Calling bloggers over age 50

My late mother (1925 - 2006), I did so admire her, learned to use a computer at age 55, to process the Toronto Rotary Club's weekly newsletter. She had worked there for 35 years, or so. She had never touched a computer before. She had only used an electric typewriter.

I have many memories of sitting down with her, handing over my laptop as she scrolled through my photo albums, sharing digital photos of the places we had been to, to allow her to travel vicariously.

I learned my computer skills for work in 1989. Doing classroom newsletters, I added to my skill set in order to teach it to my students. I found, through my work at uOttawa at the Faculty of Education in 2005, that many professors have not successfully integrated technology into their curriculum. Not to say they do not use it, but they have not bridged the gap from dispensing URLs like holy water, to fully understanding how we balance computers, digital tools, and curriculum with classroom management and the practical aspects of the process. From this point of view, tech-savvy young adults do not understand the wild waves my generation rides on our journey through this world.

Having just finished a Skype chat with kids and granddaughter, I would like to dispel the myths. I am looking for middle-aged, senior, grandparents, retired and tech-savvy people with life experiences, e.g., those over age 50.

I find that technology and ageism seem to go hand-in-hand in this day and age. I have complained to the CBC about an ad for a tech show that totally denigrates people of my age who learned computers in high school using those dear computer cards. (You know who you are!)

I know that many of us Skype with children and grandchildren.

I know many of us blog, chat with one another, and share our sorrows, joys, trials and tribulations of cancer, dementia, surgery, ill adult children and find strength in one another through photos, fine quotes, and simple positive message of endearments, spirituality, love and joy.

If you know a person over 50 who blogs, could you either send me their URL, or have them contact me? I want to create a master list. I want to do a Shout Out. If you want your blog included, I will do so.

I am determined to write a blog post about this issue!

So very many of us use digital camera, videocams, the Internet, Skype and other platforms in an integrative, creative, professional manner. Unlike my generation, our parents seldom learned computers. We adapted, changed and integrated them as far as our abilities allowed. I have many photos of my students as they worked busily away, while I managed the rest of the class.

Above is the computer equipment I learned to use with my students. Many of us learned to adapt in our work lives. Some do not understand that the more you learn, the easier it is to learn new things. The brain uses these neural pathways for new learning once the old is assimilated into normal practices. Once you retire, it is important to keep learning, and many of my blogger buddies have done so.

I am proud of our generation!

Let us celebrate.