What is GMU AgeNet?

What is "intergenerational learning"?

What can you do with GMU AgeNet?

How do you find the GMU AgeNet site?

How do you navigate through the GMU AgeNet site?

Who do I contact if I need help?

Who do I contact if I have comments or suggestions about GMU AgeNet?

What is GMU AgeNet?

GMU AgeNet is a website developed by the faculty and students of George Mason University's Gerontology Program in partnership with the Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI) at GMU.

GMU AgeNet embraces the philosophy of intergenerational learning and recognizes the importance of regular intergenerational exchanges. The program employs a comprehensive approach to wellness and quality of life issues in aging, and presents timely and interesting health promotion and disease prevention education through the Web.

GMU AgeNet is sponsored by the Corporation for Service Learning through the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and Generations Together.

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What is "intergenerational learning"?

GMU AgeNet addresses issues most relevant to successful aging. Through a reciprocal relationship, older participants are encouraged to share their life stories, meaningful life events, and knowledge concerning healthy living and/or their perspective on aging. These real life experiences make learning more meaningful when combined with thoughtful, reflective thinking. Gerontology Program faculty have designed this program to foster intergenerational exchanges that will better equip students to work with older adults.

The benefits of intergenerational learning include:

• Integrating community service activities for older adults and critical thinking exercises into the class curriculum.

• Enhancing and enriching student learning and development, while reciprocating the learning experience with older participants.

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What can you do with GMU AgeNet?

GMU AgeNet offers benefits to students and LRI partners participating in this project.

• Read articles on health and aging: Gerontology students generate the articles published on this site. In the spirit of intergenerational learning, article topics are based on areas of interest expressed by LRI partners to their designated student buddies. An LRI partner raises an issue; the student completes the research on this topic and writes an article that addresses their LRI partner's concerns or interests. These articles are then posted on the site where other gerontology students and seniors in the community may benefit from these intergenerational learning activities.

• Discover how you can improve your health: In addition to written articles, students post information about health assessment tools that are helpful to anyone, but to seniors in particular.

• Learn about conferences and special events: The website provides news on upcoming conferences and special events that may be of interest to gerontology students and professionals, and seniors in the community.

• Communicate with your GMU AgeNet partner: The principal mode of communication between students and LRI's seniors has been email. GMU AgeNet provides links to a University service called "WebCT", which offers alternate methods of communication through chat rooms and bulletin boards.

  • The GMU AgeNet Chat Room offers partners a chance to communicate through real-time discussion forums that appear in a designated space on their screen. Partners can type messages that are viewed immediately by other partners in the "room", and they are free to continue typing and exchanging messages as if having a face-to-face conversation in an intimate space, like a meeting room. Discussion forums are scheduled and moderated by the GMU AgeNet Coordinator.

  • The GMU AgeNet Bulletin Board offers spaces for partners to post, read, and respond to messages in reaction to a given topic. For example, the GMU AgeNet Coordinator may locate some new information on aging and genomic research, and will post this information on the designated spot of the Bulletin Board. Partners may enter additional information or comments at any time in reaction to this posting. They can also view the stream of messages posted by others with regard to the initial posting.

• Link to other relevant sites: George Mason is one of several schools that have received grants to create online intergenerational learning programs. GMU AgeNet provides links to these school sites, as well as the websites of its sponsors and partner, LRI.

PLEASE NOTE: The content of the news articles presented on this website are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for medical advice given by a health care provider. Additionally, all articles are original and have been edited for accuracy and journalistic integrity. In all instances, readers are provided with additional sources of information, care or support and are encouraged to seek professional services in all health matters. Use of WebCT chat rooms and bulletin boards is restricted to registered GMU AgeNet partners.

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How do you find the GMU AgeNet site?

GMU AgeNet can be found through a link on the George Mason University Gerontology Program site. The exact address for the GMU AgeNet home page is:

www.gmu.edu/departments/gerontology/AgeNet

Alternatively, it can be found by completing the following steps:

1. From the George Mason home page (www.gmu.edu), enter "GMU AgeNet" in the search engine field found on the web page.

2. Click the Search Mason button to initiate the search. The GMU server will return with a list of search results.

3. Click the Welcome to GMU AgeNet! link listed in on the page. You will then arrive at the GMU AgeNet home page.

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How do you navigate through the GMU AgeNet site?

GMU AgeNet has a variety of resources available to you through links on its site. Links are viewed as blue, underlined text. When a mouse pointer is placed above this text, a graphic image of a hand appears-this indicates a "hyperlink" or "hotlink". Once clicked, you will be taken to another location (page) on the website.

For example, clicking on What's New will take you to a page containing information on new articles and events that have been recently posted on the website and available for viewing online.

GMU AgeNet provides the following links that appear on the left and bottom of every page on this website:

• What's New: Click this link and get access to the latest news on aging and health.

• Spotlight on Events: Click this link and you'll find a calendar of events you might find interesting. Mark your calendars for events, such as health fairs and seminars on aging issues.

• Reality Check: Click this link and access online health assessment tools. Check your blood pressure or cholesterol - try it and tell us what you think!

• Share via WebCT: Click this link and you can share your thoughts about aging with the graduate students in this program. Got any "pearls of wisdom" to share? Tell us - we're listening.

• Hot Links: Click this link and you'll find a list of interesting links to further your knowledge of health information on the Internet.

Navigating from Page to Page

For your convenience, hyperlinks are available on the left and bottom of each page.

To view another page, move your mouse pointer over the name of the section you want to view. Then, click your mouse button (in most cases, it is the left mouse button). Your browser will move you to the desired section.

If you have been moving from page to page, and would like to back-track to a previous page, use your browser's BACK button located on the top of the browser window.

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Who do I contact if I need help?

GMU AgeNet's Webmaster and Technical Assistant, Charu Guliani, is available to help if you need assistance accessing or navigating any part of this website. Help is available through online tip sheets and response to email inquiries. Write to cguliani@gmu.edu.

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Who do I contact if I have comments or suggestions about GMU AgeNet?

For your convenience, a Feedback Form is provided on the GMU AgeNet site and can be found by clicking the link "What do you think?". Please feel free to send us feedback by completing this form. If you prefer not to use the form, you can send an email to Dr. Frieda Butler, GMU AgeNet Coordinator, at fbutler@gmu.edu.

If you decide to access the form, you will see a set of questions that help us organize the feedback we receive. To respond to these questions, click the arrow that appears at the right of the response box and a drop-down list of responses will appear. Click the response that best fits your comment, and it will appear in the response field.

A text box is provided after these questions where you may type in any additional comments. You may also provide your name and contact information, or leave them blank to submit an anonymous response.

When you have completed the form, please click Submit. Another button is provided to help you clear your responses if you want to submit different comments on the form.

PLEASE NOTE: Providing your name and contact information on the form is optional. This information is only necessary to us when you wish to receive a response back from Dr. Butler. Your information will not be used for any other purpose, and it will not be passed along to others.

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