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LEWISTON — Elizabeth Peavey, a Portland-based writer, performer and educator, and Anne Cardale, program director for the Maine Senior College Network, were the presenters at the Feb. 10 Lewiston-Auburn Senior College Food for Thought session held in Room 170 of the USM-LA Campus. The title of their session was “We ZOOM — How About You?” Both Elizabeth and Anne discussed the various logistics of taking an online memoir writing class from the comfort of your home using a computer, laptop, iPad or even an iPhone.
The 40-plus participants got to see class participants from around the state — Jim Walker from Auburn, Joan Miller from the Machias area and Nancy Roe from Presque Isle — logged into the ZOOM Video Conference application so everyone could see how class participants got to see and talk with each other to participate in the class. Each of these three participants shared a brief description of their experience with this online class as well as one of their memoir stories. Nancy Roe summed up the ease of using the technology when she stated, “I’m 86, so if I can learn it, you can, too!”
In addition to the online participants, three other class members from the Auburn area (Sue Donar, Mary Jane Beardsley and Rachel Morin) were in attendance to share their experiences and to answer any participant questions.
Elizabeth Peavey discussed the logistics for teaching an online video conference class and shared how she met with all class participants every other week through the ZOOM application to discuss the upcoming writing assignment and to hear and provide feedback for four essays from participants. In between meeting with the instructor, class participants were assigned to small groups and met via the ZOOM application to share the draft of their current writing efforts and get peer feedback.
Elizabeth also shared that “Not everybody is a writer, but everybody can tell a story” and this is why she finds assigning stories such as “In the Kitchen,” “My Uh-Oh Moment, “Sacred Object” or “You Wouldn’t Believe This By Looking at Me Today, But” for participants to share a little about themselves to be a perfect approach to enhancing an individual’s writing skills as well as increase their comfort level with writing.
Anne Cardale shared that with more than 7,000 members statewide, the need to experiment with technology advancements to increase access to seniors is critical. Although there are 17 Senior College locations throughout the state, some seniors experience mobility challenges, so using technology in their home is one way to increase access to classes.
If you think you would be interested in participating in the next memoir-writing class to be conducted by Elizabeth Peavey beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 28, email Anne Cardale at acardale@maine.edu for information.
