Learner Spotlights Archives - Community Tech Network

How Learning Technology Helped Mary P. with Her Depression During Chemotherapy

jess — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:37:15 +0000

Mary P. is 58 years old and originally from New York City. Now living in San Mateo County, she found out about CTN’s Home Connect program through the Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities. In this interview with her instructor, Giang (Jen) Tran, she talks about the impact of the program on her life. How has learning digital skills brought joy to your life? It has brought me a lot of joy. It’s helped me not feel so bored, especially in the afternoons. When I’m feeling down or depressed, I go on TikTok. It makes me smile, and some of the content is so heartwarming. It really helps me cope with my depression and anxiety, especially since I’m undergoing chemotherapy. It calms my racing thoughts and helps me focus on something positive. Why were you interested in learning to use technology? Because everything is about technology now. If you don’t know even the basics, you can easily be left behind. Everything is online—even things like cash payments. I want to learn so I can communicate and not feel disconnected. Has being online helped you feel more self-reliant? Why? Yes, definitely. Before, I was nervous about even opening the tablet. […]

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Using Technology in Rural Areas: Liz B.’s Story

jess — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:22:58 +0000

Liz B. lives in Greenville, California, which is a very remote, quiet community in Western Sonoma County. She’s 65 years old and works with the Russian River Senior Center, doing field trips and trip planning for older adults. She began taking technology classes with CTN after hearing about the program through the center, with whom CTN has a partnership. Has being online impacted your overall health or daily living? Yes, since we live in such a remote area, being online is a huge help. I can pull up a weather map, contact my doctor, or even order groceries without driving 30 minutes into Santa Rosa. It’s also useful for looking up information if one of my animals gets hurt. It’s just a valuable tool all around. Why were you interested in learning to use technology? I’ve always used a computer, but I wanted to learn how to use an iPad. It’s been so helpful—it’s lightweight, and it’s kind of in between a laptop and a phone, so it’s very convenient to use. What did you like the most about the classes or the program? I liked talking to someone who appreciates that I know a bit about technology, but not […]

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Peggy’s Journey with CTN’s Technology Classes: Overcoming Barriers with Dyslexia

jess — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:00:02 +0000

Peggy A. is from Morgan Hill, California and learned about Community Tech Network through Sourcewise. In this interview, she shares how learning to use technology has impacted her life. What are some of the most important skills you learned in these classes? I’ve learned how to use AI in my lesson plans for my class at church. It helps me write them out better and more professionally. I have dyslexia, and AI helps me with writing and editing tasks, making me more confident and able to do things I might struggle with on my own. Has being online helped you feel more self-reliant in other ways as well? Yes, being online has made me feel more confident…I knew a little bit [about technology] before but didn’t know how to maneuver around on the tablet or how to talk to others using it. The ability to reach out to others through the internet has improved my overall well-being and made me feel less helpless…[The tablet] also helps me plan and organize my tasks. How has being online helped you feel connected to others? My granddaughter and I play games online together, which helps us stay connected. She calls me in the […]

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Staying Connected: How Dana Dunne Uses Technology to Support Her Community

jess — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:12:14 +0000

Dana Dunne, a 69-year-old lifelong resident of Sonoma County, has always valued community. Her recent dive into the digital world has allowed her to stay even more connected with community members, particularly by using technology to support her work in running a local grief support group. Enhancing Her Grief Support Group through Technology One of Dana’s primary goals was to use technology to enhance her role in the local grief support group she runs. “I wanted to use technology to help with organizing and communicating with other members of the group. This program has really helped me with that,” she explained. By mastering digital tools, Dana has been able to streamline communication and better manage the group’s activities, providing invaluable support to its members. The Nextdoor App and Internet Safety Dana was also interested in using Nextdoor, an app that lets people stay up to date with everything going on in their neighborhoods. It allows folks to post about community news and events, safety concerns, recommendations for local services, and much more. However, one of Dana’s biggest worries with using these and other social media (including Facebook), was internet safety. Nevertheless, by learning with Community Tech Network, Dana says that […]

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Reviving Her Career with Digital Skills: Tina’s Path to Workforce Readiness

jess — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 20:38:51 +0000

Tina Soloa, a 70-year-old former nurse, has lived an incredibly interesting life, as she’s traveled the world and spent time in places like Japan and Germany. However, five years ago, Tina returned to her birthplace, California, and decided she wanted to re-enter the workforce. There was just one problem: she wasn’t sure how to really use technology. Workforce Readiness According to Tina, she had “ignored and avoided learning how to use technology.” Eventually, however, she says that she realized, “I felt behind. I wanted to begin working part-time again, and using technology is a must.” With the help of Community Tech Network (CTN) and her patient instructor, Phil Schutt, she began to close the digital gap. Embracing Online Applications and Remote Work With Phil’s guidance, Tina says, “I am now beginning to submit my applications online for the first time. I also occasionally do market research jobs for added income and I use my device for that as well.” Thus, Tina has been able to use the internet to support herself financially. A Confident Learner Tina’s confidence has soared thanks to the digital literacy classes. “I feel much more confident and safer now. [In particular,] learning about scams and how […]

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From Overwhelmed to Learning: Patricia’s Digital Transformation

jess — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:57:38 +0000

Patricia Akroosh, an 84-year-old resident of Marin, has lived a vibrant life, working as a Pan American flight attendant, a real estate agent, and even a radio DJ. (You can read more about Patricia in CTN’s Vivalon Report.) Now, she’s entered the next chapter of her life: learning how to use technology with Community Tech Network. Need for Digital Transformation Training out of Necessity For Patricia, learning digital skills has been “more out of necessity than [anything else].” When asked why she was interested in learning to use technology, she responded: “Because I’m forced to [in today’s world]. I want to attempt to become more familiar with the world of technology and the internet. It is nice though to learn something new that is so vital to the world today.” Overcoming Challenges Overall, the shift in past decades to a tech-centric society has left Patricia feeling somewhat “overwhelmed” but she has been determined to adapt and is “working on becoming more comfortable.” Patricia’s honesty reflects the reality many seniors face as they navigate the digital landscape. However, despite her initial hesitation, Patricia embraced the learning process. In particular, she says that her instructor, Phil Schutt, greatly helped her along her […]

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Learning to Use an iPad: Sharon’s Journey

jess — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:50:50 +0000

Thanks to a newsletter from the Sourcewise senior center, 82-year-old Sharon P. discovered CTN’s programs, which allowed her to learn how to use an iPad and keep up with the ever-evolving digital world. One of the most delightful aspects of Sharon’s journey has been her newfound ability to stay more connected to her community. She loves being able to find out about events at her church and the senior center, ensuring she never misses out on activities that matter to her. “My church sends out emails every Friday about upcoming events, and I like to keep up with those. … I also explore [online] the different classes offered at the senior center,” she said. This newfound connectivity has brought a sense of involvement and engagement to her daily routine. Another significant benefit Sharon has found is the ease of use that comes with the iPad’s large screen. “The iPad is helpful for visibility. The larger screen makes it easier to read and interact with content compared to my phone,” she explained. This advantage makes reading long documents, viewing photos, and navigating websites much more comfortable and enjoyable for her. Sharon has also been interested in learning to use technology for […]

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How Digital Literacy Skills Transformed Maria’s Life: A Success Story from Sonoma County

jess — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:30:41 +0000

Sixty-eight-year-old former legal secretary Maria Hernandez received a free tablet and technology classes from Community Tech Network as part of the Access to Technology program in Sonoma County, California. Here, in an interview with her instructor, Phil Schutt, Maria shares the impact that learning digital skills has had on her life. Financial Mobility and Assistance “I wanted to learn some new skills, especially related to technology, to keep up to date in hopes of getting a new part-time job. I was also able to apply for food stamps online after this class and now receive them!” Closer Family Connections “It’s a good feeling to learn new things and to be better in touch with family. Video conferencing has helped me keep in touch with my family, especially video chats with my grandson.” Greater Comfort Online “Learning all my device settings and notification windows really helped me a lot. I had never learned any of that before. I’m also able to shop online more comfortably and use common files such as PDFs, which I was nervous to use before. I can even use my device to reserve books from the library and read e-books! Overall, I feel much more comfortable online […]

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Enhancing Career Prospects: Robin Dye’s Digital Skills for the Workforce

jess — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 19:18:55 +0000

At 63, Robin D. from San Jose, California, exemplifies resilience and adaptability in the face of changing times. Her journey with Community Tech Network (CTN) is a testament to the transformative power of digital literacy and its role in maintaining relevance in today’s workforce. Embracing Technology for Workforce Viability For Robin, learning technology is not just about staying updated; it is a necessity for continued viability in the workforce. “Everybody needs to learn technology if you want to continue being viable in the workforce. And because of the reality that I don’t have my retirement together, I need to continue working,” she explains. Robin’s motivation stems from a practical need to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving job market. Long-Term Goals and the Dream of Working from Home Robin’s ultimate goal is to secure a work-from-home job, reducing her living costs and achieving financial stability. “Even if I’m like somebody’s telemarketer for low pay, it doesn’t matter, because my house will be paid off. I won’t have a lot of bills, and in the long term I want to be able to work from home. And I feel like learning these [digital] skills enable me to do that by […]

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Robin Dye’s Digital Skills for the Workforce appeared first on Community Tech Network.

Art, Digital Skills, and Economic Opportunities: Toby’s Story

jess — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 20:57:24 +0000

Featured image: Art by Toby Zipperlend Despite a challenging childhood filled with violence and trauma, 60-year-old Cloverdale, California, native Toby Zipperlend found solace in art, thanks to his grandmother, who introduced him to it when he was just five years old. Bringing Art to Life Through Technology The digital skills that Toby acquired through the Access to Technology program with CTN have made quite an impact on his life. Living with a disability and on a limited income, Toby saw an opportunity to generate extra income by learning how to use the tablet’s camera. He takes pictures of his paintings and, with the help of his cousin, a professional photographer, processes and edits these images to create cards. These cards are now sold in various retail places in Cloverdale, providing him with a source of income and a sense of accomplishment. Empowering Artistic Independence Being online has significantly boosted Toby’s self-reliance and confidence. Knowing that he can generate extra income by doing something he is passionate about has made him feel more empowered. The ability to improve his skills further enhances his confidence, motivating him to continue exploring new opportunities. Connection with Others Through Art Before learning these skills, Toby […]

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