Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors March 7-11 will include ‘Smartphone Photography’ and ‘Wearables’

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 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 March 7-11 will include “Smartphone Photography” and “Wearables.”

In addition to classes in English, two classes will be taught in Spanish, and one class 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 March 7-11 will include:

• Smartphone Photography: Tuesday, March 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lecture explores smartphone camera features. Learn basic tips for taking good selfies, selecting backgrounds, and using optimal lighting. This presentation will cover Android and iPhones.
• Wearables: Thursday, March 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lecture covers the health, wellness, and personal safety benefits of wearable technology.
• Hello Montgomery: Thursday, March 10, 2-3 p.m. Join fellow Montgomery County residents for an hour of socializing
• Fitness Apps: Thursday, March 10, 4-5 p.m. Lecture covers many different types of fitness apps, whatever the health and wellness goal.
• Online Bill Pay: Friday, March 11, noon-1 p.m. Learn how to set up an online account with your utility company. Learn how to better understand your bill using the color charts and graphs that show energy usage.

Class in Mandarin:

• Youtube 3/9, 12 - 1 p.m. 說不定想到 YouTube 會讓您聯想到貓咪的影片。不過，它本身還有比那更多樣化的內容。每天，全球超過十億小時的影片有包括經典電影、教學影片、新聞報導的內容等等。這次的演講會給您概述在 YouTube 上的免費內容以及會教您如何在它的網站上輕易的遊覽。您也會收到如何觀看和分享別人的影片和學習如何上傳自己創造的內容。
• 藉由線上繳交能源帳單費用來平衡您的預算 3/11, 1 - 2 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 Class in Mandarin:

• Youtube: Wednesday, March 9, noon -1 p.m. During this hands-on workshop, learn how to navigate YouTube, the extremely popular video-sharing site. You can watch all kinds of videos on YouTube! Also learn how to search for videos that you like, explore a video page, and subscribe to Senior Planet's channel.
• Online Bill Pay: Friday, March 11, 1-2 p.m. Looking for ways to lower your utility bill and keep money in your pocket? Come to this combined lecture and interactive workshop! The lecture will introduce the new County website, www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org your one-stop digital shop for getting tips on managing your energy usage so you can keep more money in your pocket. After the lecture, the hands-on workshop will take you through the steps of setting up an online account with your utility company. Explore automatic bill pay and learn to understand your bill using the color charts and graphs in your account

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: 22-137
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior