Learning Together Across Generations

This week, I flew to Toronto to spend time with my grandparents, and one of the best parts of my trip has been helping my 74-year-old grandpa learn how to use his new laptop. Before retiring, he was an excellent machinist, and now he's taking on a completely different challenge with the same determination. He recently bought a laptop because he wants to become more comfortable with technology and more independent in using it. His goals are simple but meaningful. He wants to send emails, create documents, browse Facebook, watch YouTube, and feel confident using his laptop. Every time he learns something new, he gets excited to try the next thing, and honestly, seeing his determination has made me so proud.

Working with him has reminded me that learning technology is about much more than clicking the right buttons. It takes patience, encouragement, and someone who is willing to answer the same question more than once. We've celebrated the small wins together, and with each lesson, I can see his confidence growing. Adams et al. (2023) explain that successful learning communities are built on support, encouragement, and creating opportunities for people to learn at their own pace. Even though our "learning community" is just the two of us sitting at the kitchen table, I've realized those same ideas still apply. Having someone there to guide, encourage, and celebrate progress has made learning feel much less intimidating for him.

This experience reminded me that we can all be lifelong learners. My grandpa could have decided that technology was too difficult, but instead, he chose to challenge himself and keep learning. Watching him embrace something completely unfamiliar with so much determination has been inspiring. His willingness to learn has reminded me that curiosity doesn't disappear with age, and that confidence grows one small step at a time. It has also reminded me that some of the most meaningful learning experiences don't happen in a classroom. They happen through patience, encouragement, and simply taking the time to help someone you love build confidence one step at a time.

Reference

Adams, S., Tesene, M., Gay, K., Brokos, M., Swindell, A., McGuire, A., & Rettler-Pagel, T. (2023). Communities of practice in higher education: A playbook for centering equity, digital learning, and continuous improvement. Every Learner Everywhere.