by Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
Ed Brazee of Orono, Jill Spencer of Lisbon Falls, Chris Toy of Brunswick and Jeff Brazee of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, have a common purpose. They want members of the Baby Boomer generation — those born from 1946 through 1964 — to become more technologically savvy. With that goal in mind, they launched BoomerTECH Adventures last fall. The new business holds workshops and retreats where Baby Boomers can learn how to use smart phones, tablets and other popular mobile and stationary devices.
In the spring of 2014, Ed Brazee had an idea. As a former professor in the University of Maine College of Education, Brazee often had run summer institutes for young adults, middle-schoolers and teachers. Why not, he thought, use that model and work instead with Baby Boomers?
That the fall, BoomerTECH Adventures held its first weekend retreat which was attended by 10 people.
“For more than a decade, Ed, Jill and I worked with teachers and students to help them with technology. We realized that many teachers who found technology challenging were Baby Boomers. We realized we should focus on adults,” Toy said. “The idea is, we don’t retire, we repurpose.”
Brazee, now professor emeritus of education at UMaine, has 25 years of teaching experience, and was director of the Middle Level Education Institute. “We got good feedback from people [about the workshops] — no tests, a relaxed atmosphere, no pressure, they had a good time and they said they learned a lot,” he said.
Workshop attendees said they also liked the fact that Brazee, Spencer and Toy were available for consultation by phone in the days after the retreat.
“It’s amazing how we communicate now,” Brazee said. “Some take to it naturally, others have to learn it. Boomers need to be up to date on technology.” His 88-year-old mother, he said, now stays in touch with him and other family members on Skype, an example that we are never to old to learn something new.
Jill Spencer, who has more than 30 years as a middle school teacher in Maine, now teaches adult education courses related to technology. “Most of my students have been Boomers and seniors. The power of technology as we get older offers us connections in many ways — the possibilities are limitless no matter what age you are. Because I have been working with technology, I know how powerful it is — I want people to feel comfortable with it,” she said.
She pointed out that those who attend BoomerTECH Adventures workshops come in with differing levels of skill. “They don’t want to feel stupid so we make it relaxed and fun. One of the things they like is that there are three of us, so we can personalize what we teach. We can give one-on-one attention.”
“A popular workshop is photography,” said Chris Toy , who has more than 30 years in Maine education as a high school social studies teacher, middle school principal, university instructor and educational consultant focused on technology and education. Other workshops planned will focus on wellness and health apps, and music apps. “We are all former educators, we make [the workshops and retreats] really stress free with an easy pace. We start from where the students are and see how quickly they can move [to grasp the new information],” he said. “Most are at the beginner or intermediate levels. Our goal is to get them more advanced. We want them to leave knowing they have learned how to use the technology.”
When the focus is on photography, Toy said, students are sent out to practice what they have learned in the workshop. When they return, Brazee, Spencer and Toy consult with them to see what worked and what didn’t. “They share tips about what works,” he said. Topics in the photography workshop cover camera features such as micro and macro modes, time lapse, slow motion, lighting and shooting videos, and how to use Skype.
“We are definitely a hands-on operation,” Spencer said.
While BoomerTECH Adventures is based in Maine, the business can bring its workshops anywhere in the United States, or the world. Venues vary and include universities, hotels, inns, resorts and destinations in warmer climes.
“We all love Maine,” Brazee said. “People are interested in coming to Maine anyway — now they can make Maine a part of a learning vacation.”
April BoomerTECH Adventures is planning these workshops 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, April 22-23 at the Church of the Universal Fellowship in Orono. The topic on April 22 will be “Introducing and Getting the Most out of Your Digital Device.” The topic on April 23 will be “An Appy Life: Exploring Apps to Create, Connect and Contribute.” Attend for one day or both. For information about cost and to register, contact Ed Brazee at 200-3013 or ed@boomertechadventures.com. Additional information is available at