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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Technology continues to become a vital part of society and the everyday lives of Americans.

So not understanding how to simply use a computer could leave you unconnected from the rest of the world.

And nobody knows that better than senior citizens.

But the "Kids in Motion" program from the Douglass Community Center in Hannibal tried to change that Thursday, June 24th

KHQA's Jarod shows you how.

Roles were reversed at Hannibal Lagrange College Thursday morning.

Kids in Motion Program Director Amy Vaughn said, "We have paired senior citizens with our kids ages 12-15 to hopefully be able to work with and teach senior citizens some really basic computer skills."

Everything from opening and sending e-mails, to social networking on Facebook.

Vaughn said, "We utilize some of the skills that the kids have already and implement those in a way that they can teach others that may not even know how to turn on a computer.

For Joan Bogart, a student in the computer class, it's just a way to stay in touch.

Why did you decide to take this class?

Bogart said, "Because my children gave me a laptop for my birthday and so I've got to learn how to e-mail them and all of that good stuff."

Joan Bogart said she already had an idea of how to e-mail, so the beginning of the class was kind of a refresher course.

What do you hope to get out of the rest of the day?

Bogart said, "I just hope I can make it (laughs) and get through all of this, it kind of makes me nervous."

But you wouldn't know that talking to her teacher, 14 year old Alex Hudnall

How has your student been picking up on what you've been trying to teach her?

Hudnall said, "Actually better than me kind of."

Benefits of the Intergenerational Computer experience are two-fold. Seniors learn basic computer skills to keep them up to date.

Bogart said, "We have to keep up with everybody else and so many of the organization that you're in now, they e-mail you and you don't get that information unless you are on the ball with it."

But there is an added benefit for the kid teachers.

Vaughn said, "The kids actually gain an appreciation for the older generation. They learn that they can be valuable in some of the skills taht they know that others might not. So it really increases their level of self confidence, self esteem."

Hudnall said, "All ages should be able to do whatever they want, to be able to do what young kids do and not only just young kids get to be on the computer."

For the teachers, this may be a new experience for them, but for the students of this class, being taught by a younger generation is something many are used to.

Bogart said, "I think it's wonderful. I've got four children and six great grand children, they teach you things all the time."

There was a full class for the session Jarod stopped in on Thursday.

Eight seniors/students and eight kids/teachers.