New library program is keeping London seniors in the 'TechKnow'

Seniors are putting their student hats on to learn how to navigate the ever-changing world of technology and the Internet on their devices through a new program at the London library.

The six-week TechKnow course teaches seniors about Internet security, changing passwords, using social media apps, sharing photos and videos, mobile banking and how to protect themselves against scams to feel more independent and confident online.

"We live in a really fast-paced world, and I want to learn how to do things [on my phone] by myself and not have to depend on other people," said Londoner Stana Fraser, who attended her first session at the Masonville Library on Thursday.

"Sons, daughters and grandkids don't always have the time or the patience to teach these things, and no matter how old you are, not being equipped to use technology absolutely holds you back."

The in-person program is taught by Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions and walks seniors through a total of 16 courses focusing on staying social, current, secure and connected. It's being offered at different branches, including Masonville, Landon, Pond Mills, Byron, and libraries in Ilderton and Komoka in Middlesex County.

The course is already so popular that all its current slots are full, but library officials say they hope to offer more sessions soon.

"After the pandemic, everything went online, and it stayed online, so this really helps seniors get online and be comfortable logging into things like apps so they can browse safely and stay connected to the online world," said Shannon McCabe, who teaches the program.

"The big barrier I've encountered is [seniors] getting lost on their phone. They'll go on it to open up one app, but something else will open, and they don't know how to go back, so this program helps seniors get more familiar with their devices and the Internet."

McCabe finds that seniors can often become overwhelmed with the various mechanisms on their cell phones, iPads, and computers, and not knowing how to operate these devices properly makes them feel disconnected and lowers their morale.

That's especially the case for Karen Young, who first used a computer at her job 25 years ago but retired shortly thereafter. When she tried to log on to a computer a few years later, everything had completely changed, she said.

"It kept changing programs and entries, and I got totally floored, so I put the computer away and haven't touched it since, so now I've forgotten anything I ever knew," she said. "I'm in my mid-80s now, and I think [technology] is essential today, but I just don't have the capacity yet."

Young said she'd been trying to find a way to brush up on her computer skills, but every time she goes near one, she gets flustered by the continuously evolving software. She's looking forward to learning how to make online orders and "get a wealth of information" from the Internet.

"I feel very incompetent and just get very worried about it, so I've got to learn because if I'm going to have any kind of future, I've got to be able to use a computer and phone," said Young.

For McCabe, watching seniors take such a strong interest in understanding technology and strengthen their confidence is extremely rewarding.