RALEIGH - Ernie
Hicks, 79, has finally gotten a hold of the mouse that's been in his Glen
Eden Drive house since December.
But he didn't have to set a trap. Instead, Hicks learned all about his
mouse at a computer class earlier this week.
The retired bank executive had some catching up to do to be in line
with his wife, Jean, who also was in the introductory session at the
SeniorNet learning center at 3301 Executive Drive.
"Our son has shown me a little bit on the computer," said
Jean, 74, a retired pharmacist. "I have a little skill."
"I have none," Ernie said.
"He barely knew what a mouse was," Jean added.
The Hicks' know-how reflects many of the senior citizens who pursue
computer instruction through programs such as the San Francisco-based
SeniorNet.
More than 725 students have taken classes at the Raleigh center, which
opened in 1996 under the sponsorship of Raleigh Community Hospital. It is
one of seven centers in the state and one of 180 nationwide.
Local SeniorNet coach Fred Ferguson, 63, said the whys that compel
students to learn are as varied as their skill levels.
"The number one reason is ... they want to learn something about
the computer so they feel just a little bit comfortable with it,"
said Ferguson, an IBM retiree. "And coupled with that, most everybody
wants to learn to send e-mail, receive e-mail, so they can correspond with
... relatives."
In fact, a computer tutoring program between residents of the
Stonehenge subdivision on Creedmoor Road and the Springmoor Retirement
Community on Sawmill Road grew from a need for non-verbal communication.
Stonehenge resident Jo Naglich, 49, started the program last year after
seeing how a computer helped her mother, Peggy Murphree of Pinehurst, stay
in touch with the world after a stroke.
But getting Murphree, 76, comfortable with the setup that her children
provided took some tutelage. It got Naglich considering other senior
citizens who have received computers as gifts.
"I think a lot of people buy them for their parents thinking 'This
is a great thing,' but not realizing how much learning is needed,"
she said.
Twenty-six volunteers have given one-on-one help to 45 students since
the Stonehenge/ Springmoor partnership began.
At SeniorNet, the average participant is a computer novice who is
curious about functions other than e-mail, said coach and IBM retiree
Lyman Howe, 69.
Some, such as Harry Kledaras of the Sheffield subdivision, want to be
able to use spreadsheets and tax packages.
The soon-to-retire certified public accountant also wants to learn
about the Internet --a common request. Others are interested in word
processing, household accounting or genealogy.
SeniorNet offers classes on all of it to those 50 years old and up.
The introductory class is the most popular, partly because it is a
prerequisite for the rest. Also, students know that when they complete its
eight sessions, they will have touched on most of what personal computers
can do.
Ferguson said it's empowering for the senior citizens, many of whom
admit they feel uncomfortable getting computer assistance from their
grandchildren.
"Pretty soon, they're happy and they're helping their grandkids do
things," he said.
For details on SeniorNet, visit http://geocities.datacellar.net/ralseniornet
or call 954-3688.
