[Web4lib] Classes for Seniors

[Danielle Plumer]

I like Karen's point, but one thing I've noticed in teaching classes for genealogists (a high percentage of whom are seniors), is that you need to take their physical limitations into account. This may include: hearing loss, vision impairment (including special lenses), and limited mobility/hand control due to arthritis, Parkinson's, etc. There may also be cognitive issues, but, frankly, I haven't seen too much of that.

Whenever I taught one of these classes, I always explained that usability and ergonomics are part of the reason why the students were having problems. I also taught the students ways around the problems (including my personal favorite, the two-handed mouse technique). My students appreciated learning that some of the problems were NOT THEIR FAULT.

Danielle Cunniff Plumer, Coordinator
Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
512.463.5852 (phone) / 512.936.2306 (fax)
dplumer at tsl.state.tx.us


-----Original Message-----

<snip>

I think the level of computer knowledge shouldn't need to be higher or lower
than that for most people, young or old, regardless of setting. 

<snip> 

Karen G. Schneider
kgs at bluehighways.com