Lupe Sanchez considers herself a forward thinker for her
generation. She knows how to check e-mail. She knows how to log
onto the Internet. She’s learning how to navigate her way through
the World Wide Web.
Gilroy – Lupe Sanchez considers herself a forward thinker for her generation. She knows how to check e-mail. She knows how to log onto the Internet. She’s learning how to navigate her way through the World Wide Web.
“Right now I’m just interested in learning how to use the computer for my own mind development – to keep my mind active,” the spunky 84-year old said. “I know we need to keep up with what’s going on in the world. If not, I know we’re going to be left behind.”
Sanchez recently took part in a pilot Internet Literacy class offered by Gavilan College at the Village Green Estates. Seven seniors were asked to participate in the test class to see whether seniors would interested in the new classes Gavilan has developed for community members aged 55 plus called Living Through Learning.
While more are in the works, courses such as creative writing workshops, Discover Your Family History, Tai Chi for Arthritis, Body Dynamics and Aging, Film Classics, the Joy of Listening to Music, and Internet Literacy among others, will be offered to seniors throughout Gilroy. Classes are free and begin next week. They are open enrollment.
“It’s a huge need and an untapped population,” said Rachel Perez, Gavilan’s director of community education. “It’s something that we decided as a college we feel is important to do.”
Tai Chi and Body Dynamics and Aging will teach seniors the importance of staying active. Numerous medical studies have shown that seniors who exercise can improve their bone mass and improve their balance and combat depression.
An additional incentive is for seniors is the opportunity to socialize.
“It gets them out of the normal routine that they’ve been doing for years,” Perez said.
Instead of making seniors travel to Gavilan for class, a trip that would require some to take the bus or a taxi, the school is sending instructors to teach at Monticelli Apartments, Village Green Estates, and Wheeler Manor.
The classes will be offered for non-credit. The purpose of non-credit courses is to provide individuals with basic skills necessary to succeed in credit courses and to give underserviced populations a chance to thrive in their communities.
Courses will expand to locations in Hollister and Morgan Hill in September and will continue into the spring.
“I think a lot of times in our culture, we don’t value our older adults,” Perez said. “I think we can reach out and touch a lot of people, and they can touch us right back.”
One of the reasons Sanchez wants to continue learning about the Internet is so she can communicate with family members of younger generations.
“I’m always interested in learning new things whenever possible,” she said. “I hope they continue to offer the classes because I’d like to learn more.”
Details: call 848-4847 or 848-4859.
