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Technological advancement exemplifies the inevitability of change. It is an inextricable phenomenon in society's relentless pursuit of knowledge. But technological modification puts a strain on people by dividing the savvy and those unable to adapt to changes, and the spawning of the Internet in particular has greatly increased the gap between particularly the elderly and the younger age band.
EarthLink addresses this issue through education and an assemblage of students and senior citizens. In 2002, the Internet service provider put together GenerationLink, a classroom-based initiative that enlists high school students to teach adults aged 60 and older how to use the Internet. GenerationLink is a service-learning program that promotes better communication and fosters intergenerational understanding by using the web to forge a connection between the old and the young.
Students will learn valuable lessons about citizenship and community, while seniors will learn how to take advantage of what the Internet has to offer.
"GenerationLink gives teens and seniors the opportunity to create a dialogue in a way that enriches the lives of both generations," said Dan Greenfield, vice president of corporate communications for EarthLink.
As testimony to the program's success, participating seniors continue to use e-mail to stay in touch with faraway children and grandchildren, while others are using the Internet to explore information and hobbies, such as reading a hometown newspaper.
In 2005, EarthLink has collaborated with Scholastic, Inc., the global children's media and publishing company, to develop a national, standards-based curriculum that allows any school to download lesson plans and implement GenerationLink, available at www.scholastic.com/generationlink. The educational materials tackle the different aspects of the Internet, its resources, and how to utilize them. The lesson plans offer topic areas from email, music, and travel, to shopping and web security. A cooperation of this level between the two companies greatly effectuates the arm that GenerationLink extends to the community.
The program also supports skill-building in a number of areas including behavioral sciences, economics, english and technology.
Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, voice, web hosting, wireless or "EarthLink Extras" like home networking or security, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's website at www.earthlink.net.
With information gathered from the EarthLink website.
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