Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors July 13-16 will Include Cloud Storage and Programmable and Smart Thermostats

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 9, 2021

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 July 13-16 will include Cloud Storage and Programmable and Smart Thermostats.

In addition to classes in English, one class during July 13-16 will be delivered in Mandarin. A variety of exercise classes also will be offered.

During the winter and spring program quarters, more than 3,000 participants joined 142 virtual programs hosted by Senior Planet Montgomery. This spring, 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 week of July 13-16 will include:

• Cloud Storage: Tuesday, July 13, 11 a.m.– noon. Learn the basics of cloud storage — a technology that allows the storage of documents, images and other media files remotely while providing greater accessibility, reliability and protection for important data.
• Programmable and Smart Thermostats: Tuesday, July 13, 3-4 p.m. Learn about the benefits of installing a programmable or smart thermostat as well as incentives like rebates through the Empower Maryland program. Additionally, learn how smart thermostats can be integrated into a smart home and controlled through apps and smart home hubs like Alexa and Google Home.
• Summer Kick-Off: Wednesday, July 14, 11 a.m.--noon. Preview programming for this summer and meet the Senior Planet Montgomery trainers.
• Tech & Energy: Wednesday, July 14, 3-4 p.m. Learn about the top energy users in the home and how to spend less money on energy. Learn how internet-connected smart plugs, power-strips and
• Tubi: Thursday, June 15, 4-5 p.m.: Tubi is a popular free online streaming service and app that offers thousands of movies and TV shows. Learn how to sign up for a Tubi account. Discover how to search for and save movies and TV shows.

Class in Mandarin:

Cloud Storage 雲端儲存空間(三), 7/14, Noon-1:00 p.m. EST. 在這堂講座裡，您會學到雲端儲存空間的基礎摘要 ： 一款讓您以遠端方式存起檔案、圖片、和其他媒體的電腦科技，讓您以更方便、更可靠和更有保固性的方式收集您的重要資料。我們會一起討論雲端儲存空間是什麼、它為什麼是檔案收藏的未來趨勢、以及且示範一些近期給交費者最普遍的雲端儲存空間服務

English Translation for Class in Mandarin:

• Cloud Storage: 7/14, Noon-1 p.m. - In this lecture, you’ll learn the basics of cloud storage — a technology that lets you store documents, images, and other media files remotely while giving you greater accessibility, reliability, and protection for your important data. We’ll discuss what it is, why it’s the future of data storage, and demonstrate a few of the most popular services currently available to consumers.

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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Release ID: 21-544
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior