Chris Salcedo DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― Those who are computer savvy don't realize that there is an entire group of Americans who are really intimidated by those machines. But one North Texas woman is trying to change all that.

"I teach seniors at Richland College," said Mimi Witcher, founder of Computer School for Seniors. "One of my students came to me because he was losing his eyesight and wanted to know if it would be possible to put some of my classes online."

So that's what Witcher did. What grew from that was a campus that has no walls, no physical location and no limits.

Research from leading universities including a recent study conducted by the University of California - Irvine, as reported in Science Daily - "Learning Slows Physical Progression of Alzheimer's Disease" - has shown that keeping our brains stimulated through various learning opportunities will dramatically help retain mental alertness as we age.

For older adults and the 78 million Baby Boomers, the computer and the Internet are proving to be beneficial for lifelong learning.

A new virtual campus is up and running…just for them. Computers have been Greek for many older adults. But now, navigating around them can be as simple as pie. 82-year old Paul Yowell is enjoying every click of his mouse.

He’s a student of Computer School for Seniors. The new site teaches the basics of using the computer including how to set up an email account or write a letter using Microsoft Word.

When we picture seniors settling into retirement, we often think of them as “slowing down.” We don’t typically perceive them as tackling new challenges, enrolling in coursework at the local college, or going online in their spare time.

But that’s exactly what they’re doing.

And nobody knows this better than Mimi Witcher, an empty-nester turned educator turned entrepreneur. In the late 90s, Mimi was seeking out a new career when her days as a stay-at-home mom had come to an end. A friend encouraged her to learn how to use the computer by enrolling in computer courses at Richland Community College in Dallas, Texas.