Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
Transforming Lives Through Digital Equity. DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Reports & 990s
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Spotlight Stories
      • Volunteer Spotlights
      • Learner Spotlights
      • Partner Spotlights
      • Funder Spotlights
      • Staff Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • PARTNER WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Reports & 990s
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Spotlight Stories
      • Volunteer Spotlights
      • Learner Spotlights
      • Partner Spotlights
      • Funder Spotlights
      • Staff Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • PARTNER WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Aug 10

Trainer Spotlight: Margaret Abdilova

  • August 10, 2017
  • Developing Digital Leaders

When Margaret Abdilova signed up for a community fund raising event two years ago, she hadn’t anticipated how much her high-tech career experience would affect the lives of San Francisco seniors. 

She attended an event called Boomers & Beyond, where Kami Griffiths, CTN’s executive director, was speaking about Digital Literacy Corps, a CTN program that connects learners seeking new computer skills with skilled volunteers looking to contribute to their community.

At the time, Margaret was on the edge of retirement. After hearing about Digital Literacy Corps she realized how she could apply her years of software engineering experience in a new way. “It was a match made in heaven. It was magic,” she says.

One of the things about the program she enjoys is that Kami has given her the freedom to develop her own teaching program, courseware, and approach. “It’s not about the technology, it’s about the people,” says Margaret. With this approach, she’s been able to tailor-fit her classes to the needs of her students. Her Russian-speaking students have all led rich professional lives. Many were engineers, doctors, pharmacists, and professors. Due to the language barrier, they have become intellectually isolated. “In my classes, it’s not about building job search skills, it’s about life enrichment. I’m not there to teach them typing, I’m there to make their lives more exiting.”

While consistent attendance is challenging (health issues and doctor’s appointments interfere), Margaret is striving to design self-contained learning experiences. One lesson staple is virtual travel. “Travel is not just about going places, it’s about planning and anticipation.” (Pictured above, Margaret shows learners how to plan a visit to Muir Woods National Monument) Margaret says, “It’s also not just ‘Look how I’m doing it on the screen,’ but I want my students to see the possibilities that the computer offers.” 

Margaret said what she’s doing “is transforming what my students think they can do with a laptop into something real. My students are gaining the skills to be engaged and  be informed, to be connected. I’m looking to widen their horizons and help them to live a richer, intellectually stimulating life.”

Related

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Comments are closed.

CTN Stories

  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • CTN In the News
  • Volunteer Spotlights
  • Learner Spotlights
  • Partner Spotlights
  • Funder Spotlights
  • CTN Advocacy

Stay Connected with CTN by signing up for our email list.

Recent Posts

  • Bridging the Digital Divide: A Global Perspective
  • Digital Mythbusting: Why the Digital Divide Will Not Solve Itself
  • Tech’s generational divide
  • A Multi-Pronged Approach to Digital Equity: How CTN Is Transforming Lives
  • Provide Your Input — Help Close the Digital Divide in Texas

Follow us on Facebook

The California Department of Aging is hosting an event tomorrow, June 1, from 2:00 - 4:00 PDT in honor of World #elderabuse Awareness Day. The event will be held both in-person and virtually. Learn more and register: ow.ly/oYKG50OAf2B ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

🌟📚 Capturing the success of our 'Learn Anything Online' workshop hosted earlier this month a#techweeksfTechWeekSF. Huge thanks to CTN's Josie Boyle for facilitating such an impactful event. Together, we're building a digitall#DigitalEquityt#DigitalEmpowerment #DigitalEmpowerment ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Community Tech Network believes that access to the Internet is a human right and that those without the skills to use a computer are at risk of social and economic disadvantage.

Contact Us

San Francisco Office
1390 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94102

General Questions
inquiries@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318

Press
press@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318 x 3636
Media Kit

Explore job opportunities with CTN

Send us a note:

©2023 Community Tech Network. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Proudly powered by WordPress Hosted by Pressable