Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Feb. 7-11 will include ‘Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers’ and ‘Messaging Apps’

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 4, 2022

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 Feb. 7-11 will include “Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers” and “Messaging Apps.”

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

During the summer and fall program quarters, more than 3,000 participants joined 162 virtual programs hosted by Senior Planet Montgomery. This winter, 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 Feb. 7-11 will include:

• Internet of Things and Entertainment: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lecture will explore the many ways to interact with IoT on a day-to-day basis and look at how it is revolutionizing entire industries.
• Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmakers: Thursday, Feb. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lecture will review several non-partisan websites that can help you identify elected officials, find their contact information, and understand how they vote on bills.
• Hello Montgomery: Thursday, Feb. 10, 2-3 p.m. Join fellow Montgomery County residents for an hour of socializing
• Messaging Apps: Thursday, Feb. 10, 4-5 p.m. Learn about the most popular messaging apps that allow messages to be sent using WiFi. Lecture will go over the features of three widely used apps: iMessages, Google Chat, and WhatsApp.
• Make Energy Cents: Friday, Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m. Lecture will introduce the new County website, www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org. It brings together trusted information and helpful solutions for managing and lowering energy usage and costs.

Classes in Mandarin:

• Google 地圖2/9, 12 - 1 p.m. 在您舒適的家中探索全球的景點、由俯瞰的觀點看到您小時後的鄰區或是指引您到朋友家！Google 地圖是專門顯示地圖的應用程式，讓您得到衛星影像、路況地圖和街景的視野。它也有規劃路線的功能，讓您選起最想的交通工具，步行、車行或是大眾運輸方向。在這堂講座裡，您可以得到這個平台的簡介以及得到如何使用它的示範
• 「能」理解、「能」省錢 2/11, 1 - 2 p.m. 想找到方法減少水電費支出，保住口袋裡的零用錢嗎？Montgomery Energy Connection 能幫您這個忙！這堂講座課會向您介紹新的郡政府網站：MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org 。網站中彙整了值得信賴的資訊，並提供解決方案，幫您管理能源使用以及減少您的能源費用支出。您將學會如何使用該網站找到節能計畫、探索節能科技，並且從中瞭解自己的水電費帳單

English Translation for Classes in Mandarin:

• Google Maps: Wednesday, Feb. 9, noon -1 p.m. Visit sites around the world from the comfort of your home, get a bird’s-eye-view of your childhood neighborhood, or simply get directions to your friend’s house! Google Maps is a mapping application that offers satellite imagery, street maps, and street-view perspectives. It also has a route planner for your preferred transportation method, be it foot, car, bicycle or public transportation. During this lecture, you’ll get an introduction to the platform and a demonstration of how to use it.
• Make Energy Cents: Friday, Feb. 11, 1-2 p.m. Looking for ways to lower your utility bill and keep money in your pocket? Montgomery Energy Connection can help! This lecture will introduce the new County website, www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org. It brings together trusted information and helpful solutions for managing and lowering your energy usage and costs. You’ll learn how to use the site for finding energy-saving programs, exploring energy-efficient technology, and getting help understanding your utility bill.

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: 22-089
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior