LILY WILLIAMS
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A Lynnfield High School senior has launched a new initiative that is helping senior citizens learn about technology for her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
Girl Scout Troop 82559 member Lily Williams has partnered with the Lynnfield Public Library and has started a series of Stay Safe and Smart Online classes for seniors.
“Last year, our high school’s librarian was laid off due to budget cuts,” said Lily in an interview with the Villager. “She had led many programs at our school such as the popular ‘help desk’ for seniors, allowing them to ask high school students their questions about technology. When thinking about Gold Award projects, I first thought of the need left when these programs stalled. I decided to take this program a step further and start my Stay Safe and Smart Online classes at the library as well as restarting the ‘help desk’ at the high school. I felt the persisting need for education among seniors about digital and media literacy, especially following scams and artificial intelligence development. Being able to build tech confidence in seniors was a driving force.”
During the first Stay Safe and Smart Online class, Lily taught seniors about scams.
“In the first class, I taught about red flags to look for in potential scams as well as what to do when you receive a scam,” said Lily. “I went into depth about the different types of scams and how they work to deceive their targets. We had group discussions, matching activities and self-assessments to tackle these topics.”
Lily taught seniors about “navigating Google and its subsequent applications” such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Drive during the second class.
“I answered questions that participants had about their own experiences and showed people helpful tips or tricks when using Google,” said Lily.
Lily taught seniors about artificial intelligence (AI) during her third class.
“On Oct. 23, I taught a class on AI: Its benefits, issues and applications,” said Lily. “People walked away with a better understanding of what AI is and how anyone can use it to their advantage.
While planning the Stay Safe and Smart Online classes’ lessons, Lily said she “thought about what topics would be most useful and relevant for seniors.”
“I looked at common issues people encounter online such as phishing or password security, and then looked at more every day user skills such as organizing files or using email effectively,” said Lily. “I wanted each lesson to be interactive and hands-on, so I designed activities and discussions that let participants practice what they were learning right away.”
Lily said her technology classes have been “received very well by participants.”
“I’ve been able to help many people with technology issues they might have otherwise given up on, which has been really rewarding,” said Lily. “People have been very engaged and receptive to the class content, and they’re leaving with greater confidence in using technology and a stronger understanding of the online world. Several attendees have shared that they found the sessions helpful and easy to follow, which has been encouraging feedback as I plan future classes.”
Lily said she hopes seniors have learned a lot from her Stay Safe and Smart Online classes.
“I hope seniors walk away feeling more confident and independent when using technology,” said Lily. “My goal was for them to realize that they can safely and effectively navigate the online world without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. I also wanted them to understand how to protect themselves from scams and misinformation while still enjoying the benefits of being online — like connecting with family, accessing information and using helpful tools. Most of all, I hope they left feeling empowered to keep exploring and learning.”
Lily said working with seniors as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project has been incredibly rewarding.
“What I’ve enjoyed most is meeting and connecting with new people,” said Lily. “Working with the library, the Senior Center and my high school has helped me build relationships across different parts of the community. It’s allowed me to see how many great people and opportunities there are in our town — things I probably wouldn’t have discovered without pursuing my Gold Award project. I have also really enjoyed learning about the topic I am teaching. Working with experts and the Girls Who Code Club, I have developed a great knowledge for digital media literacy, which is fascinating and becoming more applicable in our day-to-day life.”
Lily first became a Girl Scout in fifth grade.
“I have also been a part of the softball program for four years and a captain for two,” said Lily. “I joined the DECA Club as an inaugural member last year and I am president of the Yarn Club, where we meet to crochet or learn how to. Outside of school, I work at Brightview Senior Living.”
Lily anticipates that her Girl Scout Gold Award will be approved later this year.
“I plan to have finished and submitted my project by early-November, so final approval should come in the month after that,” said Lily.
Lily will be teaching one more Stay Safe and Smart Online class on Saturday, Nov. 1.
“I have one more class for seniors at the library on Nov. 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. about bias/misinformation in the media,” said Lily. “People can sign up through the library’s website.”