Computers helping community groups

as published by The Guardian - Dec 22, 2008

Seniors College of P.E.I. board member David Mabon, left, Seniors College student Roberta Hubley, Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan and Industry Canada Community Development Officer Tim Wartman, right, take a look at some of the computers recently donated to the Seniors College at the ISN Wireless facility in Montague through the Computers for Communities P.E.I. Initiative.


Not-for-profit community groups and charitable organizations across the Island can now receive refurbished computers, free of charge, thanks to a partnership between Industry Canada and the Provincial Treasury.

Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan recently visited the Seniors College in Montague to see first-hand how the Computers for Communities Initiative (P.E.I.) is helping Island community groups stay connected.

This initiative falls under the umbrella of the Computers for Schools (CFS) program, a national partnership between Industry Canada and non-profit licensees across Canada.

Surplus computers, which have been donated by the public and private sectors, are refurbished and given to schools, libraries and non-profit learning organizations throughout the country. Industry Canada is contributing $129,940 towards the Computers for Schools program in P.E.I. for 2008/09.

Schools require Pentium 4 level computers, but CFS also receives many Pentium III level computers and wants to find good use for them.

The Computers for Communities (P.E.I.) Initiative will make sure these make their way to not-for-profit community organizations.
Provincial Treasury employees are administering the program on P.E.I.

“Gaining a full classroom of computers allowed Seniors College to expand our programming into Montague,” said Seniors College president Ian Scott. “We were able to respond to requests from Islanders wishing the opportunity to gain new skills in a supportive and very accessible environment. Whether at a basic or more advanced skill level, our programs have been very popular. This program quickly put much needed computers into a community situation where, coupled with an excellent teacher in Pat Hayes, they are making a real difference.”

To qualify for the CFC (P.E.I.) Initiative, a community group or charitable organization must have not-for-profit status, which may be provincially or federally granted. Computers for Schools was co-founded in 1993 by Industry Canada and the TelecomPioneers. Over 931,000 computers have been distributed across Canada.

Seniors College 2008-09

The full line up of courses is now available both through the main Seniors College website and also in The Guardian's special Seniors College flyer.

With over 120 courses offered across the province, there is something for everyone.

Arts and Culture Programming

Seniors College of PEI has a strong offering of courses across the Island in the Arts and Culture areas.

Check out the article recently published by the BUZZ on the offerings and look over the full set of listings for 2008-09

Seniors College arts programs

A wide range of cultural programs offered across the province for those age 50 or better by the Seniors College of Prince Edward Island. This year Bill Bartlett and Allan Ressor are offering music appreciation courses on Mozart and Bach respectively. Jazz appreciation classes are headed up by jazz musicians Jim Nimmo and Doug Millington. With a duration for each course of eight sessions specific topics like “Mozart in Vienna during the 1780s,” work well.

Some courses see students returning to the class each semester. Drawing classes and painting classes are a good example of ones where class members have a strong commitment to the group, and become involved in organizing trips and special events for other students during the summer when there are no classes. Artists across the Island who are teaching art courses include: Suzanne O’Callaghan, Karl MacKeeman, Arno Freitag, Nan Ferrier, Verna Banks and Mel Giddings.

Writing instructors include: Dianne Hicks Morrow, Kathleen Hamilton, Libby Oughton and Doreen Beagan. Each bring an individual approach to their course but share an interest in writing that draws on life experiences for material.

The popular approaches of Iain Galloway and Brendan O’Grady with literature return this year, joined by Poet Laureate David Helwig, for a course on reading poetry.

The full listing of the College, are published as a Guardian insert during the first week of September, and are on the website at www.upei.ca/seniorscollege. Registration: Charlottetown—September 8, 2–4 pm, W.A. Murphy Centre, UPEI. (Bruce Garrity, 894-2867 or bgarrity@upei.ca). Montague—Sept 9, 1:30–3 pm, Montague Town Hall (Sheila Mallory, 838-2532 or smmallory@pei.sympatico.ca). Summerside—Sept 10, 10 am–noon Summerside Superstore (Nonie Fraser , 436-6743 or nefraser@eastlink.ca). Alberton—Sept 10, 1:30-2:30 pm Alberton Town Hall (Donna Crocker, 853-2692 or donnacrocker@xplornet.com).

Seniors College - Montague, PEI

Registration is planned for the first Seniors College programming in the Montague area, a landmark move for Islanders with programming now available in all three counties.

Location:

• Thursday Jan 17, 2008 1:30 - 3:00 pm,
• Montague Town Hall

Registration will take place for the following courses set to begin in February or March 2008.

• Life Writing: Kathleen Hamilton
  
• Mondays 2-5pm,
• Start Feb. 4 (6 weeks)

• Island History: David Hume
• Tues. 1-4pm
• Start Feb. 5

• Jazz For Listeners: Jim Nimmo
• Wednesdays 1-4pm
• Start Feb. 6

• Art - Basic Acrylics: Sandi Komst & Mel Giddings
• Wednesdays 1-4pm
• Start Feb. 6

• Beginner’s Bridge : Judy Fraser
• Thursdays 1-4pm
• Start Feb. 7
  

• Basic Computer : Pat Hayes
• Tuesday and Thursday's 1-3pm
• Start March 4 - Ending March 27

For information -- contact
Sheila Mallory at 838-2532
or Bruce Garrity 894-2867

Community Building for Seniors Learning

Atlantic Caucus - Canadian Network for Third Age Learning

Report from a regional conference hosted by Seniors College of Prince Edward Island.

The hosting of a regional conference at UPEI on August 26, 27 and 28, 2007 was a great success with over forty participants from seven provinces. The outcomes we feel with be long lasting as participants were all committed to maintaining communication and providing advice and support to newer programs as the develop.

Goal:
The stated goal was to increase communication among organizations and individuals to enhance and develop programming that helps address the needs of adult learners today and in the future. Increase communication among educational institutions and community-based organizations to share their best practices, showing others what is working well, and helping spread the peer-learning model into new areas.

Stage One - Establish Network:

Contact was established with universities in the Atlantic region involved in senior learning, community-based programs and individuals with a research interest in the field of learning in retirement. The initial effort has established contact by email and a blog is dedicated to shared interests. Participants indicated that a listserv was the most effective method of ongoing communication and that an annual regional conference was essential.

The following provinces have been identified to host in upcoming years if possible.

• New Brunswick 2008,
• Nova Scotia 2009,
• Newfoundland 2010,
• Prince Edward Island 2011

Stage Two - Best Practices Conference:
The conference held in the Faculty Lounge at UPEI focussed on learning from similar organization and their best practices in hopes of helping existing and new organizations establish and flourish. Representatives from several universities and community groups in the region showed their interest in learning more about establishing programs.

Participants indicated that within the Atlantic region there is a need for groups work collaboratively and expand the peer-learning model into areas where there is currently no programming.

Reports:
The Seniors College web site, upei.ca/seniorscollege and the Seniors College blog seniorscollege.blogspot.com will continue to support this regional initiative with reports of the conference.


Goals

• Share research and best practices,
• Build a network that can help new groups get started,
• Share innovative ideas with on-line journals and blogs for creative writing and a virtual art gallery for students in region,
• Encourage high standards in quality adult learning opportunities for region, that support adult learning in retirement.

Name of Project – Community Building for Seniors Learning

Project’s area of interest -

• Senior’s Learning – programming for retirees,
• Arts & Culture - includes visual arts & music education as well as writing and theatre,
• Literacy – technology literacy (computer classes) and media literacy are taught.

Dates of project -

• Phase I & Phase II were completed with a regional conference on August 26, 27 and 28, 2007

Brief description of project:
To organize an active Atlantic working group under the umbrella of a national body CATALIST - that will better serve the current needs of the region. This will initiate communication among those working in the field of peer-learning for seniors at both the university and community level and lead to a regional conference in August..

This will help share best practices and help get new groups started – several groups in NS and NB have already contacted us looking for help in getting started. It will share research. We anticipate a major legacy for enhanced seniors learning and advancing peer learning models in the Atlantic region.

Outcomes:

• Representatives from all provinces in the Atlantic region as well as several community-based groups delivering or hoping to deliver programming for Atlantic seniors attended the conference and indicated interest in maintaining ongoing communication. Seniors College of PEI is maintaining communication among participants. A strong interest nationally was also achieved with leaders of the national organization CATALIST having a strong presence and with the attendance of representatives from seven provinces. Participants indicated the clear need to enhance communication nationally especially in areas of common concerns for individuals in the 50+ age group including health education issues for seniors as well as addressing broad educational needs.

• The conference brought together the community of interest along with researchers in the adult education field to share research and best practices in the region and nationally with a clear interest in working together in the future.

Evaluation: Success was shown in the participation of 40 individuals from 7 provinces and the positive reports received. One board member who holds a PhD in evaluation of educational programs put it succinctly.

A personal thank you . . . for all your work and dedication in arranging this conference. I felt that we "did ourselves proud", inspired others and ourselves, and learned a lot. It was a great success and a fine start to creating a cross-country web of connection. Your efforts were key and, as a Board member, I am very grateful to you both.

Practical events which have taken place since the event include

• Dave Mabon, Deputy Mayor of the Town of Montague, attended the conference initiated the idea of creating a branch of Seniors College in Montague, which is beginning classes in Feb 2008.
  

• Mt Allison University, has invited representatives of Seniors College of PEI to assist with a meeting with local residents interested in establishing programming in their area.

The conference would not have been possible without the financial support of:

Adult Learning Knowledge Centre / Centre du savoir apprentissage chez les adultes
Canadian Council on Learning / Conseil canadien sur l’apprentissage
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3

Their support is greatly appreciated.

Ian Scott
President of Seniors College of PEI