For the second year (4th semester), BGSU students and older adults of Bowling Green have worked together to build relationships and skills as they have bonded over technology at BG’s Senior Center and downtown library. College students enrolled in small group communication courses at BGSU have been conducting workshops for older adults from Bowling Green and surrounding communities to help the older adults better understand tablets (e.g., iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and Galaxys). The workshops were launched and continue at the WCCOA; they have now been expanded to include workshops at the Wood County District Public Library (WCDPL).
We held our second “graduation” celebration November 6 in the Dining Room at the Wood County Senior Center. The older adults brought delicious food, the WCCOA provided coffee, plates, etc., and BGSU’s Office of Service Learning covered additional beverages. We all enjoyed the poignant speech delivered by our graduation speaker, Dr. Dale Klopfer, an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Friends, family, and interested members of the public joined the student teachers and older adult students in celebrating accomplishments in learning more about each other, teaching, leading, and technology.
Check out this great article in The Sentinel-Tribune http://m.sent-trib.com/community/senior/connections-made/article_ac2c26c6-6689-11e4-8b19-23de25146b19.html?mode=jqm and the project’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/docmcICI?ref=hl
Even better news? We still have a few spots open if you’re interested in enrolling in COMM 2030 Spring 2015!