Seymour Tech Center - Chapel Hill - January to May 2020 Schedule & Course Descriptions

January to May 2020

Course Schedule & Descriptions

January

Computer Fundamentals using Windows 10 gives the beginner or person with limited experience the basic concepts, skills and tools - including terminology, using the mouse proficiently, and mastery of the keyboard. You also receive a general grounding in word processing, file organization, and an introduction to the Internet, web browsing and e-mail. Our PCs use Windows 10, but the skills taught in this class apply to earlier versions of Windows as well. Class fee $25.

8 Sessions Mondays & Wednesdays - Jan 27 to Feb 19 - 9 to 11am Dave Curtin, Bryan Muller

Introduction to Facebook – Facebook is used and enjoyed by people of all ages. Facebook provides easy ways to exchange communications with friends and family. You will learn how to view and post your own photos, video, and messages. You will learn about posting on friends' "Time-line“, "Commenting" on friends’ pictures, and real-time Chat. On day 3, we will address Facebook on the iPhone. Personal security recommendations are also covered. If you do not have a current account, please tell the desk and plan to arrive 15 minutes early for the class. Class fee $15.

3 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Jan 27 & 29 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz

Introduction to Android Smartphones & Tablets - This 6-session class will show you how to use your Android Smartphone or Tablet. Except for phone calls, these devices work the same way. We'll show you how to use the Home screen and Settings. Phone users will learn to make and answer calls and manage your contacts. Then we'll explore texting and email. We'll search the web, play with YouTube, set up calendars, tasks & alarms. We'll use the camera for photos and videos. And, we'll show you how to find free & fee apps - including games - to personalize your Phone or Tablet. Requirements: You must bring your Android phone or tablet (charged up), your Google email account and its password, and your USB charging cord and plug adapter. Class fee $25.

6 Sessions Fridays - Jan 31 to Mar 6 - 1 to 3 pm Bob Chernow

February

Windows 10 Note: support for Windows 7 was completely stopped on January 14, 2020, so Windows 7 users will have to move to a more recent version to stay secure and supported. Windows 8 users want to know if they would prefer Windows 8, move to Windows 10, or do something else. This 2-session class is for students familiar with Windows 7 or 8.1. It's also for students who want to know more about Windows 10.

We will cover:

What if I move from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 - what are the issues?
Who can do the upgrade for me and what does it cost?
Should I stay on a PC - or go mobile and switch to a smartphone or tablet and keep all my files in the cloud?
Personalizing the Windows 10 desktop and using the new Start screen
Using Windows 10 Settings for Updates, Security and Privacy
Comparing Microsoft's cloud storage (OneDrive) vs. Google's cloud storage (Drive)
Managing your PC data files using File Explorer, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive
Exploring the new Windows features including Windows Store, Edge and Cortana
To see highlights of all Windows 10 versions - click here.
To read Mike's tips for Setting Things Up in Windows 10 - click here.

We will be using our classroom desktop PCs, and handouts with practice exercises are provided. Students may also bring their own Windows 10 laptops - but please let instructor know by clicking the Contact Us page (link on left). Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Feb 3 & 5 - 1 to 4pm Mike Gilliom, Steve Weiss

Free Clinic for iPhone Users - Use this clinic session to get your specific questions answered - this is not a class with an agenda. Do you need help with certain iPhone or iPad settings, accounts, email, calendar, the app store? Need a hand synching Apple devices using the iCloud? Have some other burning question? Sign up for this iPhone/iPad clinic. Requirements: You should bring your iPhone/iPad (charged up), your Apple ID and its password, and your USB charging cord and plug adapter. Ask your questions. Stay for the full 2 hours, or leave when you are satisfied. Free Clinic - Please enroll to save your seat.

1 Session Monday - Feb 10 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

Free Clinic for iPad Users - Use this clinic session to get your specific questions answered - this is not a class with an agenda. Do you need help with certain iPhone or iPad settings, accounts, email, calendar, the app store? Need a hand synching Apple devices using the iCloud? Have some other burning question? Sign up for this iPhone/iPad clinic. Requirements: You should bring your iPad (charged up), your Apple ID and its password, and your USB charging cord and plug adapter. Ask your questions. Stay for the full 2 hours, or leave when you are satisfied. Free Clinic - Please enroll to save your seat.

1 Session Tuesday - Feb 11 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

Introduction to the iPhone – These smartphones are amazing all-in-one tools for phone calls, email, text, photos, music & videos. They are also a camera, e-book reader, Internet browser, and gaming device. You will learn about setting up contacts, email, about Siri, iTunes, and the App Store. You can even totally replace other general-use computers with the iPhone. You can add a real keyboard; in fact, your iPhone will work with nearly any Bluetooth keyboard. NOTE: Due to the differences in the latest software, we will NOT be covering iPad in this session. See the iPad sessions in Nov. Please bring your iPhone to class. Class fee $15.

3 Sessions Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - Feb 17, 18 & 19 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz, Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom, Steve Weiss

Free Clinic for Android Smartphone & Tablet Users - Use this clinic session to get your specific questions answered - this is not a class with an agenda. Android smartphones & tablets are made by companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, etc.. Do you need help with Android smartphone or tablet settings like WiFi and Bluetooth; accounts; the app store; or apps like email, texting or calendars? Maybe you have just a single burning question? Sign up for the Android Phone & Tablet clinic. Requirements: You must bring your Android phone or tablet (charged up), your Google email account and its password, and your USB charging cord and plug adapter. And ask your questions and stay for the full 2 hours, or leave when you are satisfied. Free Clinic - Please enroll to save your seat.

1 Session Monday - Feb 24 - 9 to 11 am Mike Gilliom

File Management – This class will helps you manage your information (files) on your computer - whether you are using Windows 7, 8 or Windows 10. We guide you through practice exercises using folders & files that hold the information you create or get from others. We will help you reorganize your personal files and folders so that they are easier to locate and access. You'll also learn about keeping some of your files in the cloud, so you can access them from your phone or tablet. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Tuesday & Wednesday - Feb 25 & 26 - 1 to 3 pm Charles Karns, Steve Weiss

Free Open Computer Lab – One of our instructors or coaches will help you learn more about personal technology. This is not a class with an agenda. Bring your questions and your hardware – or just use one of our PCs. Make sure you have your passwords for any apps you want help with - like Skype or Facebook. And, of course, bring power cords and anything else that could be useful. Free Seminar - Please enroll to save your seat.

1 Session Wednesday - Feb 26 - 9 to 11 am Mike Gilliom, Glick Schultz, Jim Schultz

March

ID Theft, Computer Security & Backup: Protect Yourself - We spend much of our day on the Internet. In this free discussion you will learn many of the basic ways to protect yourself in this fast-paced online world. Of course, in spite of our best efforts, things can go wrong. You need to have good computer security software and a backup method in place for your data files, email and settings. We will discuss how to use Windows Defender and give you some easy-to-use computer backup alternatives. Free Seminar - Please enroll to save your seat. And click here for the slides used in this class.

1 Session Monday - Mar 2 - 9 to 11 am Mike Gilliom

Introduction to Skype - Stay in touch with loved ones! Make free voice or video calls over the Internet using your computer, smartphone or tablet. Do texting, file transfer, and videoconferencing. If you bring your device to class, please have Skype installed with a Skype account name and password. In class, you are welcome to use your own Skype account - or one of ours - with one of our class PCs. Class fee $15.

1 Session Tuesday - Mar 3 - 1 to 3 pm Mike Gilliom

3 Sessions Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - Mar 16, 17 & 18 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz, Mike Gilliom

Windows 10 In this 2-session class you will learn how to become more effective with Windows 10's important features. We will cover:

Finding your way around - where are your folders, your data, and your settings?
Personalizing the Windows 10 Start screen and your desktop
Organizing and managing your PC data folders and files using File Explorer
Exploring Windows features including the Windows Store, the Edge browser, Windows 10 Photos and Cortana, the Windows personal assistant
Using Windows 10 settings for updates, security and privacy
Backing up your PC - how to protect your data from crashes and viruses

To read Mike's tips for Setting Things Up in Windows 10 - click here.

We will be using our classroom desktop PCs, and handouts with practice exercises are provided. Students may also bring their own laptops. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Mar 23 & 25 - 9 to Noon Mike Gilliom

Introduction to the iPad – iPads are amazing all-in-one tools for email, text, photos, music & videos. They are also a camera, e-book reader, Internet browser, and gaming device. You will learn about setting up email, about Siri, iTunes, and the App Store. The advent of iPadOS makes the iPad truly unique from the iPhone. You can even totally replace other general-use computers with the iPad. You can add a real keyboard; in fact, your iPad will work with nearly any Bluetooth keyboard. NOTE: Due to the differences in the latest software, we will NOT be covering iPhone in this session. See the iPhone sessions in Oct & Dec. Please bring your iPad to class. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Tuesday - Mar 23 & 24 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

Pinterest.Com - Pinterest is a pinboard-style photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies, and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, "re-pin" images to their own pin boards, or "like" photos. Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love. Class fee $15.

1 Session Thursday- Mar 26 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz

Photo Editing for the iPhone and iPad - Using the iPhone or iPad, learn how to remove "Red-eyes," Crop, Straighten, create Panoramas, correct lighting, and create Collages using the new Photoshop Express app. On day two we will work on photos you've taken and we will edit photos on your device. Bring your iPhone or iPad to class. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Mar 30 & Apr 1 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz

April

Photo Editing with Windows 10- Using your Windows 10 PC, learn how to remove "Red-eyes," Crop, Straighten, create Panoramas, correct lighting, and create Collages using the Apps available on Windows 10. On day two we will work on photos you've taken and we will edit photos on your laptop or bring them on a USB (flash) Drive. If you have a laptop, you can bring it to class or use the Class room PC. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Apr 6 & 8 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz

1 Session Tuesday - Apr 7 - 1 to 3 pm Mike Gilliom

Google Photos - Unlimited backup of all your photos and videos for free. Access them from any phone, tablet, or computer – your photos will be safe, secure, and always with you. Share your best stuff with family and friends. Google cloud storage is free and there is no limit on the number of items stored if you use Google's recommended settings. This means you can store and easily find photos or videos you took years ago! Learn to edit your photos and videos, create albums, and share them with friends & family. You can download items to your computer or mobile device again when you need them. You will learn to send photos to online print services directly from Google Photos. PC and Mac users will practice backing up photos and videos to the Google Photos cloud from our classroom PCs using the Backup & Sync from Google app, and from your mobile devices. All students should bring your smartphone or tablet with the Google Photos app installed. Mac users may bring your Macs. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Apr 13 & 15 - 9 to 11 am Mike Gilliom

Introduction to Ancestry.Com - We will cover the fundamentals of beginning to create your family genealogy using Ancestry.Com. We will go through some actual examples, such as using the US Census, birth, marriage, and death records to tie them to your own family history. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Wednesday - Apr 13 & 15 - 1 to 3 pm Jim Schultz

Everything Google - Google offers lots of free, web-based apps along with the free space for storing the files we create or upload. In this class, we will examine several of Google's free programs, including Search, Maps, Drive (Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations), Calendar, YouTube and Groups. You will learn how these programs are used to collaborate on projects and to share your creativity with family and friends. Class fee $15.

2 Sessions Monday & Tuesday - Apr 20 & 21 - 1 to 3 pm Mike Gilliom

Introduction to Your Mac, OS X, and Mac Apps – We are dividing our Mac & OS X curriculum into 3 parts. Each part will be a separate class. This gives you much more time for hands-on exercises with coaches helping.

You will need to enroll in each part so you can pick the parts you need.

Please note: Our classroom is set up only with PCs. Our instructor will be demonstrating using a Mac laptop and classroom projector. Bring your own Mac laptop and follow along or simply watch the demonstrations. Requirements: If you bring your Mac, you should also bring your Apple ID and its password, and your USB charging cord and plug adapter.

Part 1: Mastering OS X - In this first class, we will cover the basics of Mac hardware, the Desktop and the Dock, Finder, LaunchPad, System Preferences, your Apple ID (your Apple account), using the iCloud, the App store, how to avoid malware, how to use backup solutions like Time Machine and Backblaze, and how to keep your Mac software up-to-date. We'll discuss, demonstrate and practice using all of these Mac and OS X components. Class fee $15.

Part 1: Mastering OS X 3 Sessions Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - Apr 27, 28 & 29 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

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Part 2: The Apple Apps You Need to Know - In this class, you will practice using Safari (the Apple browser), Keychain (to save passwords), Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Preview, Messages, Notes, and the Apple Office Apps: Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Class fee $15.

Part 2: 3 Sessions Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - May 4, 5 & 6 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

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Part 3: Taking the Next Step - You will want to share many of your Mac creations as you collaborate with teammates, committee members, family and friends. In this last Mac class, you will learn to share things using iCloud - like your best stuff from all your apps. We'll have you tweaking and sharing your Photos. You will use Music, Podcasts, Videos. You'll play with lots of those must-have non-Apple apps. For example, to lock down all your life's passwords and be able to use them on any device - Apple and otherwise - you'll learn about 1Password. And just when you thought you've learned all about your Mac, you'll get to try out Firefox, Chrome, Pixelmator, VLC, Skype, WhatsApp, Handbrake, Dropbox and Daisy Disk. Class fee $15.

Part 3 3 Sessions Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - May 11, 12 & 13 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom

May

iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch for the Vision Impaired - The iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone, especially with iOS 8.1 or above, are equipped with robust speech output features for the blind, called VoiceOver and Speak Screen, as well as the speech-enabled personal digital assistant called Siri. You can accomplish tasks with far less physical interaction than that required by computers and many high-tech adaptive products. When you combine all of the built-in apps with those that are being created by third party developers every day (most of which range from free to under $20.00), people with severe vision loss can now use their iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone to search the Internet, send email, take notes and access online services; to identify currency and products in packages; and to carry a single solution that functions as a clock, flashlight, GPS device, portable book reader, calculator, calendar, reminder, radio, and more. Students must bring their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. After this first session, students will meet one-on-one with an instructor for 4 more sessions. Class fee $25.

First Session Tuesday - May 26 - 1 to 3 pm Glick Schultz, Mike Gilliom