Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Oct. 18-22 will include Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers and Voice Assistants

For Immediate Release: Friday, October 15, 2021

Senior Planet Montgomery, a technology training program designed for County learners 50 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 for Seniors Oct. 18-22 will include Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers and Voice Assistants.

In addition to classes in English, two classes will be taught in Spanish, and two classes will be taught in Mandarin. A variety of exercise classes also will be offered.

During the spring and summer program quarters, more than 3,400 participants joined 127 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 week of Oct. 18-22 will include:

• Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lecture will review several nonpartisan websites that can help identify elected officials, find their contact information, understand how they vote on bills and contact them regarding important issues.
• Are you an ENERGY STAR? Tuesday, Oct. 19, 3-4 p.m. This Energy Action Month, hear from an expert with the Environmental Protection Agency about buying ENERGY STAR appliances.
• Voice Assistants: Thursday, Oct. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Home can do everything from playing music to ordering an Uber. Learn about the many devices, current uses and future implications of this exciting technology.
• Job Searching in the Digital Age: Thursday, Oct. 21, 4-5 p.m. Lecture will provide an overview of how to use social media in a job search, demonstrate digital job searching tools like LinkedIn and offer tips and advice to job seekers.

Classes in Mandarin:

• 介紹: 擔任 Zoom 視訊 會議主持人開放問答室(三), 10/20, noon - 1 p.m. 考慮舉辦自己的Zoom 會議？在這個介紹性的講座中，我們將討論如何準備第一次會議所需，以及一些成功舉辦會議的技巧。您還將了解主持人的可用的特殊功能，包括Zoom 確保會議安全的方式。
• 藉由線上繳交能源帳單費用來平衡您的預算(三), 10/22, noon - 1 p.m. 別再寫支票給水電氣公司了！在本次工作坊，您會學到如何從水電氣公司網站設定網路帳號，並探索其中的許多優點，包括自動繳費功能，還有使用銀行帳戶獲信用卡繳費。您會學到如何利用彩色圖表和圖形，看到自己的能源使用量，並且更加瞭解自己的帳單。

English Translation for Classes in Mandarin:

• Introduction to Hosting on Zoom Open Lab: Wednesday, Oct. 20, noon -1 p.m. Welcome to our Q&A session, where we will openly discuss questions that came up during the Introduction to Zoom lecture. About the lecture: In this introductory lecture, we will go over what you need to start your first meeting, as well as some hosting tips to make it a success. You will also learn about special features for hosts, including ways Zoom keeps your meetings secure.
• Online Bill Pay: Friday, Oct. 22, noon -1 p.m. Never write a check to your utility company again. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to set up an online account with your utility company and explore its many advantages, including automatic bill pay and paying with a credit card or from your bank account. You will also learn how to better understand your bill using the color charts and graphs that show your energy usage.

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: 21-830
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior