New computer generation

July 8: It is a classroom with a difference. The students are actually eager to learn, and ask intelligent and pertinent questions. They do...

July 8: It is a classroom with a difference. The students are actually eager to learn, and ask intelligent and pertinent questions. They do not pass notes to each other, or misbehave when the teacher leaves the classroom8230;This impossible dream is a reality simply because of the age profile of the students8217;. All those who study under this novel course started by the NIIT are senior citizens who have retired from their jobs.

The first ever batch to be taught under this innovative concept is currently learning the intracities of Microsoft Word, MS Office and the Internet, and are slated to complete the 10-week course on Thursday. Says their teacher Sanjay Choithramani, 8220;I am used to teaching older people, but it is a good idea to have a class catering specially to them as they are a little slow on picking up than the younger generation.8221;

He finds this class of students among the most interested of those he has taught. 8220;They are very nervous at first, but they show a lot of interest and want to know more,8221; he says.

Some of the students hope this course will give their post retirement careers a new lease. Sixty-four year-old T N Sujan, formerly a senior general manager at Phillips, now runs his own consultancy, and hopes this new knowledge will help organise his work better. Pravinbhai Modi8217;s ambitions are greater: he wants to be a network consultant. Says this fifty-four year old, 8220;There is a dearth of consultants and of people who know what will be happening tomorrow.8221; He sees learning Windows will be the gateway to his new career.

Though all sound upbeat, it is hardly the way they began. Aruna Nair spent twenty five years at home, and was initially extremely wary of the technology. Now she has overcome her computer block, and is eager to master the machine. She says, 8220;When I started, I was afraid that when I touched the keys, I would mess everything up. Now it keeps my mind active.8221; A generation wrongly dismissed as overboard8217; and as having missed the bus, specially when it comes to technology, hopes to give those younger than them something to think about.

Like Sujan, confidently says, 8220;Today, I am probably more computer literate than my son. He tells his colleagues that if they want to learn computers, they should come to me.8221;