can go on to purchase one."

It's clear that computers provide an array of opportunities for over 50s, whether you want to brush up your own computer skills for work, know an elderly relative who would enjoy the internet, or fancy passing on your knowledge to others.

By Cherry Butler

Web Links

Silver Surfers Day: www.silversurfersday.org

Bookmark with:

• Delicious
• Digg
• reddit
• StumbleUpon

Don’t know what this is?

Read the 50connect Guide To Social Bookmarking.