Education Newsletter for May 2024

Important! Change in Education Fee Practices:

The volume of class cancellations and no-shows requesting refunds of fees has become untenable for the Club. Therefore, beginning with classes scheduled in May 2024, fees will be refunded only for the following reasons:

• The student canceled class registration at least 7 days prior to the first session by notifying the Education Director OR
• The class was canceled by the instructor, or by the Club

Also, we now have an AI Prompt-to-Image Basics Using Microsoft Copilot course to teach you how to create images using AI prompts.

For the rest of the Club members reading this, we also have 10 other courses on a variety of topics that may interest you.

**NOTE: Please read the course description BEFORE you register—too many people are registering and then cancelling because they can’t make all of the sessions, or they realize they signed up for the wrong course.** 

For registration and payment, PLEASE read the instructions at the end of this newsletter!

As always, the club welcomes new instructors and new ideas for courses. Please contact [email protected] if you are passionate about a particular topic! We can help with the composition of the teaching material if needed.

------Registration begins Wednesday, April 24th at 8:00 AM!------

------Registration ends 3 days before each class’s start date.------

IPD101     iPad Basics

Linda LeBlanc, Instructor

Classroom, one 2-hr session

Date:  Thursday, May 2^nd, 1-3 pm

Capacity: 12               $10 

Description

You have an Apple iPad but feel you’re not getting full use out of it—you need to know more about its functions. This course is where you start: a hands-on workshop that allows you to practice and learn basic functions of the iPad. NOT FOR ANDROID TABLETS!

Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Manage iPad settings
• Understand the installed apps on the iPad
• Use the Files folder to save and retrieve information 
• Learn to use Notes to better keep track of information 
• Set reminders
• Sync your iPhone and iPad 
• Use FaceTime and iMessage
• Get tips for learning about your iPad after class in over
• Familiarize yourself with terminology 

___________________________________________________________

MAC101    Mac Basics 

Alan Kamen, Instructor

Classroom, two 2-hr sessions

Dates: Monday & Tuesday, May 6-7, 9:30-11:30 am

Capacity: 8                $20

This course uses Apple's latest operating system to provide a basic knowledge of the Mac computer. If you don’t have the latest version on your computer or laptop, upgrade to it before taking this class!

Objectives

The course begins with a tour of the opening screen called the Desktop. From there, it will cover the basic operations that allow you to successfully locate and manage files and folders, such as the: 

• Finder and its related window views with the menu and toolbar
• Dock
• System preferences, default folders, and drag/drop procedures 

Included in the class notes are beginner directions for Mail, an Internet browser, word processing, Help information, terminology, and definitions

 _______________________

PSE101     Photoshop Elements Basics

Bob Kissner, Instructor

Classroom, three 2-hr sessions

Dates: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, May 6^th, 8^th, & 10^th, 1:30-3:30 pm

Capacity: 6                $30

Description

Elements is photo-editing software that’s easy to learn, can do just about everything you want to do to your images, and costs a lot less than Photoshop! If you want to learn the basics of photo-editing, try this introductory course. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS!

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to: 

• Listen to audiobooks and music

• Perform basic edits to all or a selected part of an image, using the Quick Edit functions (Crop, Straighten, Lighten, Remove Color Cast, Red Eye Fix, Quick Selection, Color Saturation, and Sharpening an image)
• Use the Full/Expert Edit to perform basic restoration to a selected part of the image with the Healing Brush, Cloning Tool, and others 
• Use the Guided Edit for special effects, like Panorama and Old-fashioned Photo

_________________________

AIP101      AI Prompt Basics with Microsoft Copilot

Pat Maher, Instructor

Classroom, one 2-hr session

Date: Thursday, May 9^th, 1-3 pm

Capacity: 12               $10

So, you’ve been hearing all about AI taking over the world and ChatGPT doing everyone’s homework and you wonder really what’s really going on—this course will introduce you to the concept and creation of effective AI prompts (how humans communicate with AI systems). You’ll learn to use Microsoft Copilot to communicate with ChatGPT, the most popular AI Large Language Model—don’t worry if you don’t know what that is yet! You can provide a topic of your own or use those provided by the instructor—this is an interactive, hands-on course. You can bring your own tablet or use the classroom computers. Come be part of the latest trend in computing!

________________________

IPH201     Discovering iPhone Photography

Deb Peak, Instructor

Classroom, three 3-hr sessions

Dates: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, May 13^th, 15^th, & 17^th, 9 am - Noon

Capacity: 12               $30

Prerequisite: You MUST have an iPhone 11Pro or newer, and at least a few months of experience with your iPhone to attend this class. No iPhone SEs! YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL THREE CLASSROOM SESSIONS.

Description

Would you like to take better pictures with your iPhone, beyond just snaps of the grandkids or your pet? This is the class for anyone who really wants to get more out of their iPhone’s camera. It’s a basic introduction to iPhone photography, with an emphasis on using the Camera and Photos apps that come on every iPhone. You’ll learn all about the different modes available, how to compose better shots, and how to edit, store, and find those great shots. This course has three in-class sessions, alternating with two short, optional, field trips, so it’s a full week of mastering your iPhone’s Camera and Photos apps. 

Objectives

Camera Settings

You will be able to:

• Identify all the icons and settings on the iPhone camera
• Set up your camera in Settings
• Open the Camera app and make exposure and focus adjustments 
• Switch Camera modes and identify the kind of image each mode produces
• Take a Live Photo and change the display

Camera Modes

You will be able to:

• Describe the importance of light in the photographic process
• Take Portrait mode photos
• Take Night mode photos
• Take Panoramic photos
• Take Selfie photos
• Describe at least three composition guidelines

Photos App & Editing

You will be able to:

• Describe how the Photos app stores and manages images
• Identify what the four parts of the Photos App do
• Edit images using the Photos app
• Create albums and add photos to them

_______________________

LIB101      LibreOffice Intro 

Jeff Hahn, Instructor

Classroom, one 2-hr session

Date:  Tuesday, May 14^th, 10 am - Noon

Capacity: 12               $10

Prerequisite: Familiarity with current word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation programs. The course assumes you are NOT familiar with LibreOffice. 

Description

LibreOffice is a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Office that works with Windows, Apple, and Linux operating systems. It includes word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations—substantially, the same functionality and structure as Microsoft Office. It also works with Microsoft file formats. This survey course provides a brief history of LibreOffice and its predecessors. The emphasis is to provide basic instruction on installing the program, customizing it to meet your needs, and introducing you to LibreOffice's structure and capabilities. Although classroom computers can be used, you will derive maximum benefit from the class if you download LibreOffice to your own device and bring it to class.

Objectives

By the end of this course, you will understand how to: 

• Install LibreOffice
• Customize LibreOffice to meet your needs
• Prepare and edit basic word, spreadsheet, and presentation files 
• Convert legacy word, spreadsheet, and presentation files to current file formats 

_______________________

AIP102     AI Prompt-to-Image Basics with Microsoft Copilot

Pat Maher, Instructor

Classroom, one 2-hr session

Date: Tuesday, May 14^th, 1-3 pm

Capacity: 12               $10

Prerequisite: Completion of AIP101 OR review the AI SIG’s AI Class Documents for AIP101 to become acquainted with basic prompt techniques.

Bring a thumb drive to save whatever images you create.

Description

Now that you’ve mastered the creation of basic prompts, this course teaches you how to make effective prompts to create images. You will use Microsoft Copilot to communicate with ChatGPT, specifically the Image Creation module. The class will be interactive and progressive, using the classroom computers. You will have the opportunity to provide topics of your choice, as well as those provided by the instructor. Come and be part of the latest trend in computing.

Objective

At the end of this course, you will be able to create both basic and more complex prompts to generate images.

_______________________

GGL104    Google Sheets

Sam Arunachalam, Instructor

Classroom, Two 2-hour sessions 

Dates: Wednesday & Thursday, May 15-16, 3-5 pm

Capacity: 12               $20

Are you part of Google World? If you have a Gmail account, then you are, but there’s more to Google World than just email. Don’t want to deal with Microsoft? How about a free spreadsheet editor? That’s Google Sheets, and this course will show you how to use it. What’s more, since it’s cloud-based, you can use any device (Apple or Android/Windows), even your phone, from anywhere to access your files.

Prerequisites

• You have a Google account OR are willing to get a free Google account. Note: If you have Gmail, you have access to Google Sheets.
• Bring Google account login information to the class. You will be logging in to your own account. Google may require a verification process. Note: You can use the classroom computer or your own device. 

Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Create, update, and modify spreadsheets 
• Organize data in grid format with rows and columns
• Format and sort data, perform calculations, insert images or shapes
• Use built-in intelligence, comments, calculations, functions, and Smart Fill to analyze and visualize your data, and create charts
• Share data online in real-time with your collaborators 
• Connect seamlessly to other Google products

_______________________

 AND101    Android Basics

Jonny Taylor, Instructor

Annex, one 2-hr session

Dates: Friday, May 17^th, 2-4 pm

Capacity: 20              $10

For all of you who were given or bought an Android phone but really don’t know how to use most or any of the functions, this class is for you! This is a hands-on, interactive course designed for beginners and should answer all of your questions. The instructor will demonstrate the basic functions and you can practice in class, troubleshoot what doesn’t work, and learn best practices!

_______________________

WAT101   Apple Watch Workshop

Linda Bradshaw, Instructor

Classroom, two 2-hr sessions

Dates: Monday & Wednesday, May 20^th & 22^nd, 1-3 pm

Capacity: 12               $20

Prerequisite: must have an Apple Watch to practice with.

Description

Now that you’ve acquired an Apple Watch, have you figured out how to work it? You know there’s plenty you can do with it, but you need some help—this is the hands-on workshop for Apple Watch that will answer your questions.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify the Watch parts 
• Turn the Watch on and off
• Manage the Watch and App Settings
• Change Watch faces
• Use the 
  • Watch App 
  • Control Center
  • Bluetooth
  • Siri
  • Other apps (Heart Rate, Workout, Fall Detection, ECG, SOS)

_______________________

CCB101     New Members Orientation

Deb Peak, Instructor

Annex, one 2-hr session

Date: Wednesday, May 22^nd, 9-11 am

Capacity: 30              Free

Prerequisite: Be a Computer Club member and have a Sun City website login.

Description

If you're new to the Computer Club, we'll help you drink from this firehose. Members who want to refresh OR deepen their knowledge of how to navigate the Computer Club and Sun City websites are also welcome. Get an overview of the Club’s services, building to the main focus of navigating our websites. Even though the class is free, registration is necessary. You’ll get a tour of the Club’s facilities (for our new members) and be more confident in no time!

Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to navigate the Sun City and Computer Club websites, including the most important elements: 

• Understand Computer Club services
• Know how to register and pay for a class
• Use the Club Members Directory
• Find the Club and Education calendars
• Join a Special Interest Group

_______________________

AIP101      AI Prompt Basics with Microsoft Copilot

Pat Maher, Instructor

Classroom, one 2-hr session

Date: Tuesday, May 28^th, 1-3 pm

Capacity: 12               $10

So, you’ve been hearing all about AI taking over the world and ChatGPT doing everyone’s homework and you wonder really what’s really going on—this course will introduce you to the concept and creation of effective AI prompts (how humans communicate with AI systems). You’ll learn to use Microsoft Copilot to communicate with ChatGPT, the most popular AI Large Language Model—don’t worry if you don’t know what that is yet! You can provide a topic of your own or use those provided by the instructor—this is an interactive, hands-on course. You can bring your own tablet or use the classroom computers. Come be part of the latest trend in computing!

_____________________________________________________

To find a class on the Club website

1.   Go to sctxcompclub.org and make sure to log in (top right). 

2.   Choose Education on the left navigation menu.

3.   Click on Online Registration Calendar from the menu to view the month’s offerings.

To register for a class

1.   Click on the class you have chosen. If it’s a multi-day class, you will see all of the sessions, but you only need to click on the first day to select the entire class. The class will show Closed when the class is full. Please don’t show up for a class if you haven’t registered—you will not be admitted!

2.   At the bottom of the information page, click on the Register button to complete the first part of your registration. But you’re not finished!

To pay for a class

1.   When you complete the registration, watch for a pop-up that will invite you to pay for the class by credit card—no checks and cash! You are NOT registered until you have paid!

2.   If you want to register for more than one class, each class must be paid for individually, before moving on to the next registration.

3.   We use the same credit card system that Sun City Texas uses for its Community Association transactions. Cards accepted are MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.