Log-on-Learn on RTE 1: The Home

Episode 1: Tues. 28th Sept.   10.15pm. RTE1
Episode 2: Tues.  3th Oct.       10.15pm. RTE1

Episode One of this two-part series, The Home, is an intimate and moving portrait of life over six months in St. Monica's
Nursing Home, an old people's home and day-care centre in Dublin's north inner city.
It is an observational documentary series in the style of RTE's highly successful 'The Asylum' and 'The Hospice'.

Filmed, mainly, in St. Monica's Nursing Home on Dublin's Northside, the documentary will focus on the experiences of
older people in Ireland today utilising the institution as its central location but mainly concentrating on the very personal
stories of a number of elderly people.

Last year four residents of St Monica's Nursing Home graced Belvedere College S.J. with their presence when they decided to join Transition Years' Log on-Learn.

During March a film crew accompanied these residents to the College and filmed their
participation in the Log-on- Learn programme. Footage of their time in the College will form part of the series.

Many people have great difficulty in learning how to use computers. Indeed, if you’ve never used a computer before, words like “Windows” and “Mouse” can be very confusing.

However, Belvedere College continues with its very successful program, Log on Learn, to help adults of any age to learn how to use a computer.

As part of their transition year program, students have volunteered to run a simple computer course, on Tuesdays from 1:30PM-3:30PM, where people can learn how to use the technology at their own pace, with a personal tutor and in a relaxed environment.

If you’d like to learn how to use a computer, don’t feel intimidated! This entire course is aimed at making computers simple and easy to understand. By the end of it, you or your relative will be able to type, use a mouse, check their email and more!

If you know of a friend, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, anyone who wants to learn how to use a computer in a kind, friendly environment, go ahead and apply! Computers can do a lot of things, but they certainly don’t bite. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

The course is on Tuesdays, from 1:30PM-3:30PM, starting October 5th.

If you are interested in taking part in Log on Learn, you can contact Ms Wallace at

cwallace@belvederecollege.ie

Stephen Clare
Stephen McCarthy

Sometimes it seems as though older and younger people are two different species with few shared interests or values. Log on, Learn, a joint An Post, Intel and Microsoft initiative is challenging this view by bringing together transition year students and older people to share computer and life skills. In fact, Log 0n, Learn has been so successful that it recently won the ‘Good Neighbour’ Award in 2009 Chambers Ireland, President’s Award.

Older people now have the chance to learn how to use computer based technologies such as word processing, e-mailing, surfing the net and buying or booking on line. The students take on the role of tutor and each student is assigned to a ‘buddy’. Over the eight week course, firm bonds are established across the generation gap and a relaxed and communicative atmosphere allows each participant to learn at their own pace.

Log on Learn sessions take place on Tuesday afternoons at 1.45 pm. in the College. Each session starts with a nice cup of tea or coffee and biscuits in the Old Ref and from there the participants move to the one of the schools computer suites until 3.15 pm.

One group has already successfully completed the course. Each ‘buddy’ now has an e-mail address and is well able to order goods and services on line.

A new eight-week course is stating on Tuesday Feb. 2nd and if you are interested in joining up or if you would like more information then contact the school’s reception on 8586600 and leave your name and a contact number.
A member of the Log 0n Learn team will contact you.