Did you know that Age Action run a programme to help with older people and technology called the Getting Started Programme. The programme delivers training on computers, the internet and mobile phones to people over the age of 55, and is either free or else there is a nominal charge to cover venue hire. One to one classes take place in libraries, community centres, family resource centres, corporate offices, and housing complexes for older people.
Getting Started is a training programme for older people to encourage and help them to use computers, the Internet and mobile phones. Classes are run by volunteer tutors with small groups of learners, in local, informal learning settings. “Our courses are especially designed for older people who are using a computer for the first time,” according to Pauline Power, manager of Age Action’s Getting Started computer training programme. “People are taught at their own pace, by their own tutor.”
Computer courses run for 4 to 8 weeks, one session per week and classes are between one to two hours in duration.
Age Action have designed training material suitable for older people and learners who need plenty of support and encouragement. Their Beginners guide to using computers can be downloaded here
Once this guide has been mastered, there are eight further modules that you can study yourself as follows:
- Module 1 – Video, TV, Music online
- Module 2 – Shopping Online
- Module 3 – Internet Security
- Module 4 – Online Travel
- Module 5 – Using Skype
- Module 6 – More about Gmail
- Module 7 – Social Networking
- Module 8 – File Management
Courses are run all across South Dublin at various locations including Ballybrack, Foxrock, Dundrum, Stillorgan, Ballyroan and Mounttown.
Jennifer Glansford is Age Action’s Regional Project Officer for Dublin: for more information on the Getting Started programme, please contact Age Action 01 475 6989 or email them at: gettingstarted@ageaction.ie.