Garbally College, (through Ms Jacinta Deady-Henry, TY Co-Ordinator) was one of the early adopters of the Log On, Learn initiative. The first session was so successful that the school decided to run a second! Rather than present the certificates of participation to everyone at the end of each course, Ms Henry invited the participants to take part in the school's annual TY end of year graduation ceremony. So, on the 19th May 2009 a very special evening took place in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. The TY students celebrated their graduation along with 15 'Log On, Learners'. 

 

The evening was a wonderful account (with photos) of all the activities undertaken during the year - from work experience, food appreciation, school bank, ceile, Young Scientist, ECDL, fund raising, European tour, CPR, debating, public speaking etc, etc and Log On, Learn! The list was really impressive. Evelyn Pender, Intel Ireland was there to present the certificates of participation to the older learners and their student tutors for Log On, Learn.

 

Another group of Log On, Learners graduated recently in Castleknock Community College. Well done to the student tutors and the participants! And thanks to Ms Oonagh Carroll, the TY Co-ordinator for enabling the initiative in the school.

Log On, Learn has just won the ICT Excellence Award 2009 under the category of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). The ICT Excellence Awards programme, now in its ninth year, is Ireland’s longest-running and most prestigious event recognising outstanding achievers in the information and communications technology industry.

Accepting the 2009 CSR Award for Log On, Learn from Peter McManamon, from left:

 

Evelyn Pender, Community Solutions Manager, Intel

Anna McHugh, Communications Manager, An Post

Paul Rellis, Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland

Log On Learn is a collaborative program between Intel, Microsoft and An Post. Log On, Learn is a programme designed to ‘buddy up’ a participating transition-year student with an older person from their local community, to share skills with each other. Since its official launch in October ‘08, over 150 schools took part and over 3,000 older people were trained in the use of computers. There are now over 200 schools signed up to run the program from Sept ’09. So, well done to all involved!

The 2009 ICT Excellence Awards were presented at a Gala Presentation Dinner in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, on May 21st. For full details, check out www.ictexcellenceawards.ie

 

 

 

 

Photo above shows Louise Moneypenny and Evelyn Pender on the TY LOL stand

  Check out the YSI website www.youngsocialinnovators.ie for full details about this most successful event!

  

 

 

 

 

Log On, Learn was showcased on the Afternoon Show on RTE 1

Evelyn Pender, Community Solutions Manager at Intel Ireland and National Program Owner of Log On, Learn was invited to speak about the initiative on the Afternoon Show, RTE 1 (Ireland’s leading talk show) on Thurs 19^th Feb '09. The Afternoon Show film crew recorded footage in Colaiste Chiaran, Leixlip during the previous week and four minutes of edited highlights were shown as part of the show. The footage from the school captured the 20 older participants and their tutors in action. The video included an interview with one 90-year old lady participating in the training, along with her teenage student tutor. It was obvious that the training was working well on the ground and that everyone was getting a lot out of taking part. 

Evelyn was interviewed by Trevor Keegan, one of the Afternoon Show’s regular co-presenters, and the interview was relaxed, chatty and informative. Overall the piece ran to ten minutes and provided great coverage of Log On, Learn.

 

 

 

 

 

3 December 2008 – Vienna
Log On, Learn was showcased on the Microsoft exhibition stand at the recent e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference and Expo in Vienna. The event hosted e-inclusion leaders from industry, academia and the voluntary sector and addressed topics as diverse as shaping European e-Accessibility environments, investing in information technology for sustainable elderly care, digital literacy and insights into future technology perspectives. Over 1200 delegates attended this event. Austrian Erwin Buchinger, Federal Minister for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, and Irish Minister Sean Power, visited the stand and both loved the initiative.

January 2009 – Advert airs
An Post became involved in Log On, Learn as an extension of their National Adult Literacy campaign. It can be said that computers and the internet are ‘languages’ used to communicate today. An Post has commissioned, and will air, a national TV advertising campaign to promote the initiative from 5th January 2008. The advert was shot on location at Santa Sabina School in Sutton, Dublin 13. The airing schedule of the advert will include RTE, TV3, SKY, E4, Living and Setanta channels. Also the following websites are being used: Bebo, Youtube, Hotmail, Nimble, Miniclip and Stardoll.

Dublin: October 1st 2008 - The launch of ‘Log On, Learn’  an initiative that provides computer training for older people, took place today at Castleknock Community College in Dublin. Minister Máire Hoctor, T.D. Minister for Older People, launched this initiative during Positive Ageing Week.

‘Log On, Learn’ is a simple and user-friendly method devised to engage our older population in computer training. The initiative is designed to ‘buddy up’ a participating transition year student tutor with an older person from their local community, so each shares their skills. The one-to-one aspect of this training will mean that the training is tailored to suit each older person’s needs. The training will take the older person’s initial skill level, learning pace, interests and hobbies into account. Anyone wishing to register their interest in ‘Log On, Learn’ should contact 01-214 7417.

Máire Hoctor, T.D. Minister for Older People at the launch of the initiative commented, “This is a wonderful initiative which will increase older peoples’ connectivity by giving them access to digital communication, while providing a unique opportunity for them to work with teenagers. I have no doubt this cross generational approach will be of mutual benefit. I congratulate teachers, transition year students, along with Intel, Microsoft and An Post for making this innovative approach, a reality.”

The programme is designed to run for 8 consecutive weeks during one, (or all three), school terms of transition year. This initiative allows young people to engage in a programme which has the power to change positively older people’s lives. Across almost 750 secondary schools nationally, this initiative has the potential to train over 30,000 older people, in computer skills, per annum.

In 8-weekly training sessions, (of between 1-2 hours each), which take place in the school’s computer lab/room, the student tutor shares:

• knowledge of how to use a PC and mouse - basic word-processing, eMail & internet
• confidence to overcome the ‘fear factor’ surrounding ‘new’ technologies

The older person shares:

• ability to relate and communicate
• memories of culture / rituals etc.
• life experience

‘Log On, Learn’ Log On, Learn is an Intel, Microsoft and An Post collaboration. It has been enthusiastically approved by Michael O’Leary, Transition Year National Co-ordinator.

“To survive and thrive in this growing knowledge-based economy, our older citizens must be equipped with 21st Century skills to stay in touch. Intel is committed to improving digital inclusion and education for all,” said John Davies, Intel General Manager, World Ahead Programme.

Dr. Kevin Marshall, Academic Programme Manager at Microsoft Ireland said, “We are constantly striving to identify ways in which technology can help everyone to realise their full potential, across all sectors of our society.  The ‘Log On, Learn’ programme serves an incredibly useful purpose linking two sectors of society who derive valuable mutual benefits– older people who might not otherwise have access to technology and students who need to develop ICT skills to participate successfully in the 21^st Century economy.”

Barney Whelan, An Post Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs said “We are directly in touch with millions of Irish people every working day, and we know the difference that this initiative will make to people, enabling them to fulfill their potential by using new communications tools to improve their own life, that of their peers and family, and the Irish economy and society in general”.

An Post has developed a national advertising campaign, including a 30-second TV ad, showcasing ‘Log On, Learn’ and encouraging older people and Transition Year students to become involved. This is the latest element of An Post’s successful national initiatives focusing on Literacy, and in particular, Technical Literacy.

15 October 2008 – Rome - Evelyn Pender, Community Solutions Manager at Intel Ireland was invited to Rome to present the Log On, Learn initiative at the ‘Nonni su Internet’ event, attended by 350 people. Ms Pender is the National Program Owner for Log On, Learn. Fondazione Mondo Digitale (Foundation for a Digital World) is a not-for-profit organization (with 10 staff) promoting ‘Senior Citizens on the Internet’. Luca Romani of Intel, Italy is a member of the Foundation’s board. While in Rome, Ms Pender was also invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the European SILVER consortium, with representatives from Spain, Belgium, Romania, Italy, Scotland along with Frank Martinez, Intel US. In her opening address Mirta Michilli, Director Generale, Fondazione Mondo Digitale said that "Intel, Microsoft and An Post’s achievement with this Log On, Learn project is most impressive. It has taken us (the Fondazione) 7 years to reach the level which these collaborators have achieved in as many months”.