Free Online Classes For Montgomery County Seniors: May 18-21

GERMANTOWN, MD — Montgomery County seniors can take free online classes to learn how to better navigate life at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Senior Planet Montgomery, the county's technology training program for residents 60 and older, typically offers lectures, hands-on workshops, and multi-week courses at libraries and senior centers. But during this public health crisis, Senior Planet Montgomery is moving all its programming online.

Many of the online sessions will focus on online user-friendly tools and resources for seniors.

"More Montgomery County seniors are online than ever before," said Montgomery County Chief Information Officer Gail M. Roper. "The Senior Planet Montgomery programs provide a means for them to get more out of their internet availability, and we hope, more out of life overall. We have programs that are geared specifically to support the way seniors learn best — which makes so many things easier to understand."

Classes change on a weekly basis. From May 18 to 21, participants will learn the basics of buying and selling on eBay, how to choose a computer, and how to navigate Google Maps.

Courses are also offered in Spanish.

Take a look:

eBay and PayPal

• When: Tuesday, May 18, 11 a.m. - noon.
• Description: Lecture provides an overview of the popular auction website eBay and the pioneer online payment service PayPal. Learn the basics of buying and selling on eBay, as well as some important concepts, such as seller feedback scores.

Price is Right – Energy Edition

• When: Tuesday, May 18, 3 - 4 p.m.
• Description: Join this program to play a special edition of "Price is Right" presented by Larissa Johnson with Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.

How to Choose a New Computer

• When: Thursday, May 20, 11 a.m. - noon.
• Description: Session addresses some of the most common questions surrounding how to choose a new computer: Where to start? What's a reliable brand? How much should you budget? Also addresses technical specifications.

Google Maps

• When: Thursday, May 20, 4 - 5 p.m.
• Description: Google Maps is a mapping application that offers satellite imagery, street maps, and street-view perspectives. In this lecture get an introduction to the platform and a demonstration of how to use it.

Click here to learn more about Senior Planet Montgomery and its virtual program offerings. You can also call and email the group at 240-753-0676 and mocoinfo@seniorplanet.org.