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 Nov. 16-20 will include Tech and Energy and Person 2 Person Payment Services. 

In addition to classes in English, two classes during Nov. 16-20 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 Nov. 16-20 will include:

• What to Expect From a Virtual QHEC: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 3-4 p.m. This lecture helps find out how a household is using energy and how to save money. A QHEC is a Quick Home Energy Checkup and is usually provided at no additional cost by a utility serving Montgomery County. Crystal Faison, owner of Shepherd Energy, will present this event on both VHECs and QHECs, the differences between the two, the measures a customer may be eligible for and other frequently asked questions.
• Hello Montgomery County!: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2-3 p.m. Join fellow MoCo residents for an hour of socializing.
• Protecting Your Personal Info Online: Thursday, Nov. 19, 4-5 p.m. Presentation will cover the ins and outs of how to protect personal information online. Learn tips for staying safe in cyberspace such as safe browsing, how to recognize online scams and when it is acceptable to share personal information online.
• Mindfulness Applications: Friday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m.-noon. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware. Learn to practice mindfulness through simple activities. Lecture introduces mindfulness and its physical and mental benefits, such as reducing anxiety, improving memory and lowering blood pressure. Learn about popular apps that teach breathing and meditation techniques, as well as new technology like wearable breath monitors and smart yoga mats.
• Zoom Q&A: Friday, Nov. 20, 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 question and answer 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.

Clases en Español:

• Hacer $entido de la energía (Make Energy Cents): Lunes, 16 de noviembre, 11a.m.-noon. ¿Está buscando maneras de reducir su factura de utilidad y ahorrar el dinero para su bolsillo? ¡La conexión de Montgomery de energía puede ayudar! Esta presentación le da la introducción al sitio web nuevo del Condado, www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org. Le brindará información confiada y útil para manejar y bajar sus gastos y consumo de energía. Usted aprenderá cómo usar el sitio para encontrar programas de ahorro de energía, explorar tecnología para eficacia de energía, y recibir ayuda para entender su factura de energía.
• Cómo administrar tu correo electrónico: Miércoles, 18 de noviembre, 11 a.m.- noon. ¡Administrar una cuenta de correo electrónico puede parecer una tarea sin fin! Ya sea saber qué hacer cuando recibe spam o correos electrónicos fraudulentos o simplemente examinar correos electrónicos promocionales, mantenerse al día puede ser abrumador. Únase a esta charla técnica para conocer las mejores prácticas para administrar sus correos electrónicos.

Class in Mandarin:

• 遠距醫療 (Telemedicine): (三), 11/18, 12:00pm- 1:00pm EST. 您會想與您的醫生在線上看診嗎？或者想學習現在有哪些類型的遠距醫療嗎？這個講座裡會給您個遠距醫療選項的簡介然後專注探索如何即時與您的醫生赴約。我們會示範線上看病的例子而且教您在線上看診的時候的注意事項。這次的講座也會給您一些如何準備線上看診的建議，從要跟醫生問哪些問題到您對連線的穩定度以及線上看診的隱私和使用上的安全度。

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 mocoinfo@seniorplanet.org.

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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