Class Location: Computer classes will be taught at the Continuing Education Center, located in the Venus Municipal Building on the 2nd floor.

Directions to the Venus Bldg. = Venus Municipal Building (corner of East Ridge and Governor St.) - Continuing Education Office
From Route 35 (Main Street) in Ridgefield, turn onto Governor Street (There is a traffic light). Take Governor Street a short distance (you will cross East Ridge; the Police Station is on the right). Take a left into the parking lot behind the Venus Municipal Building (signs also say RVNA - Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Assoc.). Turn into the first parking area on the left. Park as close to the two story brick and white building as possible and enter at the door off Governor St., opposite the Police Station. The Continuing Education Center is on the second floor. There are signs posted. A disability ramp to an elevator to the second floor is available at the rear of the building.

Internet

Getting Around The Internet: Age 50+
This course is an introduction to use of The Internet. It begins with an overview followed by the concepts and terminology needed to get you “surfing the web” for specific information and fun. Use of the mouse and knowledge of the keyboard is required. Students learn to use Google and Yahoo! more effectively to search for and download information and pictures. Also covers attaching images and documents to email (Yahoo!), managing favorites, save, and print. Taught by Andea Ragusa. Andrea Ragusa is a professional educator with 12 years teaching and 20 years administration experience. She enjoys working with seniors and currently teaches and coordinates computer classes at the Wilton Senior Center. She lives in Wilton with her husband Anthony and her dog Dandie.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32)
Thur., 5/10 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Ragusa; Venus Bldg.

Using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn . . .
Prerequisite: Basic computer and Internet skills. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn let you connect to and network with other people, both personally and professional. Learn what these sites offer, how to set up your accounts, how to promote yourself, and how to join groups and communities. Taught by Lance Whitney (Friday) or Charles Greenberg (Saturday). Lance Whitney is a web master and consultant to local companies. Lance was previously an IT network administrator and software trainer with Ciba Chemicals; he has also taught continuing education courses through BOCES. Charles Greenberg is head reference librarian at Yale Medical School Library. He has also been involved in computer training for over 12 years.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32)
Fri., 3/2 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Whitney; Venus Bldg.
Sat., 3/17 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon; Greenberg; Venus Bldg.
Fri., 4/27 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Whitney; Venus Bldg.

Google - Get More Out of Google!
40+ Free Products for Personal Productivity
Take a tour of Google.com’s tricks, tools, and turf, all for free. Includes the new Google Chrome browser that can translate web pages (i.e. from Russian into English and the reverse). Create a blog. Search your desktop. Track your stocks. Create spreadsheets. Share what you know. Share your images and videos. Create web sites and wikis. Create and share a calendar. Clip and collect information as you surf the web. Organize your medical records. More . . . Taught by Charles Greenberg. Charles Greenberg is head reference librarian at Yale Medical School Library. He has also been involved in computer training for over 12 years.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls)
Sat., 3/10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Intro to Google Documents (in a cloud)
Google documents provide a free, “cloud”-based platform for creating and sharing spreadsheets, wordprocessing and presentations that are compatible with Microsoft Office or Open Office. Because your Google Documents live in a virtual “cloud”, you can get to them on any computer connected to the Internet. You can also create online forms that feed data automatically into a spreadsheet, offering a free replacement for similar analytical functionality on fee-based web survey sites. Prerequisites: Internet basics. Note: If you do not already have a free Google account, you will create one during the class. Taught by Charles Greenberg. Charles Greenberg is head reference librarian at Yale Medical School Library. He has also been involved in computer training for over 12 years.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls)
Sat., 2/11 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Introduction to Blogging
Prerequisite: Windows 7 PC Basics and Internet Basics. Most blogs are a personal diary or a public soapbox. A blog can also be a way to share your favorite recipes, pizza joints, or pictures. It is easy to establish a free blog, but like anything you get for nothing, a free blog can disappear without warning. If you want to do a serious blog to improve your professional credentials, consider contracting and paying a small amount to host a blog, using blog software with more flexibility and unlimited personalized email accounts. This course will cover learning about blog production, using images to enhance your posts, and learning about RSS (really simple syndication) which is how your blog content is delivered to others, or how you can bring good web content to enhance your blog. See the instructor’s blogs at http://openbiomed.info and http://ysmuvisit.blogspot.com for examples.Taught by Charles Greenberg. Charles Greenberg is head reference librarian at Yale Medical School Library. He has also been involved in computer training for over 12 years.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls)
Sat., 2/4 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Sat., 3/31 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; Venus Bldg.

RSS

Really Simple Syndication (RSS)
RSS is the circulation system of the internet, automatically depositing content from creators and providers to web pages, providing constant refreshing and creating currency. Teachers, researchers, trend analysts, politicians, physicians, and students of all ages can tap into the distribution of immediate news and knowledge by selecting an RSS reading platform and subscribing an unlimited variety of RSS feeds. Then the most up-to-date news and knowledge appear every time you access your RSS reader, whether that is a smart phone, iPad, or your iGoogle web page. This two-hour class will demonstrate the most effective techniques for organizing and reading RSS feeds, as well as the most popular and reliable sources of RSS content. Prerequisite: basic internet and web browsing skills. Taught by Charles Greenberg. Charles Greenberg is head reference librarian at Yale Medical School Library. He has also been involved in computer training for over 12 years.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32)
Sat., 3/10 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

eBay

Prerequisite: Basic computer and Internet skills. This class can help you: buy old or new items with confidence; convert household clutter to cash; start an on-line eBay business; sell items to downsize a collection. In this two-part class Eileen Burton will unravel the mysteries of eBay by sharing her knowledge and expertise acquired from years of buying and selling on this popular site. The first two-hour class will be devoted to all the basics and the second class will cover in detail all the steps to sell an item – from photographing it to listing it on eBay – by actually putting something up for sale. Eileen Burton has had a small French collectibles business for 16 years. For the past 8 years, she has done most of her business through eBay. She has been teaching eBay in Continuing Education for many years. She has had an iPhone for several years and is ready to share her knowledge of its efficient use.
4 hours $79 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $59)
2/1 & 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; Venus Bldg.
2/28 & 3/6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
3/21 & 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
4/10 & 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; Venus Bldg.

Web Sites

Web Site Basics ~ for People Curious About What’s Behind a Web Site
Prerequisite: Good Internet, word processing and file management skills. Students will gain a useful background into the structure of web pages. We will learn about HTML, the software behind a site, and even use some basic HTML code (HyperText Markup Language) to create, preview, and edit several web pages. We also review key words and where they fit into a web site, how to obtain a domain name, locate web hosting space. Finally, use of ftp (file transfer protocol) to transfer your files to the Internet will be demonstrated. Peggy Bruno, a certified teacher, has trained adults in computer applications for many years. She has developed many computer courses and training workbooks. She previously worked in corporate marketing and information services.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls.)
2/23 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Bruno; Venus Bldg.