The Center for Active Generations - Recreation/Education

SeniorNet is a unique nonprofit organization providing adults 50 and older
access to and education for computer technology to enhance their lives and enable them to share their wisdom.
To learn more about the national SeniorNet organization, click here: www.seniornet.org.

Wish List: Three new Vista computers (system unit only) for the practice lab and 12 flat screen monitors.

Current Computer Class Schedule - Click the link on the left to view the current computer class schedule. Not every class we teach is offered each session. See our complete list of course offerings click here: course descriptions. Stop by the office to let them know you're interested in taking a specific class.

A list of useful websites - Click the link on the left for a list of useful and interesting websites to browse.

SeniorNet Computer "How To Tips":
The website below lists tips (or "HowTos") for performing many different tasks on your Windows computer. Each HowTo is organized into three parts. First, a description of WHY you'd want to do this particular thing?, what will it accomplish for you?, how will it help you? Second, a step-by-step procedure showing you HOW to perform the task which you can print out and save. And, third, a brief VIDEO CLIP demonstrating the procedure which you can view as often as you wish. The topics include: Mouse Exercises, Hiding the Task Bar, Adding or Deleting task Bar Icons, Minimizing Windows, Arranging Windows, Copying Text, moving Text, Displaying file extensions, adjusting the Time and Date, Change your wallpaper.
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=36

If you are using a dial-up connection, please allow some time for the video clips to load. If you are having trouble viewing the video clips, you should download the Macromedia Shockwave Player. Click here and follow the directions on the page.

Gift Certificates. Not sure what to buy friends and family for that special occasion? Get them a gift certificate for The Center For Active Generations!
Gift certificates can be used for: Computer classes, fitness memberships, lunch tickets, one-day trips, art classes, the beauty shop and more!
Stop by the Center's front desk today to learn more. Give the gift of active living this holiday season!

Convert VHS tapes to DVD. Do you have VHS home videos you would like on a DVD? As part of our efforts to raise money to buy new computers for the classroom, we are now offering everyone a service that we think is much needed. We now have the equipment to convert your old VHS home videos to DVD. DVD is much easier to make copies of to give out to other family members and the old VHS tape can get degraded over time and is more susceptible to the elements. DVD format will preserve your videos for a long time. The cost is $15 for the first VHS and $10 for any others. If you would like multiple copies of the final DVD, those will be $5 each. So bring in your old VHS tapes and help us out! If you would like this service, please contact Lisa Howard at the Center. You will need to fill out an information sheet and put down a down payment to secure the job. Please research both your TV's DVD player and your computer's player to know what type of DVDs they will play. There are both DVD + r and DVD - r and the volunteers will need to know which you would like your final product on. Form more information contact Lisa Howard at 333-3308 or email lhoward@cfag.org.

What is SeniorNet? SeniorNet is a unique nonprofit organization providing adults 50 and older access to and education for computer technology to enhance their lives and enable them to share their wisdom. SeniorNet headquarters: 900 Lafayette Street, Suite 604, Santa Clara, CA 95050-4967.
To learn more about SeniorNet, visit the website www.seniornet.org .

Center Membership and SeniorNet Membership:
A Center membership is required prior to enrollment into your first computer class.
Payment is due upon registration.

Registration:
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the front desk. Registration deadline for all classes is 3 days prior to the start date of the class. Call to confirm classes 1 day prior to the start date. Classes with four or fewer students may be cancelled. It is up to the discretion of each instructor. Don't wait too long to sign up. If a class does have five or more students and if there are openings, students may register right up to class time. Our classes are designed for people age 50 and older, however, if a class is not full (maximum class size is 10), people under age 50 can take the class!

Sioux Falls SeniorNet Board Recommendations:
The SeniorNet Advisory Board strongly recommends that new students take the Computer Fundamentals class, the Introduction to Computers class, or the Introduction to Word Processing class before taking any of the other classes. You may request a skills sheet to compare your current skills to those skills necessary for advanced course work.

Computer Class Cancellation Policy:
If you find you cannot take a class you have registered for and paid for due to a conflict in your schedule or personal situation, you must cancel at least 7 days prior to the class start date. You will be given a full refund in this instance. If you cancel out of a class in fewer than 7 days prior to the class start date, you will be refunded ONLY the Computer Learning Center membership fee of $10, if paid; the class fee is non-refundable in this instance.

No Typing Skills?
Individuals with no typing skills are asked to take our typing program, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, prior to taking a class. This tutorial class is offered by SeniorNet volunteers for $20. Please inquire at the front desk for more details.

Open Lab Help:
The practice lab offers free tutorial services on Mondays from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. Please sign up in the gift shop or at the front desk to use a computer in the practice lab.

Computer Learning Center Electronic Newsletter:
If you are or have been a SeniorNet student and would like to receive an electronic Sioux Falls SeniorNet newsletter, call Lisa at 333-3307. This is a great way to find out about upcoming classes, seminars and other related information.

Basic Compter Classes

Computer Basics 101: 1 time/week for 1 weeks,
Monday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 7/28, Cost: $10
This is a class for the computer novice, for those who have not turned on a computer or have very little experience with a computer. You will learn the difference between a program and an operating system as well as the terminology that is used in most of the classes. Do you know what programs you have on your computer? Do you know to to access them? This class will teach you how to access the programs on your computer as well as other important facts about your computer. This is a must-take class for those new to the computer world.

Computer Fundamentals (XP): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Thursdays, 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM, 8/7 - 8/28, Cost: $35
Are you new to computers? Do you have trouble using a mouse? If so, Computer Fundamentals is the class for you! Develop your mouse skills by playing solitaire, hangman, concentration, and working with jigsaw puzzles. Learn how to turn the computer on and off, how to start programs, work with menus, resize windows and close windows. In addition, you’ll learn some basic computer skills by working with the Paint and WordPad programs. This is a fun 4-session class designed for beginners! No previous knowledge of computers is necessary.

Computer Fundamentals (XP): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 10/8 - 10/29, Cost: $35
Are you new to computers? Do you have trouble using a mouse? If so, Computer Fundamentals is the class for you! Develop your mouse skills by playing solitaire, hangman, concentration, and working with jigsaw puzzles. Learn how to turn the computer on and off, how to start programs, work with menus, resize windows and close windows. In addition, you’ll learn some basic computer skills by working with the Paint and WordPad programs. This is a fun 4-session class designed for beginners! No previous knowledge of computers is necessary.

Computer Fundamentals (Spanish): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 8/5 - 8/26, Cost: $35
Esto curso introduce conocimientos básado de hardware y software, del sistema operativo Windows y el uso del ratón y del teclado basado en ejercicios utilizando los programs Paint y WordPad y Windows XP. Se pone énfasis en el vocabulario de computadores en español y en ingles,, los conceptos básicos de computadoras, y el desarollo de destreza con el ratón. El estudiante no tiene que poseer experiencia con computadores para asistir esta clase.

Introduction to Computers (XP): 2 times/week for 4 weeks,
Mon/Wed, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 8/4 - 8/27, Cost: $45
Do you just use your computer to play solitaire? If so, this class is for you! Harness the power of your computer by getting a good foundation in computer basics. Introduction to Computers is an overview of many of the things your computer can do. You’ll develop your mouse skills, write and print a letter, create a database address book, set up a spreadsheet for a budget or investments, open and send email messages, surf the World Wide Web, and more. Good mouse skills are required.

Introduction to Computers (XP): 2 times/week for 4 weeks,
Thursdays, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 9/4 - 10/23, Cost: $45
Do you just use your computer to play solitaire? If so, this class is for you! Harness the power of your computer by getting a good foundation in computer basics. Introduction to Computers is an overview of many of the things your computer can do. You’ll develop your mouse skills, write and print a letter, create a database address book, set up a spreadsheet for a budget or investments, open and send email messages, surf the World Wide Web, and more. Good mouse skills are required.

Intro to Computers (Spanish): 1 time/week for 8 weeks,
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 9/2 - 10/21, Cost: $45
Esto curso introduce conocimientos básado de hardware y software, del sistema operativo Windows y el uso del ratón y del teclado basado en ejercicios utilizando los programs Paint y WordPad y Windows XP. Se pone énfasis en el vocabulario de computadores en español y en ingles,, los conceptos básicos de computadoras, y el desarollo de destreza con el ratón. El estudiante no tiene que poseer experiencia con computadores para asistir esta clase.

Introduction to Computers (Vista): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Tuesdays, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 8/5 - 8/26, Cost: $35
Did you just buy a new computer with the Vista operating system? If so, this class is for you! Harness the power of your computer by getting a good foundation in some of the basics of Vista while you work with Microsoft Word. Good mouse skills are required.

Introduction to Computers (Vista): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Thursdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 8/7 - 8/28, Cost: $35
Did you just buy a new computer with the Vista operating system? If so, this class is for you! Harness the power of your computer by getting a good foundation in some of the basics of Vista while you work with Microsoft Word. Good mouse skills are required.

Introduction to Computers (Vista): 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Mondays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 10/6 - 10/27, Cost: $35
Did you just buy a new computer with the Vista operating system? If so, this class is for you! Harness the power of your computer by getting a good foundation in some of the basics of Vista while you work with Microsoft Word. Good mouse skills are required.

Using Windows XP: 2 times/week for 4 weeks,
Mon/Wed, 9:00 PM - 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 9/8 - 10/1, Cost: $45
Do you like a splash of personality in your surroundings, at home and at work? Personalizing your PC is one of the fun things you can do with your computer! Add color, patterns, pictures, screen savers and sounds to enhance your screen's appearance. Windows XP brims with new features, improved programs, accessories, and tools! Learn to increase your work efficiency and enjoy computing more! Customize your task bar and your mouse to make it easier to control. Locate lost files. Use programs in the accessories folder. Play your own CDs. Create your own CDs. Windows XP also contains exciting features for viewing photos in a slide show and printing, storing, and sharing them. “WOW” best describes this fun course – it is a “must have” for everyone! Good basic computer skills are necessary.

Using Windows Vista: 1 time/week for 8 weeks,
Tuesdays, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 9/2 - 10/21, Cost: $45
Did you just buy a new computer with the Vista operating system? Then this is the class for you! Come and learn all about Vista and its user friendly features. Discover what Windows Vista can do for you and learn how to use it. Get things done and get on with life! Windows Vista makes it faster and easier than ever to find, use, manage, share, and enjoy information—on your PC and on the web. You'll see everything you're working on more clearly through the stunning new Windows Aero interface, which includes Windows Flip 3D to help you quickly switch between windows and tasks. Find any file, document, photo, e-mail message, song, video, or program on your PC with ease using Windows Instant Search. Just enter the name of something you're looking for—such as the date you took a picture, a song title, or a word in a document or e-mail message—and Instant Search will list all relevant matches. Organize a lifetime of photos and movies with ease using Windows Photo Gallery. Tag your photos by date, keyword, star rating, or any identifying label you want—so you can find them when you want them. When you’re ready to print, select your best photos and easily send them to your favorite location to be printed with Online Printing. Internet Explorer 7 helps you manage multiple tabs with a trio of convenient features: Quick Tabs, tabbed browsing, and Tab Groups. With Windows Media Center you can view your photos in a cinematic slide show, browse your music collection by cover art, easily play DVDs, watch and record TV shows, download movies, and project your home videos. Windows Vista automates the processes that help maintain the health and security of your PC. Windows Defender works with Internet Explorer 7 to help you make conscious choices about software installed on your PC by providing always-on protection that monitors key system locations, watching for changes that signal the presence of spyware.

Using Windows Vista: 1 time/week for 8 weeks,
Tues/Thurs, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 10/7 - 10/30, Cost: $45
Did you just buy a new computer with the Vista operating system? Then this is the class for you! Come and learn all about Vista and its user friendly features. Discover what Windows Vista can do for you and learn how to use it. Get things done and get on with life! Windows Vista makes it faster and easier than ever to find, use, manage, share, and enjoy information—on your PC and on the web. You'll see everything you're working on more clearly through the stunning new Windows Aero interface, which includes Windows Flip 3D to help you quickly switch between windows and tasks. Find any file, document, photo, e-mail message, song, video, or program on your PC with ease using Windows Instant Search. Just enter the name of something you're looking for—such as the date you took a picture, a song title, or a word in a document or e-mail message—and Instant Search will list all relevant matches. Organize a lifetime of photos and movies with ease using Windows Photo Gallery. Tag your photos by date, keyword, star rating, or any identifying label you want—so you can find them when you want them. When you’re ready to print, select your best photos and easily send them to your favorite location to be printed with Online Printing. Internet Explorer 7 helps you manage multiple tabs with a trio of convenient features: Quick Tabs, tabbed browsing, and Tab Groups. With Windows Media Center you can view your photos in a cinematic slide show, browse your music collection by cover art, easily play DVDs, watch and record TV shows, download movies, and project your home videos. Windows Vista automates the processes that help maintain the health and security of your PC. Windows Defender works with Internet Explorer 7 to help you make conscious choices about software installed on your PC by providing always-on protection that monitors key system locations, watching for changes that signal the presence of spyware.

Beginning Word 2003: 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Mondays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 8/4 - 8/25, Cost: $35
It’s so easy to make a great looking document. You will learn techniques to help you edit and format your documents to give them a professional look. Have you seen the flyers and signs at the Center announcing some event? They were done with WORD and you can learn how to make them too. The WORD program can help you make personalized letterhead, stationery with a faded graphic in the background, and announcements with a colorful page border and colored text. Let us show you how! This 4-session class is a good class for beginners or refresher course for those with experience in word processing. There’s something for everyone in this class!

Advanced Word 2003: 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Tuesdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 8/5 - 8/26, Cost: $35
If you liked the Beginning WORD class, you’ll LOVE this one! The WORD program can make creating the following documents a snap: church bulletins, newsletters with columns, wedding programs, menus, personalized stationery! You’ll learn how to create tabbed data and tables, insert and format graphics. Add headers/footers and footnotes to a document. You’ll also learn how to create a mail merge to print form letters and envelopes. This is a great class to take after Beginning WORD or for the experienced WORD user.

Specialty Classes

1:1 Personal Tutoring: Time to be set - register at front desk.
The Center's Computer Learning Center Advisory Board is pleased to offer one-on-one Computer Tutoring. This is a great service for those who just want help on a specific individual issue or maybe one project they are working on and are having trouble with; Maybe you want help with making invitations, or making a newsletter for your upcoming class reunion or family reunion. Maybe you need help making a data base and mailing labels or have questions regarding organizing your files on your computer. To register for this service, please sign up at the front desk. The cost is $20 for the first hour and $15 for each successive hour (if needed). A registration form must be filled out and then you will be paired with a tutor. A meeting time will be set to accommodate both your schedules. This service is provided at The Center For Active Generations; home visits are not available. For more information, call 336-6722.

Microsoft Publisher 2003: 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Wednesdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 9/3 - 10/24, Cost: $45
Learn how Publisher can help you create great-looking publications in the same amount of time (or less) than you'd spend using a word-processing program. Publisher makes it especially easy by giving you hundreds of professional designs to start from. Publisher includes designs for newsletters, brochures, Web sites, business cards, postcards, greeting cards, media labels, and more. And once you pick up the basic skills you need to start and customize a publication, you'll be able to apply those same skills to the entire range of personal and business publication types now at your fingertips.

Microsoft Excel 2003: 1 time/week for 8 weeks,
Thursdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 9/4 - 10/23, Cost: $45
Learn to use Excel, a popular electronic spreadsheet program. Excel displays data in a row-and-column format, with gridlines between the rows and columns, similar to accounting ledger books or graph paper. Data in Excel can be formatted with bold, italics, underline, colored text, colored borders, and fill colors. Excel can represent the data in the form of a graph, sort, search, and filter data in a table much like a database program. The power of an Excel spreadsheet lies in its formulas and functions. When numbers are added or changed in the spreadsheet, the formulas recalculate the data automatically. Plugging in different numeric assumptions allows you to immediately see the impact on the bottom line. This “what if?” capability makes the spreadsheet indispensable for planning budgets, accounting, scientific research, statistical recording and other equation-based tasks or situations that can benefit from organizing data in a table-like format. Good math skills are helpful in this class.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003: 1 time/week for 8 weeks,
Mondays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 9/8 - 10/27, Cost: $45
Do you need to add spice up your presentations? Would you like to wow your friends and relatives with your photo albums or websites. Microsoft Office PowerPoint is a powerful computer program that enables you to create visually dynamic presentations. With Microsoft PowerPoint, you can create powerful overhead slides, interesting speaker notes, useful audience handouts, and outlines—all in a single presentation file. The presentations can then be displayed as a slide show on your computer, to audiences via a video projector, or over the Internet.

Computer Maintenance (XP): 2 times/week for 1 week,
Tues/Thurs, 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM, 9/2 & 9/4, Cost: $25
Don’t pay big bucks to have someone else fix your computer problems! Save some money and take this class. Your computer needs to be routinely maintained. Learn simple, preventative, maintenance tasks to keep it purring like a kitten! Learn why updating virus protection and anti-spyware/adware programs are vital to your computer. Is your Windows program up-to-date? This course will take you step-by-step through the process of updating windows, your anti-virus and spyware/adware program. Learn how to scan and remove viruses and spyware/adware on your hard drive, defragment your hard drive, and automate updates. Take back some hard drive space by performing a disk cleanup to remove cookies, temp files and temporary Internet files. Our easy-to-read manual includes many pictures that will help you successfully walk through these maintenance steps when you get home. If you own a computer, this class is a must! Good basic computer skills are helpful when taking this 2-session class.

Picasa (Photo Management): 1 time/week for 2 weeks,
Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 9/3 & 9/10, Cost: $25
Do you have lots of old photos that need to be organized and enhanced? Picasa is a free, easy-to-learn program that will take the headaches out this task! Learn how to import photos into Picasa from a camera, a scanner, or another folder. The pictures can then be converted into personalized screen savers, slide shows, desktop wallpaper, movies, collages, posters, or picture CDs. Picasa can also help you enhance pictures of poor quality into great photos by removing red eye flaws, restoring faded colors, cropping and straightening photos! Basic computer skills are required.

Adobe Photo Shop Elements 5.0: 1 time/week for 4 weeks,
Thursdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 9/11 & 10/2, Cost: $35
Save some money and restore those old photos yourself! In this class you will learn how to restore color to faded photos, remove creases and water spots, crop out excess backgrounds, remove red eye flaws and facial flaws, add text on a photo, create panoramic pictures, photo packages and contact sheets, and merge one photo into another. Photoshop Elements can also help you organize your photos. This class is recommended for those with strong computer skills.

Buying & Selling on Ebay: 1 time/week for 2 weeks,
Wednesdays, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 10/1 & 10/8, Cost: $25
Learn how to shop on E-bay. Avoid the crowds and save money, time and gas by using your computer to shop from the convenience of your own home. Are you downsizing your possessions? Do you have some antiques or a collection of some kind that you want to sell? Advertise it on Ebay and let the whole world know you want to sell it. Name your price. In the bidding process, it may sell it for more than you expect! Good basic computer skills and knowledge of the Internet are helpful when taking this class.

Photo Story: 1 time/week for 1 week,
Wednesday, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 10/15, Cost: $15
Photo Story 3.0 is a free software download from Microsoft that allows users to create a video story using digital pictures. Photo Story can be used to add special effects, music and narrate the story. Your "photo story" can be saved as a movie on your computer and then saved onto a DVD if your computer has a DVD burner.

Holiday Letters: 2 times/week for 4 weeks,
Tues/Thurs, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 10/28 & 10/30, Cost: $15
Learn to use Access, a relational database management system. Access provides easy mechanisms for adding, changing, and deleting data, including the capability of making mass changes in a single operation as well as sorting the data. It allows the user to produce attractive and useful forms for viewing and updating data. Access makes it possible to ask complex questions concerning the data in the database and then receive instant answers. It includes report creation tools that make it easy to produce sophisticated reports for presenting data.

Class Descriptions - Class descriptions can be picked up at the Center's front desk or sent to you upon request.