The familiar SeniorNet Learning Center at FCTV is having a name change. This reflects the new independence of the same group of instructors, who have been introducing Falmouth Seniors to computers for over six years. There's more in the newsletter.
SeniorNet is a national organization for people over fifty, devoted to introducing seniors to computers. There are many SeniorNet Learning Centers located around the United States, but there were none on Cape Cod, until the summer of 2001.
Falmouth Community Television hosts the first SeniorNet Learning Center on Cape Cod, offering membership and computer courses. FCTV's SeniorNet Learning Center has one six PCs with Windows XP, a printer, scanner, and high-speed Internet service. Students will learn to use all of these easily, safely and confidently.
Courses meet either once or twice per week. Morning (AM) sessions last from 10:30 AM to 12:30, afternoon (PM) sessions from 1:00 to 3:00. In addition, lab time is available Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00, Monday from 4:00 to 5:00 and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to noon.
The introductory course is Fundamentals of Computing, for people unfamiliar with computers. It meets for one two-hour session weekly, for four weeks. Basic concepts are taught, such as use of the mouse and keyboard, playing solitaire and using a simple word processor. This course is especially useful for those who fear the computer revolution has passed them by.
The second course, Introduction to Computers, introduces the new user to Windows, Word Processing and the Internet. Students learn how to create and save documents, access existing files and edit their documents. The course also includes a basic introduction to email and the World Wide Web. This course or equivalent experience, is a prerequisite to more advanced courses.
The Windows course explores Microsoft's operating system in some depth. This course should help someone who is responsible for the operation of their own computer. Various settings in the Control Panel and elsewhere are studied and explained.
Quicken is financial management software with which one may automate bank account balancing, check writing and communication with one's bank. It is an eight week course. Quicken runs on Macs and PCs, and most new PCs come with a bundled version of Quicken.
Spreadsheets are databases consisting of data which is mathematically interrelated. Examples include tax records, gas mileage, payroll records and portfolio management. This course will explore the basic operations of the Microsoft Office spreadsheet software, with attention to general principles which apply to other spreadsheet programs.
More courses will be offered as the Falmouth SeniorNet Learning Center gathers momentum and as demand grows. The national SeniorNet organization has provided curriculum material for many courses, and eventually at FCTV, all of them should become available.
Interested Seniors should contact SeniorNet@FCTV.org, or phone SeniorNet at FCTV at 508-457-4652. In either case, please leave your name and postal mailing address. We will send you an information packet with a membership / course application.
Early in 2001, FCTV was approached by SeniorNet , a national organization for people over fifty. SeniorNet wished to establish a SeniorNet Learning Center in Falmouth, and FCTV seemed like the right place for it. FCTV has provided space and support, and the result is Cape Cod's first SeniorNet Learning Center. It is equipped with modern computers, printers, scanner, and high speed Internet service.
[FCTV HOME PAGE] -
[Who Is FCTV?] -
[What Is FCTV?] -
[Where Is FCTV?] -
[When Is FCTV...] -
[Program Schedule] -
[What's New?]