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. 7-11 will include All Things Zoom.

In addition to classes in English, two classes during Dec. 7-11 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. 7-11 will include:

• Advanced Care Planning: Monday, Dec. 7, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Join a special discussion group on Advanced Care Planning. Learn from academics and practitioners on new digital tools. Regional Director Shivali Haribhakti will moderate a panel using frequently asked questions on Advanced Care Planning.
• Contacting Your Lawmakers: Friday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.-noon. Causes (formerly Countable) is a non-partisan website and app devoted to making the government more understandable. This lecture will introduce Causes and demonstrate how to use it to identify Congressional representatives and senators and send them messages about issues that matter.
• All Things Zoom: Friday, Dec. 11, 2-3 p.m. Lecture will go over how to use Zoom to chat with friends and family, and how to take virtual classes with Senior Planet. Learn useful Zoom features on an iOS, Android or Windows devices and important security considerations.

Clases en Español:

• Iluminación y bombillas inteligentes (Smart Bulbs): Lunes, 7 de Diciembre, 11a.m.-noon. ¿Abrumada sobre las opciones de bombillas disponibles? Esta presentación le dará una revisión de términos frecuentes de la iluminación como vatios y lúmenes watts y explicará las diferencias entre los muchos tipos de bombillas que están en el mercado. Usted aprenderá cuál bombilla ofrece lo más en términos de eficacia de energía que le ayudará a reducir su factura de utilidad. Adicionalmente, exploramos los beneficios de las bombillas inteligentes e iluminación inteligente y cómo pueden ser controlados con aplicaciones y centros de hogar inteligente como Alexa y Google Home.
• Tech Talk: Cómo Usar el Zoom: Miércoles, 9 de Diciembre, 11 a.m.- noon. Únase a este programa para una orientación, preguntas y respuestas sobre el uso del software de videoconferencia Zoom como participante. ¡Aprenda las funciones disponibles para chatear por video con amigos y familiares, y tome clases virtuales con Senior Planet! Zoom funciona con los sistemas operativos iOS, Android y Windows. Puede utilizar Zoom en su navegador o puede descargar la aplicación en sus dispositivos. No necesita una cuenta de Zoom para unirse a una llamada o chatear.   Este programa está diseñado para usuarios principiantes de Zoom.

Class in Mandarin:

• All Things Zoom 關於 Zoom 的一切, 12/9, 12:00pm- 1:00pm EST. 想知道為什麼 Zoom 近期已成為大家必用的視訊會議軟件嗎？在這堂講座裡，我們會複習如何使用 Zoom 與家人朋友聊天以及與 Senior Planet 線上學習！您也會學到 Zoom 的主要特徵，不管是用 iOS、Android 或 Windows 連起使用。我們也會複習視訊裡的安全措施和視訊時該如何展現自己眉清目秀的樣子。

Class in Mandarin will be All Things Zoom. Wednesday, Dec. 9, Noon-1 p.m. Lecture will go over how to use Zoom to chat with friends and family, and how to take virtual classes with Senior Planet. Learn useful Zoom features on an iOS, Android or Windows devices and important security considerations.

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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