Kathy Mullin is clear that she has no background as a teacher, but don’t tell that to anyone who has learned something from her.

Mullin has been a volunteer with the Fountain Hills Technology Learning Center since 2002, and much of the curriculum for the mobile devices workshops was developed by her.

Many Fountain Hills residents over the age of 50 have made a successful and softer transition to the technology age thanks to Mullin and other volunteers at TLC.

Mullin says that many older people who might enroll in a community college class are quickly left behind in a setting where the majority of the students grew up in front of a computer screen.

“Our students are no longer in the workforce, so they haven’t had to keep up with the latest software or hardware,” Mullin said.

“They want to learn so they can continue to keep up to date and communicate with their grandchildren.”

TLC Coordinator Ralph Craner said Mullin is an integral part of the TLC program in Fountain Hills.

“She wants to know how things work and has the patience to explain it to others,” Craner said. “She will explain something once, twice and still have the patience to cover it a third time.”

The Technology Learning Center used to be part of a national organization, SeniorNet, which focuses on PC education.

However, in more recent years they began to get more questions from local folks wanting to learn about using their mobile devices – laptops, tablets and smartphones. That led to the center ending its connection to SeniorNet.

Mullin remembers the first iPad the TLC purchased. Apple provided one hour of free training. Mullin took the time before the training class to prepare herself with the device, but she noticed others taking the class, particularly those over 50, were being left behind.

“What that instructor covered in one hour, we have 24 workshop sessions to cover,” Mullin said.

Mullin is clearly enthusiastic about participating in helping others with technology, and she shares that with the other TLC volunteers.

“I really get excited when you see those light bulbs go off,” Mullin said of explaining the nuances of technology.

The Technology Learning Center is open to anyone who is a member of the Fountain Hills Activity Center, which is open to all residents 18 and over.

Mullin said anyone can get a “Taste of TLC” during April, May and June when workshop offerings are just $5.