By Makenzie Marineau
Today is the day. All of the hard work over the past month has come down to tonight. During our project there has been a lot of ups and downs, but when isn’t there. Group projects like this can only prepare students for what the real work world will be like, that means when things go wrong, because we all know they will, you can handle that pressure and come through successfully. I am exhausted and eyes are blurring but I can still say I pulled through and finished the job I set out to do with my group. A summary of what has led me to here:
Starting from the beginning....
When we first began to settle into groups I was still sitting alone. I didn’t know anyone in my class and unfortunately hadn’t been asked to take part in any of the group projects. But this gave me the opportunity to feel it out and see what everyone else was doing. I ended up being suckered into the great idea of “bridging the gap” between technology and senior citizens. I love technology and communication so this was a interesting subject to me.
From there ...
We had a hard time at first at pin pointing how exactly we wanted to tell this story. There are so many directions you can take from this subject that it was a bit overwhelming. Our group comes up with some excellent ideas but we did lack in the follow through at times. But with a few baby steps we finally starting walking toward something. John and myself headed to the Corvallis Senior Center and Stoneybrook Assisted Living Home to try and make a few contacts. The senior center had an amazing contact for us named Dwight Payne who would come in and actually teach other seniors how to use computers. Dwight ended up being one of our main resources for information and was an excellent interviewee. He eventually introduced us to Sheri who was also very beneficial to our project.
On the other hand Stoneybrook Assisted Living Home ended up being more of a challenge. I met with the administrator and sat down to a great interview with her early on, but when I tried to contact her again for interviews with any of the homes residents I was dodged, five times! I emailed her three times and called about three more and never heard from her again. I know I should of gone down to the home again but at some point you just take the hint that no one wanted to speak with us. I didn’t want to invade anyones privacy at the home so I decided it was better to put it behind.
Over the course of our project it was extremely difficult to get anyone together at the same time. We all are busy people who work and go to school making things difficult at times. I wasn’t always able to make it to the interviews, which I had hoped to be able to do, and a few times I asked to contacted and wasn’t. Communication is key when working in groups and when it fails it is hard to pick back up from where you left. I felt that during this project it challenged my managerial skills.
There is so much on this subject that I felt we didn’t get the chance, or time, to look deeper into. That is why I keep reminding myself that this project is just a stepping stone into something bigger. This idea we have of bridging the gap of technology and seniors is being practiced all over the world, and I hope I continue to explore this topic. I loved being able to sit down with my mother and grandmother and talk about what technology meant to them and how it has changed so drastically over the years. Everyone has such great stories to tell.
I have put a lot of hard work into this project. Did I get to do all that I wanted to do? No but I did with what little time I had on top of working two jobs and going to school. During the project I took the leadership role as much I could because we needed it to get going. I did not stand over anyone and tell them what to do but I made sure to call, text, email whenever I felt necessary to meet up or check in. It was frustrating at times because I didn’t feel as if I knew what everyone was doing, but again that goes back to the challenges of working in groups.
If we could of done it differently I would have scheduled times for everyone to walk into a senior center and attempt to get interviews instead of just a few of us. I think I would have tried to organize the project a bit better than it was. Sometimes I just felt we all weren’t on the same page. I would have loved to get more interviews with seniors but again not all of them are open to being recorded.
I wish I could of learned a few new skills and taken advantage more of the opportunity try new things. But overall we pulled it together and ended up with a very good beginning to something that could lead to something more in the future.
I will admit I was very proud of making this website.
By Jonnie Motomochi
Today marks the end of NMC 301 for me, hopefully. John Carney, Makenzie Marineau, Mahria Zook, Mike Martin and I have finished our project. We think we have done a very good job with the editing, interviews and storyboard so overall, we are happy with what we have done so far. The project is not done, however, and we will hopefully continue to work with this idea, because we believe it is a good one.
A few things went really well in this project. One is that all of us had different skills to bring to the table and even if some of us wanted to write or interview something, we compromised and it went well. Another aspect of our project that went well was our editing. John did a great job doing that and we all thank him for it. He spent hours upon hours on his computer doing this so we greatly appreciate it. I even got a quick little tour of Final Cut Pro so that was nice to at least see what it is all about. Also, we started a website called wisenet.weebly.com. It is obviously in its very early stages but it has the potential to be a very good one. That website has a lot to do with Makenzie, who planned it all out and did all the work, with a little bit of input by us. Lastly, I thought the group meeting last night was our best one. Even though we were missing one, Mahria, due to work, I think it was very productive and we got done what was needed to be done.
The one thing that really "broke my heart" was that we did not get footage of a very old, new user using Facebook, Twitter, or Skype for the very first time and loving it. That was our plan all along but with the short period of time we had to make our idea to come life, it is difficult. However, I still love the video.
The main thing I learned from this project is how much someone can use technology to his or her advantage. Talking to John about Final Cut Pro and listening to Sherry talk about how she talks to everyone through AIM instant messaging because "it is the next best thing to actually being there," really made me realize how lucky we are to have all these technology at our fingertips. The quote that Sherry made really stuck in my head.
Also, I believe this project has made my enable my interviewing skills. At first I was a little nervous interviewing a man in his sixties about technology because I have never done it before and it was intimidating talking to an older man about technology. However, as the interview went on and when we went back to talk to him, it seemed easier and easier. So it was comforting to know that I can interview someone any age and talk to them about anything.
Honestly, I could have worked harder. I put the effort in but seeing Makenzie and John working their rear end off for the team was unbelievable. I think I did what I needed to but I regret not doing more for the team.
Working in the team was obviously a hassle because everyone is so busy. Making time for a project that needs a lot of time put into it can be tough but for the most part we fought through it with persistence!
Going to the Senior Center and getting to interview D Payne, as I like to call him behind his back, and Sherry was a bonus. I think John and I did a great job asking questions to them and when we thought we should leave them alone and talk, we did. So that went really well for us.
Even though this was John's idea and he was kind handling the operations, we all had input at some point or another. In anything that you do, great teams have everyone contributing and that is another thing I felt we did really well together.
Again, thanks to all my partners for the work they put into this project and the time we spent together. Special thanks to Makenzie and John for putting their extra work into this and thanks to Pam for letting us make this dream into more of a reality.
By Mike Martin
From the very beginnings of this project, I have been apprehensive. Though assured that the project could be of almost any media, there was a noticeable pressure towards documentary/interview reliant projects. And so, I caved to pressure and attempted a documentary. However, sometimes an idea isn’t popular enough to gain support, and rather than go it alone, I disbanded my earlier concepts and hitched up with another group midway through the term. The new projects goal of “Bridging the Gap” between seniors and the younger generations through technology seemed a worthwhile endeavor, and with 5 persons on board, I hoped for the best.
To summarize my efforts on this project, I worked primarily researching information, locating relevant news artivles online, creating a graphic for the project logo, filming an interview session with professor Loges and Dorbolo, scripting interview questions for the group leader (which were not used), and contributing ideas and concepts during group meetings. Additionally, I stated on numerous occasions that I could do just about anything, and would be happy to help with anything that the group needed done.
However, the focus itself was somewhat vague. At first, we wanted to try to actually bridge the gap ourselves, reconnecting seniors with family through computer technology like Skype and email. As progress in the group was heavily stunted from other classes, work, and the like, a late start on interviews and job assignment left me feeling nervous and unstructured, which lead towards my near withdrawal from the class. However, once clear objectives and jobs were established (at my request), I continued onward, though felt limited in my assigned task of generating a graphic and assisting with interviews.
Unfortunately, my offer to help was not effectively utilized, and on account that I was in a project not my own and without as clear a focus as other members, I lacked the foresight and inspiration to discover additional venues for contribution. Despite this, I feel that I could have contributed more to this project, but due to the relatively disorganized nature and late start, feel that unless I had literally seized control of the project, there is little else I could have contributed physically to the projects material content.
Still, the project did enable me to practice my skills with photoshop, draft interview questions, and reacquaint myself with camera equipment and operation. Additionally, I learned some rather interesting information during the research phases of the project concerning seniors and their interactions with technology and the internet. And while the numbers of online seniors are no where near those of other age groups, there are a surprising number of seniors using email and other technology services regularly.
In retrospect, I suppose I ought to have stuck with my original concept and done the work on my own. While the members of my group have worked admirably in their chosen tasks, the lack of official leadership early on has made this experience a small nightmare organizationally. I’ve never enjoyed leading projects such as this, but if this experience has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t have a choice if I want to see a project of this nature go smoothly.
Weekly Progress Report: By Mike Martin
Week 1- Project brainstormed, four ideas created, three selected for greater exploration.
Week 2- Project idea selected, call to form project groups. Brainstormed themes, style, and timeline. No group was found.
Week 3- A single person hops on board the group project, though is tied to another group and has a busy schedule. A meeting is setup, and exact topics are selected and schedules formalized. I come up with Global Warming, Security vs. Privacy, and Free Speech rights focusing on the banning of an NFL player over a gay slur. Mahria adds UN Political Hypocrisy to complete a list of 4 topics for pursuit. The final style of the project is decided to be akin to Penn & Teller’s Bullshittelevision series.
Week 4- Little progress is made by either member, meetings are rescheduled on account of additional work encountered by Mahria. Target interviewees are discussed in general with the goal of researching individuals by the next weekend.
Week 5- Mahria informs me that scheduling has become impossible, and devotes full attention to original group. No progress is made on the project, and the project is shelved. Inquiries are made about joining Mahria’s group.
Week 6- Mahria’s group is joined. No tentative schedule is formed, I offer to do anything and whatever they need me to do, though no specific task is assigned. I begin exploring email providers to form a recommended list for senior citizen’s ease of learning.
Week 7- Several group meetings, though the group is still dealing in generalities. I contemplate withdrawing from the course, but remain after requesting that the group assign tasks and deadlines so that the project can actually start. I am tasked with designing a logo, assisting with interviews, and helping to draft interview questions.
Week 8- Logo completed, though the group leader wishes to have a realistic version. I fall sick causing two interviews to be rescheduled to the following week.
Week 9- I help film the interviews with Professor Loges and Dorbolo, and finish the variant logo using realistic elements. Group leader states that it is unnecessary to interview him about the projects overarching goals and purpose, eliminating one of the few concrete tasks I had planned to do in this project. I am of course, somewhat apprehensive, and continue offering help with whatever is needed.
Week 10- I await the call to assist in video editing, though expect it to be unnecessary. All I can do is cross my fingers at this point. Alas, the call has come in, one hour before a meeting the day before it is due, only to find that we are without a clear story line/board to place the footage in. Players in panic mode, and myself wondering “why wasn’t I called on to help?”. Can’t help with editing as it’s all being done on John’s laptop, can’t help with the webpage, as McKenzie has that under control, and the graphic I had created is no longer likely to be used. Just another day in a crummy week.
By John Carney
Now that the project is burned on a disc, my stress levels have come down. The process to get this project done was not overly difficult, but the group aspect was. I have been so amazed at how people can sign on to a project and make you believe that they are excited, but never make themselves available to really make it a stunning piece of work. I am still wondering how people can go into the work force with little pride for their work.
Once our topic was solidified, it was time to do some investigating. Makenzie and I headed out to a few of the senior centers in Corvallis to start getting in the door. After we made contact, we were able to determine what our next steps would be. Jonnie and I made two visits to the Corvallis Senior Center to do video interviews with Dwight Payne, the on-site guru.
Just before the holiday, I went to KBVR to assist Mike and Mahria with the interviews of Bill Loges and Jon Dorbolo. Good thing I showed as they ran out of camera battery and tape. The interviews worked out and it was time to go home.
Thanksgiving was a bit of c challenge as it sent everyone in different directions and made getting together almost impossible. Once we got back on campus, Makenzie and I had an emergency meeting to give the project shape and direction. We spent about four hours in my office tying up loose ends. The others were not able to be there that night. We decided that it was going to take longer to really make this a quality piece, so we called for a meeting the next night. We put in another 4 hours with Jonnie and Mike making final decisions so the project could go to editing.
I have been able to sharpen my Final Cut skills having spent 9 straight hours taking mismatched footage and forming it into a story. Taking to Makenzie back and forth helped reassure that the internet presence of this project would be a living work.
While working on this project, I have been truly empowered to continue with this project and see it develop in the future. To hear some of the stories that these folks have and how enriching it would be for them to share them with others, make s me want to create a movement to help them embrace technology in their own unique way.
By Marhia Zook
Earlier in the term I made a post about how I would be doing two final projects… Completely thought that I would be able to have that locked down—I was completely wrong. That young idea was squashed before it even started. There was no way it was going to happen. I’m not so sure anyone could pull off working on two of these projects. The initial state of the term and our glorious delusions about how the current term will somehow be different from others—where you’re dragging yourself, legs exhausted and limp behind you across the finish line, praying that you will just pass—proved futile as always.
I am certainly content with this, however, because of the quality experience I have gotten out of our “Bridging the Gap” project. Let me just start by saying that none of this has been easy—nothing about a group project has ever been. You bring together individuals who are going fifty different directions, and probably have other group projects with individuals who are all going fifty different directions, mix that with food deprivation and personal attachment and you damn near have the emotional equivalent of an A-bomb.
Fortunately, for how limited our time was together as a group, we have pulled through well. Everyone took the initiative and got assignments done on their own, which is huge! It hasn’t been a situation where one person is left having everything dropped on them at the last minute because nobody else ever checked in and completed their assignments. Having this was key because we were so limited on time that we could actually come together and collaborate as a unit, that the need for people to go out and interview and gather information on their own or just as a pair at the last minute was crucial.
What we have learned about the topic we have ventured into was as well surprising. We came into the project with the same—call it stereotypical, perhaps—idea that senior citizens had no clue of how to navigate themselves through new media and the internet. They are so scared of it and need to be shown why it is so valuable and why they “MUST” use it… Well, we had two professors who told us that this just really isn’t so—at least not holistically. We learned that senior citizens as well just don’t feel a large need for some new media, or they just use it for different reasons other than social networking ( e.g., searching health-related topics). Through my interviews with Bill Loges, Professor in New Media Communications and Sociology, and Jon Dorbolo, Professor in Philosophy and Associate Director of TAC (Technology Across the Curriculum), I learned that the problem—assuming we should even be calling it a problem—isn’t so simple as senior citizens are terrified of new media and technology. I learned that the use and purpose of use across the generations is where the difference lies. Certainly there are things right now that kids ten years behind me are growing up with that I would look at and consider completely unnecessary and useless. These two professors really helped me put this into perspective, as to not write a certain group off as illiterate to a technology and its potential uses simply because their uses and outlook on whether or not it is or isn’t useful to them simply because it is different than mine.
So where I came into this project with a complete outlook that our theory was completely accurate and the project would end up being of benefit to seniors really turned around and has become more of a benefit to those of us who are misinterpreting this assumed digital divide, or at least can now see it in a different light. This has been the most exciting part about this project to me. I started off thinking that I knew, but I didn’t, and instead I learned. That is really priceless and I hope that all of my future work in this field provides such a fruitful experience. And it has changed how I look at how to conduct an interview and how to report and tell a story in general. You have to be unbiased. It’s all about the information. You can have your opinion and assumptions but you have to be willing to accept what transpires through the unfolding of the story as the facts are revealed.
Bridging the gap between generations in the world of technology.
We are looking in-depth into the way different generations view and use technology today. By getting in touch with people who are living in assisted living homes, using senior centers and our own personal experiences we will look at how people are using technology in their own lives, or how they aren’t.
In the course of our information gathering we plan on using video camera equipment, still photography, voice recorders plus computer software to design graphics, video production and website development.
Sources for our project consist of professionals, seniors, family, friends and students.
Sources with the Corvallis Senior Center and Stoneybrook Assisted Living Home are administrator’s Lorene Hales and Theresa. We have contacted family members who all have been impacted by technology in some way and plan to incorporate a little about our own family stories. We have made connections with professors on campus who work in psychology and new media communications such as Bill Loges. Students and community members will be interviewed for additional resources. A connection with a man who volunteers his time at the Corvallis senior center has proved useful and a plan to interview him is necessary. We are awaiting reply from the administrators of both senior homes on who would be willing to speak with us on camera and possible take a lesson on how to use a computer in a resourceful way, e.g. skype. In the process of trying to seek permission to speak with seniors at the Stoneybrook Assisted Living Home we were denied and after three emails and four phone calls still no one got back to us about our project.
Schedule for completion:
Nov.2 – Nov. 13 – Gain contacts and get in touch with sources. Feel out who we want to interview and connect with. Outlining how we want to tackle our projects idea. Visit senior centers, assisted living homes, and retirement complexes. Design our graphic logo to establish branding.
Nov.16 – Nov. 21 – Interviews will be conducted with administrators, business employees, family members and volunteers. Gathered video footage and digital recording of interviews conducted along with still footage. Interviews with Loges and OSU students will be conducted at the end of the week. Present a rough draft, e.g. of what we have.
Nov. 23 – Nov. 28 – Filming of the assisted living facilities and seniors living there. We will be sitting down and having a discussion with seniors living in these homes and their thoughts on technology. Start putting more video footage as well as put together the first pieces of our written work. Begin designing our online presentation format.
Nov. 30 – Dec. 4 – Pull the final pieces together. Outline our video production. Finish up our website and blog posts. Put together our final writing.
We are really wanting to get a feel for how people feel and relate to technology through our interviews and discussions.
By Jonnie Motomochi
Two words: Dwight Payne. This guy was “the man” as I like to call certain people because they’re simply awesome. Dwight falls into both categories, especially the awesome category. He opened up seniors to show a side of themselves that I could not believe, and still can not believe.
Dwight was helping others out with the computer, the internet and any question they sent his way, he would answer it the best way possible. As he said himself, “I sometimes don’t know the answer to their question but I will Google it or look up a video tutorial on YouTube.”
Dwight Payne showed me that seniors actually do want to learn and they do want to try new things. At first, I was a little reluctant about the idea of throwing the idea of the internet at seniors. I thought it would be extremely difficult to find someone, in our short period of time, who would volunteer and just throw themselves into our project: Bridging the Gap. However, Dwight did just that. We even got footage of a webcam conversation between Dwight and his friend in Maryland, Shari. When talking about computers and technology they mention how they still can not believe how far it has come in such a short period of time. “Imagine what it will be like in ten years or even five years,” Shari stated.
Again, they are completely right. Where will the internet technology be in five to ten years? What about 20? I think my generation takes for granted what we have. I asked that question to Shari, via skype, and she agreed. She talked about how amazing the webcams are and how great it is to talk for free anytime, anywhere in the world.
I realized we do take all the technology we have for granted. Computers, the internet, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, email and instant messaging all seem like a part of my life now. Look at all the online quizzes the students have to do now around the country. Majority of professors post everything up online including notes, tests, and the syllabus. Everything students do for school is online. Think about it. Students register, buy books, register for dorms, register for email, find transcripts, read homework and lectures, all online. Seriously, I do not think Oregon State University or other universities could survive without a computer or the internet today. Everything is too dependent on it.
There was a lot I realized from chatting to Dwight and Shari, and it was enjoyable to see how much they loved talking to each other through the internet. It is truly mind boggling how much we have taken for granted and to get an understanding of how fortunate we are to have all of this equipment available to us. Imagine the next generation of children, how fortunate are they going to feel about their new and improved technology?
Group Members
Mike Martin | Performing research into technology information, e.g. email providers. Putting thought in to what we want out of our interviews and writing out a base for interview questions the group will be asking seniors. Also will conduct an interview with fellow group member John Carney on his thoughts and passion about this subject. Assist in writing our final story.
Skills | Basic Final Cut Pro and photoshop. Strengths in writing and is very adaptable.
Jonnie Motomochi | Coming up with a outline of questions we will be asking people who are closely involved with the seniors, e.g. effects they see technology having on them. Taking the time to help sit down with seniors and teach them the basics of computer use or other tech need-to-knows. Assist with writing our final story. Interviewing parents for additional ideas.
Skills | Strong interest in writing and interviewing. Comfortable in front of a camera.
Mariah Zook | Planning and conducting interviews with psychology/philosophy professionals about our subject to get a better understanding about why seniors would feel a certain way towards tech. Contacted senior centers to get basic information and sources. Assist with writing our final story.
Skills | Strengths are in writing and interviewing. Comfortable in front of a camera.
John Carney | Will be an interviewee for the project. Connected with senior centers and assisted living establishments in Corvallis. Spending most of the time behind the camera shooting footage and interviews. Assist in writing our final story.
Skills | Film, editing, Final Cut Pro and sound are all strong.
Makenzie Marineau | Assist in writing our final story. Interviewing parents on how technology has treated them. Made contacts at senior and assisted living homes. Will be conducting interviews with administrators of the businesses. In charge of putting our final project online with videos, writing, photos and additional links that were all collected during this process.
Skills | Writing, photography, online presence and communication.
By Makenzie MarineauI grew up in a generation where the internet was invented, cell phones are used instead of land lines and people communicate via technology in more ways than we ever would have thought possible, but for the generations who did not learn how to use a computerin junior high or send a text message before they could walk (a hint of sarcasm) all of this tech talk might by a bit too much to handle. This is what is driving a group of students, including myself, to pursue a project on bridging the gap between people and technology and how they use or don't use today's newest inventions. We want to investigate in a range of people more around 60 years old and up. It's funny to think that the newest tech device to someone might just be a computer vs. today's generation of students who may now own a kindle. Computer confusion? Times are constantly changing and it seems today that technology is moving along quite rapidly. What then happens to all of those people who didn't grow up with a mouse and keyboard in front of them, to the people who don't even know what the word skype means? That is what we want to look at and explore. Listen to peoples experience and how they deal today compared to years ago. We want to find out how technology can enhance their life in ways they wouldn't have thought possible. How may you ask? By providing them the tools and assistance needed to get in touch with a loved one or old friend with the use of technology. By looking at stories of triumph and failure in the digital age we can give those who are afraid a glimpse at the positives it can provide. Myself, John Carney, Jonnie Motomochi, Mahria Zook and Mike Martin are taking on this project for the next month and a half with the end result being a documentary film, blogs of interviews and stories, more knowledge of computers among elders and a program set up to continue sending volunteers to retirement, assisted living and senior centers to teach and educate people about technology. Someones grandson or granddaughter could be over in the Middle East as a solider thus not allowing them to visit in over a year and we want to show them that they can visit, they can talk and they can see their grandchild with the help of a computer. That is just one example of what many people face today living in a digital age without the proper knowledge of how it works. There will be a great deal of hard work and energy thrown into this project and we all are excited to jump to it.
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