12.11.2020 Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Dec. 14-18 Will Include Drones
Senior Planet Montgomery, a technology training program designed for County learners 60 and older, is offering free online classes that focus on how to thrive at home. Classes, which are offered live via video conference, enhance a wide variety of life skills. Classes Dec. 14-18 will include Drones and How to Spoke Fake News.
In addition to classes in English, two classes during Dec. 14-18 will be delivered in Spanish and one class will be delivered in Mandarin. A variety of exercise classes also will be offered.
During the spring and summer program quarters, more than 7,000 participants joined 234 virtual programs hosted by Senior Planet Montgomery. This fall, classes will cover how to use and host on Zoom, online basics, popular social media sites, lowering one’s utility bill, financial security and civic engagement.
The program is supported by the County’s Department of Technology Services’ ultraMontgomery program in partnership with nonprofit OATS (Older Adults Technology Services). The County’s Department of Recreation and Montgomery County Public Libraries also are partners in helping provide the classes at no charge to participants.
Sessions concentrate on user-friendly tools and resources and are designed to enable older adults to learn to utilize technologies to improve their daily lives. Senior Planet Montgomery utilizes curricula created by OATS, which also provides training staff and works with numerous County departments to identify topics of interest for Montgomery residents. OATS sponsors similar Senior Planet programming in six states. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection contributes to the program’s course offerings by producing sessions on how to lower energy costs.
Classes change on a weekly basis. A home internet connection and a device (such as a smartphone, tablet or computer) are all that is required to participate.
Classes to be offered Dec. 14-18 will include:
- Hello Montgomery County: Thursday, Dec. 17, 2-3 p.m. Join fellow MoCo residents for an hour of socializing.
- Drones: Thursday, Dec. 17, 4-5 p.m. This lecture will cover the basics about drones: what they are, who uses them and why. Learn about new ways drones are being used—from delivering Kindles and popcorn via Amazon Prime Air to delivering much needed medicine to remote areas of Africa.
- How to Spot Fake News: Friday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m.-noon. In the digital age, anyone can publish anything on the Internet. This lecture will provide a helpful explanation for the increase in the use of the term fake news, as well as provide some tools to evaluate news sources, and review popular fact-checking sites.
- Zoom Q&A: Friday, Dec. 18, 2-3 p.m. Lecture is designed for beginner Zoom users. For those who have attended other sessions on Zoom and could use a bit more help, this lecture on using Zoom videoconferencing will be a great fit. Zoom works with iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Zoom can be used in a browser, or through the app on a device. A Zoom account is not required to join this lecture.
Class in Mandarin:
- Messaging Apps 簡訊應用程式, 12/16, 12:00pm- 1:00pm EST. 在您舒適的家中探索全球的景點、
由俯瞰的觀點看到您小時後的鄰區或是指引到您朋友家的方向！ Google 地圖是個專門顯示地圖的應用程式，讓您得到衛星影像、 路況地圖和街景的視野。它也有規劃路線的功能， 讓您選起最想的交通工具，步行、開車或是大眾運輸。 在這個講座裡，您可以得到一個平台上介紹和如何使用的示範。
English Translation for Class in Mandarin:
- Messaging Apps (Mandarin): Wednesday, Dec. 16, Noon-1 p.m. Text messaging has become one of the primary ways we communicate. But did you know that you can send texts over the Internet? Learn about the most popular messaging apps that allow you to send texts for free when connected to WiFi. The lecture will go over the features of three widely-used apps: iMessages, Hangouts, and WhatsApp. You’ll learn about sending texts and pictures, making voice and video calls, and how these apps keep your messages secure.
For more information about Senior Planet Montgomery and to view its virtual program offerings, visit https://seniorplanet.org/
