Bridging the Digital Divide
Reported by Erik Smith
Web produced by Christiana Ciolac

Video

We used to call it the generation gap: the strange distance between youth and acquired maturity. In the technology age, the generation gap is known as the digital divide.

The divide clearly delineates those who are techno-savy to those who are techno-terrified. Erik Smith says he places himself in the latter group. "Frankly, it's been awhile since I thought a 10-year-old had much to say that I needed to hear. You know, the generation gap thing," he said.

For one hour a week, students at Long Elementery in Dearborn teach seniors how to use computers.

At the Long Elementary School in Dearborn, a lot of digital dividers are listening to 10-year-old teachers, because the kids are as knowledgeable about computers and the Internet as some of us are about the AARP.

Every Tuesday at 1:00, the octogenarians from the Oakwood Retirement Community get off the bus and head for computers 101. Within minutes, the mouses start flying and it's e-mails away and every little teacher has their own pet for the day.

"They are so excited to see their senior each week. They do have similar interests. They are surprised to find out that they share some things and they feel close, I think, to their senior friend now," Deanne Jones said.

Students and seniors learning together.

The learning experience across the divide is the brain child of teacher Deanne Jones. She wanted to expand the school's horizons in the community, so she decided to try and hook up the Pepsi generation with the Geritol set. You know what? It's working!

"The kids are so good with the computer and the seniors were so nice, we hooked them up with e-mail every senior citizen getting their own address, so each session they check their e-mail and they can write an e-mail to family members and such," Jones said.

Almost 70 years of living span the hands across the keyboard. Sure, many of the mature students haven't typed a word since high school, but no matter. For time separates no one in the room for at least an hour. For 60 minutes, everyone here is 10 years old.

When the school year ends, some of the senior students say they'll be getting computers of their own. They like this Internet thing. I guess we could say it's just a simple megabyte idea that clicked in everyone's heart.

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