Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Life Learning Classes for Seniors June 22-29 Will Include Google Maps, The Internet of Things in Healthcare and Wearables

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 19, 2020

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 June 22-29 will focus on Google Maps; the Internet of Things in Healthcare and Wearables; and Utilizing the Library Online.

In addition to classes in English, two classes during June 22-29 will be delivered in Spanish. A variety of exercise classes also will be offered.

Since April, more than 4,400 participants have joined virtual programs hosted by Senior Planet Montgomery.

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 June 22-29 will include:

• Internet of Things Healthcare: Monday, June 22, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Learn about the many interactions with the Internet of Things (IoT) on a day-to-day basis and take a look at how IoT is revolutionizing entire industries.
• Utilizing the Library Online: Tuesday, June 23, 3-4 p.m. Program covers different library systems and databases that can be accessed from home, from ordering audiobooks to taking classes online.
• Good Morning Montgomery County: Wednesday, June 24, 11 a.m.-noon. Join Montgomery County residents for a morning hour spent over a second cup of coffee. Share locally relevant tips and tricks and learn from others.
• Explore with Google Maps: Wednesday, June 24, 4-5 p.m. Lecture will provide an introduction to the Google Maps platform and a demonstration of how to use it.
• Creative Writing Workshop: Thursday, June 25, noon-1 p.m. Workshop explores ways to produce powerful works that are ready for submission to anthologies and literary journals.
• Messaging Apps: Thursday, June 25, 4-5 p.m. Lecture will go over the features of three widely-used apps: iMessages, Hangouts and WhatsApp. The presentation also will introduce sending texts and pictures, making voice and video calls and how these apps keep messages secure.
• Internet of Things - Wearables: Monday, June 29, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lecture will cover the health, wellness and personal safety benefits of wearable technology, from fitness trackers to smart glasses.

Clases en Español:

• Introducción a las redes sociales (Introduction to Social Media): Martes, 23 de Junio. 11 a.m.-noon. En esta presentación, tendrá una introducción general a las redes sociales y aprenderá sobre las redes sociales más populares como Facebook, Twitter y LinkedIn.
• Las aplicaciones de chat de vídeo (Video Chat Apps): Viernes 26 de Junio. 10:30-11:30 a.m. En esta presentación, descubrirá acerca de algunas aplicaciones de chat de vídeo de uso común, sin o de bajo costo, aprenderá sobre sus características y explorará consejos de chat de video para que pueda presentar el mejor de sí cuando esté en un chat de video.

For more information about Senior Planet Montgomery and to view its virtual program offerings, visit https://seniorplanet.org/Montgomery. The team can be contacted at 240-753-0676 or via email at [email protected].

To sign up for the Senior Planet Montgomery newsletter, which includes detailed information about upcoming classes, go to https://seniorplanet.org/get-involved/newsletters/.

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Release ID: 20-330
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915