Has all the major construction finally catapulted Oxford Middle School into the realm of the Twilight Zone where students teach and adults learn?
Well, not quite. But eighth graders in Christie Watson’s first hour computer course are getting the unique opportunity of teaching area residents about technology through the Community Computer Lessons program.
The Community Computer Lessons program pairs a student with a community member interested in learning a new computer skill. The students take the lessons they have just learned in class and walk the participants through the techniques.
“I had heard about it at another district about two years ago,” explained Watson. “I saw it on the news and thought I would like to do something like that.”
Twelve adults signed up to participate in the free nine-week course. The class meets at 8 a.m. in the middle school and includes one-on-one instruction and handouts.
“My students are actually teaching them,” said Watson. “I gave them a list of ideas so that they knew where to go, then they got a feel for what the participant wanted to learn. That way it’s specialized and the kids learn more as well.”
She added that the students participating in the program are the key to its success.
“These kids are a little more advanced with their computer skills,” Watson explained. “They can catch up if they miss an hour of class without a problem.”
“And they are very responsible, very respectful and very kind.”
Some of the topics being covered by the students include basic computer usage, using different drives, Microsoft Word, Paint, PowerPoint and the Internet. One of the projects involved a personal scavenger hunt on the Internet where students found their addresses, homes and ages listed through different databases.
“We’re three weeks in and it’s going well,” said Watson. “I think the kids are feeling a little more comfortable. And the adults are gaining confidence as well knowing that they can’t break anything – I think that’s a big concern for them.”
For Oxford resident Robert Adler, 63, simply turning on the computer was a challenge.
“I just learned how to turn it on,” he laughed. “I love it, it’s so much fun. Mrs. Watson is my daughter-in-law and I told her I needed to learn how to use a computer so she told me about this program.”
‘Diane Moore agreed that the course is great. She said her favorite part has been learning how to make graphs for projects. “I’m here because I’m computer illiterate,” she explained. “I need to know the basics.”
“I think this is a great way to help people who don’t know the basics on computers,” said eighth grader Rebecca Basel. “They’re becoming more and more common everywhere and we need to help people become familiar with them.”
Mrs. Watson said she hopes to hold this course again for the community. “If I find another group of students as trustworthy and responsible as these, we’ll definitely be doing this again.”