Practice pays off when learning new technology
Each Friday, The Citizen features someone in education from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks:
This week, we spotlight Sister Mary Brendan, who takes computer classes at the Boyle Senior Center to stay up-to-date.
Q. What motivates you to go to class?
A. A desire to be abreast of the times. I didn't grow up around computers, so under those circumstances it's good to update yourself.
Q. What is the neatest thing you've learned in these classes?
A. Bringing up the leading newspapers (on the Internet) and getting a summarization of the headline news. I get a pretty good running knowledge of what's happening since I never really have time to get the paper itself to read in detail.
Q. Is there anything that you feel the class is lacking?
A. If only there were more time. When you're not familiar with what you're working with more time would be helpful.
Q. Is there homework and do you think it pays off?
A. After hours, Lisa Tarby our instructor asks us to practice on our own. If we come up with a problem or something we are having trouble with, then at class we can ask her. (The practice) definitely pays off.
Q. Does practice time on the computer interfere with your free time?
A. I just work around it. When I'm not working at the front desk and other things I just make it a point (to practice on the computer). I probably practice about 45 minutes to an hour a day. It might not be a solid hour at once - maybe 20 minutes in the morning and a half hour in the evening, whenever I can get it in.
Q. Are there any interesting clubs you are a part of at the Boyle Center? What do they do?
A. I take a quilting class. Maybe five years ago I got interested and decided to pursue it.
Q. Do you like the computer class or quilting class better and why?
A. That's a hard one. I like them both in a different way for different reasons. The computer class has more of a classroom-like quality, and the quilting class is a bit more recreational.
Sister Mary Brendan
Age: 83
Hometown: Auburn, born and raised
Family: A brother and a sister
Occupation: Retired teacher
Hobbies: Reading and quilting
This week, we spotlight Sister Mary Brendan, who takes computer classes at the Boyle Senior Center to stay up-to-date.
Q. What motivates you to go to class?
A. A desire to be abreast of the times. I didn't grow up around computers, so under those circumstances it's good to update yourself.
Q. What is the neatest thing you've learned in these classes?
A. Bringing up the leading newspapers (on the Internet) and getting a summarization of the headline news. I get a pretty good running knowledge of what's happening since I never really have time to get the paper itself to read in detail.
Q. Is there anything that you feel the class is lacking?
A. If only there were more time. When you're not familiar with what you're working with more time would be helpful.
Q. Is there homework and do you think it pays off?
A. After hours, Lisa Tarby our instructor asks us to practice on our own. If we come up with a problem or something we are having trouble with, then at class we can ask her. (The practice) definitely pays off.
Q. Does practice time on the computer interfere with your free time?
A. I just work around it. When I'm not working at the front desk and other things I just make it a point (to practice on the computer). I probably practice about 45 minutes to an hour a day. It might not be a solid hour at once - maybe 20 minutes in the morning and a half hour in the evening, whenever I can get it in.
Q. Are there any interesting clubs you are a part of at the Boyle Center? What do they do?
A. I take a quilting class. Maybe five years ago I got interested and decided to pursue it.
Q. Do you like the computer class or quilting class better and why?
A. That's a hard one. I like them both in a different way for different reasons. The computer class has more of a classroom-like quality, and the quilting class is a bit more recreational.
Sister Mary Brendan
Age: 83
Hometown: Auburn, born and raised
Family: A brother and a sister
Occupation: Retired teacher
Hobbies: Reading and quilting
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