While ensuring today’s youths are prepared for Canada’s changing economy, Code Niagara also wants to help seniors stay on top of 21st-century digital skills.
That’s why the organization will start offering monthly introduction workshops for seniors interested in learning more about technology.
The first free workshop, which will introduce attendees to social media 101, is scheduled for Thursday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Spark Niagara Innovation Education Centre on Zimmerman Avenue in Niagara Falls.
“We have focused on the youth demographic recently with our coding workshops and now want to get our senior community comfortable with learning how to use common tools and technologies such as Facebook, Skype, texting with iPhone and Android and many more,” said Caroline Macdonald, who manages the innovation centre, which works with several start-up technology companies, including Code Niagara.
Code Niagara has so far largely focused on students between the ages of 12 and 18 who learn about python coding.
In addition to focusing on youth and youth entrepreneurship, the recently founded organization doesn’t want the senior community to “get left behind.”
“I know there’s courses and workshops out there for seniors and teaching them how to use Microsoft Word and Excel, but (Code Niagara’s workshops will focus on) that new wave of technology,” said Macdonald.
“As you’re headed into the 21st century, it’s more on things like digital resources, so that social-media component. Sometimes I think seniors don’t really quite get that even if their computer is down they can still access their email in other ways because it’s not actually on the computer, it’s not held in the computer.”
Although Thursday’s workshop is free, Code Niagara asks people interested in participating to register in advance of the event.
For more information, visit codeniagara.com.
Code Niagara was founded by Niagara Falls resident Yashvi Shah, a graduate of Westlane Secondary School who completed her masters in information systems and technology at University if Toronto.
The goal of the organization is to empower local youth with what she describes as the most demanded skill of the decade: coding and to provide communities with the skills, tools and platforms needed to succeed in the digital age.
Source: Niagara Falls Review
