COMPUTER LAB HANDS ON TRAINING
The Senior Surfers Technology Club offers education classes to its members from time-to-time. These are "hands-on" classes in the computer lab.
Classes are usually announced via email and may have a $5 fee per session. These classes often fill up quickly and are usually limited to 8-10 students depending on content. Volunteers are sometimes in attendance to help the instructor and to allow for one-on-one help to the students. Course fees are collected the day of the class.
The club is open to suggestions for additional classes or repeats of any of the classes listed. Just email [email protected] with your suggestions or mention to any board member.
Below are descriptions of classes that have been offered in the past.
Classes are usually announced via email and may have a $5 fee per session. These classes often fill up quickly and are usually limited to 8-10 students depending on content. Volunteers are sometimes in attendance to help the instructor and to allow for one-on-one help to the students. Course fees are collected the day of the class.
The club is open to suggestions for additional classes or repeats of any of the classes listed. Just email [email protected] with your suggestions or mention to any board member.
Below are descriptions of classes that have been offered in the past.
GOOGLE OVERVIEW - Google is a widely used search engine, which has dozens of features that are constantly changing. In the class we explore Google features such as: special searches, Maps, Earth, Gmail, Docs, Drive, calendar, photos, Picasa, Google+, Chrome, Google Play, and more.
The class is for beginners or anyone who wants to know more about Google searches.
GOOGLE SEARCH is more than just a web search engine. With it you can type a search, use a voice request, refine your initial search, or create specials searches. There are searches of the web, images, videos, books, news, blogs and more. You can search from a computer, a tablet, or your phone.
The course covers how search works, what kind of searches you can make, how to make them, what’s new in search, and tips and tricks.
GOOGLE DRIVE is a Google feature which provides:
GMAIL is a widely used email service provider, with many excellent features. Why use Gmail? It is easy to sign up. It is easy to transfer contacts from your old email system. It gives you a new email account with less spam. It lets you keep your email account, even if you change internet providers. It lets you work with multiple Gmail IDs and it provides a search function for your email messages. Gmail gives you 10 GB of on online storage for lots of email files.
Hands-on activities include composing and sending messages, set up or import contacts, set up file folders called Labels.
The class is for beginners or anyone who wants to know more about Google searches.
GOOGLE SEARCH is more than just a web search engine. With it you can type a search, use a voice request, refine your initial search, or create specials searches. There are searches of the web, images, videos, books, news, blogs and more. You can search from a computer, a tablet, or your phone.
The course covers how search works, what kind of searches you can make, how to make them, what’s new in search, and tips and tricks.
GOOGLE DRIVE is a Google feature which provides:
- 15 GB Free storage in the cloud, which can be used for backing up your files and syncing files between devices such as desktops, tablets, and smart phones.
- A way to share files and pictures with individuals and groups.
- Applications in the cloud, which lets you create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms and more. This can replace expensive programs installed on your computer and can be accessed wherever there is Internet access.
GMAIL is a widely used email service provider, with many excellent features. Why use Gmail? It is easy to sign up. It is easy to transfer contacts from your old email system. It gives you a new email account with less spam. It lets you keep your email account, even if you change internet providers. It lets you work with multiple Gmail IDs and it provides a search function for your email messages. Gmail gives you 10 GB of on online storage for lots of email files.
Hands-on activities include composing and sending messages, set up or import contacts, set up file folders called Labels.
MICROSOFT OFFICE
The club has offered the following Microsoft Office classes in the past. There is a special interest group for Microsoft Office that meets on Monday mornings as announced. Topics are covered in these sessions but education classes can still be available.
POWERPOINT TIPS AND TRICKS helps you organize and design presentations to use with organizations or family and friends. The class shows you how to make a professional looking presentation to capture and engage your audience.
This is an intermediate class for those that have had some experience using PowerPoint.
BEGINNERS EXCEL explores the 123s of Excel (1. spreadsheet, 2. charts, and 3. database) and shows some shortcuts and tricks. Start with a review of the basics in each section and practice some quick tips. The course includes an overview of what Excel can do, basic terms and information on the Excel worksheet, and an opportunity to create a check register plus whatever else time allows.
The class is designed for the absolute beginner.
DRAWING WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE helps students learn how to add graphics to any Microsoft Office document starting simply with adding a line into a PointPoint slide, then progressing to boxes, shapes, collections, screen clips and more. We show you how to insert, modify, format and arrange objects that add interest, emphasis, and clarity to your documents. You can use these skills to make maps, construction drawings, organization charts, flyers, custom iron-on patches
The Class is a starter class for those who want to have something more than just words or numbers in their Microsoft Office documents. You don’t have to be an artist.
DRAWING WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE - Part II teaches students screen captures, Paint and Snipping Tool; WordArt for fancy lettering, old school clip art, pictures, scans and curves.
MICROSOFT PUBLISHER 2010 helps you create publications quickly and easily. With it, you can design and publish professional-looking marketing and communication materials for print, for mail or for email. You can easily communicate your message in a variety of publication types, such as brochures, newsletters, postcards, greeting cards, or email newsletters. Publisher is sometimes included as part of Microsoft Office. Hands-on practice include documents such as a business card or catalog.
The class is designed for the people with no Publisher experience.
POWERPOINT TIPS AND TRICKS helps you organize and design presentations to use with organizations or family and friends. The class shows you how to make a professional looking presentation to capture and engage your audience.
This is an intermediate class for those that have had some experience using PowerPoint.
BEGINNERS EXCEL explores the 123s of Excel (1. spreadsheet, 2. charts, and 3. database) and shows some shortcuts and tricks. Start with a review of the basics in each section and practice some quick tips. The course includes an overview of what Excel can do, basic terms and information on the Excel worksheet, and an opportunity to create a check register plus whatever else time allows.
The class is designed for the absolute beginner.
DRAWING WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE helps students learn how to add graphics to any Microsoft Office document starting simply with adding a line into a PointPoint slide, then progressing to boxes, shapes, collections, screen clips and more. We show you how to insert, modify, format and arrange objects that add interest, emphasis, and clarity to your documents. You can use these skills to make maps, construction drawings, organization charts, flyers, custom iron-on patches
The Class is a starter class for those who want to have something more than just words or numbers in their Microsoft Office documents. You don’t have to be an artist.
DRAWING WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE - Part II teaches students screen captures, Paint and Snipping Tool; WordArt for fancy lettering, old school clip art, pictures, scans and curves.
MICROSOFT PUBLISHER 2010 helps you create publications quickly and easily. With it, you can design and publish professional-looking marketing and communication materials for print, for mail or for email. You can easily communicate your message in a variety of publication types, such as brochures, newsletters, postcards, greeting cards, or email newsletters. Publisher is sometimes included as part of Microsoft Office. Hands-on practice include documents such as a business card or catalog.
The class is designed for the people with no Publisher experience.
INTERNET
INTERNET BASICS covers what is the Internet and how it works. It covers Internet Service Providers (ISPs), browsers, and search engines, how each is different, and how to choose which browser to use. Searching the web safely and hands-on practice using several browsers is also covered.
This class is designed for beginners or those who want to explore other ways to surf the web.
EMAIL BASICS explores areas such as software vs. web-based systems, some free email providers, and reasons to have more than one email account. During the class each student will sign up for a new email account. It will also help you understand how to use some of the features in your system and how to transition from one system to another.
The course is suggested for those who want to understand their options for using a different program or system than the one they are currently using.
This class is designed for beginners or those who want to explore other ways to surf the web.
EMAIL BASICS explores areas such as software vs. web-based systems, some free email providers, and reasons to have more than one email account. During the class each student will sign up for a new email account. It will also help you understand how to use some of the features in your system and how to transition from one system to another.
The course is suggested for those who want to understand their options for using a different program or system than the one they are currently using.
WINDOWS
BASIC WINDOWS is designed to help beginners or anyone who just wants to improve their computer skills. This basic Windows course is taught using Windows 10, which has features common to most versions of Windows. The class explores areas such as the desktop, the start button, simple word processors, creating and saving documents, moving files and folders, creating shortcuts, the Recycle Bin, multitasking, using Clipboard and more.
FILE MANAGEMENT will cover finding, moving, renaming and organizing files, setting up sub folders within folders, saving files to My Documents and sub folders, the Desktop, or a flash drive. We will work with text documents, music files and image files. In general it will help anyone organize and work with their computer files.
This class is designed to give hands-on practice in the fundamentals of File Management and backing up your files to CDs or a flash drive.
Windows Computer Maintenance, Part 1: Backup and Updates
Learn how to do the simple things to keep your data safe and Windows computer running well. This course is for the person that wants to take the next step after the basic introduction classes; a knowledge of Windows Explorer and file management is recommended
Windows Computer Maintenance, Part 2: Cleanup, Physical and Polishing
Examine the underlying thing you can do to keep your Windows computer working at top efficiency. We will look at cleaning files and programs, what you can do with a ‘can of air’ and the truth of registry cleaning, defragging and other esoteric operations.
CCleaner is a popular application for wiping temporary files and clearing private data which hides a variety of features, from fine-grained options for tweaking the cleaning process to full drive-wiping tools.
FILE MANAGEMENT will cover finding, moving, renaming and organizing files, setting up sub folders within folders, saving files to My Documents and sub folders, the Desktop, or a flash drive. We will work with text documents, music files and image files. In general it will help anyone organize and work with their computer files.
This class is designed to give hands-on practice in the fundamentals of File Management and backing up your files to CDs or a flash drive.
Windows Computer Maintenance, Part 1: Backup and Updates
Learn how to do the simple things to keep your data safe and Windows computer running well. This course is for the person that wants to take the next step after the basic introduction classes; a knowledge of Windows Explorer and file management is recommended
Windows Computer Maintenance, Part 2: Cleanup, Physical and Polishing
Examine the underlying thing you can do to keep your Windows computer working at top efficiency. We will look at cleaning files and programs, what you can do with a ‘can of air’ and the truth of registry cleaning, defragging and other esoteric operations.
CCleaner is a popular application for wiping temporary files and clearing private data which hides a variety of features, from fine-grained options for tweaking the cleaning process to full drive-wiping tools.
GENERAL INTEREST CLASSES
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS is intended as a basic introduction to digital photography and taking good photos. Covered are the basics of getting acquainted with your camera battery, memory card, accessories and how to transfer your photos to your computer for editing, photo management and different ways to organize and manage all your photos. Additional topics include how to take good photos with the final product in mind. Demonstrated how photo editing can greatly improve “not so good” photos and photo stitching - an easy way to make great panoramas
WEEBLY is a free online website creator which uses a really simple “widget” based site builder that works in a browser. No need to install anything on your computer. All work is done online using “drag-and-drop”. If you know how to send an email, or do word processing, you can easily make your own website in a matter of minutes. The class begins with a brief overview and demo of how Weebly works, then you will get your Weebly account established, select your theme, upload a picture, add some text and then publish your website.
FACEBOOK is a very popular social networking site. It can be used to find family and friends, renew friendships, communicate to all or some them, and generally share your thoughts, ideas and photos. This class focuses in depth on security settings, privacy settings, how to modify settings, and Facebook apps available for various mobile devices.
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER teaches you how to use Facebook and Twitter safely. You create a Facebook account, review privacy settings, get some friends, do some postings on walls, and upload and share some pictures and videos. Twitter can be considered a miniature version of Facebook, with short postings 140 characters or less and everything is public. In Facebook you have ‘friends’, in Twitter you have ‘followers.’ Both allow you to keep up to date with the people that you care about.
PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM - Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing the things that you love. Instagram is a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family. Take a picture or video, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram — it's that easy.
PRO SHOW GOLD, a multi-media program, walks you through each stage of the show creation process, providing an overview of the planning, setup, music, captions, and finally how to save your show and how to best share your shows with others. . Also offered are some creative advanced techniques
ADVANCED PRO SHOW GOLD teaches you to improve your skills using ProShow Gold. This hands on class is for those who have previously created one or more shows and would like to enhance their skill and creativity. Topics highlighted in the class include special effects, slide styles, and captions.
A special interest group on Pro Show Gold is held the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Drop-ins are welcome.
AUDACITY is a free download used to convert records and tapes to music forms that can be burned on CD. The class shows you how to download the program and use it to turn cassettes to MP3 format and then burn to CD. Class instruction is followed by one-on-one help.
VIDEO EDITING breaks down video editing into easily digestible parts of 1) Getting the source video into the computer, 2) Making simple changes to it (editing), and 3) Saving it in some form to be viewed later using Windows programs either included with Windows 7 or freeware.
COMPUTER GRAPHICS will teach you to use graphics to make communications eye catching, interesting and fun. The course covers finding, saving and using clip art and other graphics.
FILE SHARING demonstrates how to share files and photos with friends and family. Learn how to manage files across several of your devices. Synchronize files or information between several computers, a tablet, and a smart phone and learn how to do it all automatically. This class looks at several options but focuses primarily on using Dropbox. Learn how to download, install and start using it.
WEEBLY is a free online website creator which uses a really simple “widget” based site builder that works in a browser. No need to install anything on your computer. All work is done online using “drag-and-drop”. If you know how to send an email, or do word processing, you can easily make your own website in a matter of minutes. The class begins with a brief overview and demo of how Weebly works, then you will get your Weebly account established, select your theme, upload a picture, add some text and then publish your website.
FACEBOOK is a very popular social networking site. It can be used to find family and friends, renew friendships, communicate to all or some them, and generally share your thoughts, ideas and photos. This class focuses in depth on security settings, privacy settings, how to modify settings, and Facebook apps available for various mobile devices.
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER teaches you how to use Facebook and Twitter safely. You create a Facebook account, review privacy settings, get some friends, do some postings on walls, and upload and share some pictures and videos. Twitter can be considered a miniature version of Facebook, with short postings 140 characters or less and everything is public. In Facebook you have ‘friends’, in Twitter you have ‘followers.’ Both allow you to keep up to date with the people that you care about.
PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM - Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing the things that you love. Instagram is a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family. Take a picture or video, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram — it's that easy.
PRO SHOW GOLD, a multi-media program, walks you through each stage of the show creation process, providing an overview of the planning, setup, music, captions, and finally how to save your show and how to best share your shows with others. . Also offered are some creative advanced techniques
ADVANCED PRO SHOW GOLD teaches you to improve your skills using ProShow Gold. This hands on class is for those who have previously created one or more shows and would like to enhance their skill and creativity. Topics highlighted in the class include special effects, slide styles, and captions.
A special interest group on Pro Show Gold is held the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Drop-ins are welcome.
AUDACITY is a free download used to convert records and tapes to music forms that can be burned on CD. The class shows you how to download the program and use it to turn cassettes to MP3 format and then burn to CD. Class instruction is followed by one-on-one help.
VIDEO EDITING breaks down video editing into easily digestible parts of 1) Getting the source video into the computer, 2) Making simple changes to it (editing), and 3) Saving it in some form to be viewed later using Windows programs either included with Windows 7 or freeware.
COMPUTER GRAPHICS will teach you to use graphics to make communications eye catching, interesting and fun. The course covers finding, saving and using clip art and other graphics.
FILE SHARING demonstrates how to share files and photos with friends and family. Learn how to manage files across several of your devices. Synchronize files or information between several computers, a tablet, and a smart phone and learn how to do it all automatically. This class looks at several options but focuses primarily on using Dropbox. Learn how to download, install and start using it.
