A NORTHSIDE man’s
ability to teach senior citizens how to use computers has earned him a national
award.
NEAR Media Co-op’s James
Richardson scooped the coveted Google Silver Surfer award for the IT Trainer of
the Year 2011.
Mr Richardson, from
Beaumont, has been working at the Coolock-based centre for seven years and in
that time has trained over 1,500 people.
Patience
Nominated for the award
by staff at the NEAR Media Co-op, James is well known for his patience and
empathy.
The prize included a new
state-of-the-art Google netbook, a cloud computer as yet unavailable in shops
in Ireland.
James, who is originally
from Plymouth in the UK, said he was thrilled to win the award.
“What is really great
about winning is that Google contacted my trainees to get feedback on me before
deciding to grant me this award,
? he told Northside People.
“Most of my trainees are
in their 60s and have had no experience at all in computers. Several of the
trainees were fearful at the beginning but they soon got over their first day
nerves.
“There is a myth that
it’s easier to learn when you’re younger but that’s not true.
“If you are willing to
learn and have the right attitude you can overcome those fears.
“If you can switch on
the computer and browse the internet, you are at ease after a morning or so.
?
James’s advice to senior
citizens thinking about learning about computers and the internet is to try and
learn in small groups.
Intimate
“We have a maximum of
eight in our classes, which is more intimate and beneficial for learning,
? he
said.
“There is a great sense of
satisfaction when someone completes the course and they keep in touch as well
which is nice.
“They find that they can
book events online, fill in forms, book flights, book holidays or do their tax.
“A lot of Irish have
family all over the world so skype and webcam are very useful to learn and are
of great benefit to the trainees.
?
One of the trainees said
she was delighted James has finally been recognised for the great work he does
in the community.
As well as training
senior citizens from all over the Northside, James has also worked in other
areas in NEARFM, including presenting, researching and making programmes.
Prison
“We’ve done a lot of
very interesting stuff over the years including a radio series in Mountjoy
Prison and a number of living history programmes,
? he added.
The nationwide Google
Silver Surfer award, run in conjunction with Age Action, aims to profile the
unsung work of IT trainers who work with senior citizens.
The awards ceremony,
which also had awards for the Social Networker of the Year and the Family Tutor
of the Year, took place at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin and was
attended by a number of the Presidential hopefuls.
One of the candidates,
Michael D Higgins, who presented James with his award said: “Age should
never be a barrier to learning and self progression.
“Picasso painted his
best works at the age of 80, and Trapattoni (Republic of Ireland manager) has
no problem in keeping up with the lads at 72.
?