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

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.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32)
Fri., 9/24 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Mon., 9/27 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Fri., 10/29 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Mon., 11/15 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Fri., 12/3 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Getting Around The Internet for Seniors
This course is an introduction to and 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. Taught by Andea Ragusa.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32)
10/21 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Internet Basics ~ Searching, Pictures, and eMail
Prerequisite: Basic computer skills. Students learn to use Google, Yahoo! and other search engines more effectively and at an advanced level to search for and download information and pictures. Also covers attaching images and documents to email (Yahoo!), managing favorites, save, and print.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $4-5 mtls)
Wed., 11/10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Google Defined: 40+ Free Products for Personal Productivity
Take a tour of Google.com’s tricks, tools, and turf, all for free. Create a blog. Search your desktop. Track your stocks. Create spreadsheets. Share what you know. Share your images and videos. Translate web pages into other languages. 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.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls)
Sat.,10/2 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Sat.,11/20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; Venus Bldg.
Sat., 12/4 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Introduction to Blogging
Prerequisite: 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.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls)
Sat.,11/20 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Outlook

Outlook 2007 for Windows - Introduction
Prerequisite: Basic word processing skills. Learn to create and edit email; use signature and formatting to customize email; attach images and files to email; create and manage folders; create and edit contact lists (address book) and calendars. This course does not cover configuration issues specific to your network.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+$4-6 mtls.)
11/17 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

eBay

Buying and Selling On 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.
4 hours $79 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $59)
10/18 & 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon; Burton; Venus Bldg.
10/20 & 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Burton; Venus Bldg.
12/2 & 9 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Burton; Venus Bldg.

Online Business

Growing Your Business Online
Having a website for your business has become a necessity in the 21st century. How often have you used the web to research more about someone that you are thinking about doing business with? How often do you think your customers use the phonebook vs an online search? Maybe you have a website and it is just not getting you any action. This presentation will start with the basics of a domain name(s), a website plan, navigation rules and the different technologies to use. Then progress into social networking tools, search engine optimization, ecommerce, advertising and blogging. When you finish you’ll have all the knowledge you need to grow your business on the web. Taught by Michael Austin. Michael Austin, owner of Old Road Software, Inc. has an MBA in Management Information Systems and has been professionally developing software systems for twenty five years. Currently he develops internet based systems to help businesses (from single person to large corporation) take advantage of the latest web technologies - from the first website to helping to increase traffic on an existing website to inventing a completely new web based product line for the multibillion dollar corporation.
2 Sessions $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls.)
Wed., 10/27 & 11/10 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Web Page Design

HTML Overview & Web Site Basics
Prerequisite: Good Internet, word processing and file management skills. Students will gain a useful background into the structure of web pages by learning to use some basic HTML code (HyperText Markup Language) to create, preview, and edit several web pages. We also review how to obtain a domain name, locate web hosting space, and use ftp (file transfer protocol) to transfer your files to the Internet. Taught by Peggy Bruno.
2 hours $43 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $32) (+ $ mtls.)
Wed., 10/13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Bruno; Venus Bldg.

Dreamweaver CS4 for Windows: Intro.
Prerequisite: Good Internet, word processing and file management skills. Create a small, multi-page web site. Add images, pictures, tables, and links to other pages and sites to your site. Format text (font, color, size, etc.); change the page background; create tables; add links; add head properties; resize and reposition images; create rollover images; work with layers; add a movement timeline to an image; and change site design. Taught by Lance Whitney.
5 hours $97 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $73) (+ $ mtls.)
Fri., 10/15 & 22 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Mon., 10/18 & 25 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Advanced HTML/Dreamweaver II – Make Your Website Stand Out
Prerequisite: Dreamweaver for Windows: Intro. Learn how to make your website easier to maintain and stand out from the crowd. We cover the use of CSS to better manage and stylize your pages; how to find and use Javascript to create popup menus and other effects; and how to check your site to make sure it’s compatible with the latest HTML standards. Taught by Lance Whitney.
5 hours $97 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $73) (+ $ mtls.)
Mon., 11/1 & 8 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.