The Virtual Senior Academy Seeks to Connect Aging Learners and Facilitators Dealing with Issues of Mobility and Loneliness
By Henry Kronk March 24, 2018
Many learners above a certain age have something of an anti-tech reputation. But an initiative of the Pittsburgh-based Jewish Healthcare Foundation is changing that narrative. The Virtual Senior Academy has grown into a hub of learning and interaction.Many learners above a certain age have something of an anti-tech reputation. But an initiative of the Pittsburgh-based Jewish Healthcare Foundation is changing that narrative. The Virtual Senior Academy has grown into a hub of learning and interaction.
The platform allows any silver surfer in the Pittsburgh region to both facilitate and partake in a wide range of online course offerings at no charge. All you need is a computer and webcam to participate.
Over 300 have enrolled since the initiative began. Virtual Senior Academy classes tend to focus on topics like the arts, health and wellness, and history. Current offerings include “Culinary Tour: Jewish Food History and Heritage,” “Warhol and the Kennedys,” and “Yoga.”
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation didn’t simply provide their $240,000 in funding because they thought it was a neat idea. There’s much more to it than that.