Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors May 23-27 will include ‘Wearables’ and ‘Job Searching in the Digital Age’

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 20, 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 May 23-27 will include “Wearables” and “Job Searching in the Digital Age.”

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 fall and winter program quarters, more than 2,000 participants joined 201 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 May 23-27 will include:

• Wearables: Tuesday, May 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn about the health, wellness, and personal safety benefits of wearable technology.
• Job Searching in the Digital Age: Thursday, May. 26, 10:30-11:30 a.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.
• Hello Montgomery: Thursday, May 26, 4-5 p.m. Join fellow Montgomery County residents for an hour of socializing.

Class in Mandarin:

• 在網路上確保個人資訊安全5/25, 12 - 1 p.m. 本次講座將詳細說明如何在網路上保護個人信息。我們將介紹在電子世界中保持安全的技巧，例如添加高強度密碼、處理垃圾訊息、識別網路詐騙以及何時可以（或不可以）在線上分享您的個人資訊

English Translation for Class in Mandarin:

• Protecting Your Personal Information Online: Wednesday, May 25, noon-1 p.m. This presentation will cover the ins and outs of how to protect your personal information online. We’ll cover tips for staying safe in cyberspace, like creating strong passwords, managing spam, how to recognize email and text scams, and when it is OK — or not — to share your personal information online

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: 22-303
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior