BGSU Zoom News

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Tech-savvy students help older adults learn technology | BGSU to hold commencement Friday, Saturday

Mike Kuhlin (standing, left) presents a certificate to Roger Anderson at the graduation ceremony for participants in the technology for older adults class led by students in Kate Magsamen-Conrad's courses.

TECH-SAVVY STUDENTS HELP OLDER ADULTS LEARN TECHNOLOGY

For the past five years, students in Dr. Kate Magsamen-Conrad’s classes have been helping older adults get comfortable with technology. The result? Countless photos and videos of children and grandchildren shared and enjoyed. Several lost friends and relatives found on social media. And a local increase in the use of emojis.

Magsamen-Conrad, an associate professor in the School of Media and Communication, started putting the program together in the fall of 2012, after helping her grandmother learn to operate a new laptop.

“Trying to teach her really opened my eyes to how difficult it would be for people who are not familiar with technology to learn it, operate it and speak the language,” she said. “It’s amazing how many benefits there are for people to use technology, especially related to health.”

This realization spurred a partnership with the Wood County Committee on Aging and the Wood County District Public Library in Bowling Green. Since 2013, students in Magsamen-Conrad’s Small Group Communication and Integrated Communication Research Methods classes have worked with older adults to help them learn whatever technology they want help with, from smartphones to Chromebooks, from tablets to e-book readers.

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BGSU TO HOLD COMMENCEMENT FRIDAY, SATURDAY

The University will celebrate its 290th graduation in two ceremonies in the Stroh Center Friday, (Dec. 15) and Saturday (Dec. 16).

Commencement for the Graduate College and the colleges of Business; Health and Human Services; Musical Arts; Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering; and BGSU Firelands will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. The colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Development will hold commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday.

OBITUARIES
John Piper, 81, an associate professor emeritus of health, physical education and recreation, died Nov. 26 in Florida. He taught at the University from 1967-94 and was the men’s golf coach for 13 years. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 20, 2018, at Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Creason-Piper Endowed Scholarship Fund through the BGSU Foundation.

ZOOM NEWS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Monday, Dec. 18, will be the last issue of Zoom News until the new year. Publication will resume Jan. 8.