If you are interested in the subject area of one of these courses and it is not being offered on the current calendar, please contact the Course Coordinator to express interest. We usually need at least 3 students to make it worthwhile running a course, and a tutor has to be available. We welcome your feedback also with ideas of topics for new courses.
Courses are in alphabetical order. Please click letter below if you want to jump down the list.
Android introductory course
A comprehensive course for Android tablet and phone users. You will learn how to set up the basic systems, find your way around the different screens and tool bars, and how to use some common Apps, including email and Internet. Bring your own Android Device.
Backing up your computer
There are many ways we can lose information on a computer – a destructive virus, a power surge, lightning or maybe a hard drive suddenly failing.
Beginners – (for PC)
This course will help you find your way around your computer. It is a must for everyone new to computing, and for those wanting to refresh before moving on to other courses. For users of the Windows 10 operating system.
Beginners – (for Mac)
A beginner’s course for those new to the Mac OS. You will learn how to find your way around the computer, set up the Dock and customize your computer using System Preferences. You will be introduced to the programs that come with a Mac, including Email, Internet, and iPhoto. A must for all Mac users.
Beyond the Basics (General computer use)
A series of sessions filling in some gaps of knowledge around what you do your computer. We’ll review tips on the internet; shortcut commands; different ways of saving images; organising files; what to do when you get stuck! Session 3 will be devoted to problems & questions that you the class want.
Blogging
Learn how to “Blog” by creating a site to use as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family. It is especially useful when on holiday so you can share a travel diary with photos and news. (Mac or PC)
Bring your photos to life
Bring your photos to life by adding moving snow, rain, fire, water, birds, butterflies etc. to them.
Software and documentation provided.
Calendar for Mac
Learn how to organise your appointments and other special dates on your Mac Computer.
Calendar making
Learn how to make a personalised calendar for end of year gifts using your favourite photos. Choice of using Word, Publisher or Digital Image Suite (depending which software you have on your computer at home) AND we’ll look at the easy to use commercial website Vistaprint.
Card making
Get ready for Christmas and learn how to make gift and greeting cards using Microsoft Word. Personalise your cards with photos and clip art.
Cloud computing
Come along to a session to find out about the different options for storing documents and photos using free cloud based services. Many useful applications, easy & free!
Digital Camera Basics
A basic course for those new to taking photos with a digital camera. Get to know your camera and learn how to take shots, download them onto your computer, make changes with basic editing and then save them where you can find them again! Bring along your digital camera and manual.
Email – Gmail
Gmail is the free web-based email programme that is provided by Google. These two sessions will provide an introduction for beginners, plus do some problem solving for people who already use it but might be frustrated! We’ll also cover some neat tips to help you get more out of this software. If you need help setting up a Gmail account please contact the tutor before the course starts.
Facebook
This course will give an overview of Facebook for beginners. It will also focus on getting more out of this popular social media site for those who already use it. We will demystify the terminology; explain the different ways of communicating via Facebook and how to control settings. Please advise if you’ll be using Facebook on your Laptop (notebook) or iPad or Android tablet or phone when you enrol. The systems are slightly different. If you need help setting up a Facebook account please contact the tutor before the course starts.
Files and Folders
This course is a must if you wish to take more advanced courses! You will learn how to create, store and retrieve files and folders. Find your way around the Windows system and learn the basic methods to save, name, rename, delete, move and find files.
Finding your way around your computer
Gain confidence in moving around the various sections of your computer, knowledge of some of the set-ups you can adjust on your computer, understanding of how to personalise the way your computer screen looks, PLUS time for hands-on practice and questions.
Flashdrives
You’ve been told you need a Flash Drive – but it didn’t come with any instructions on how to use it! Learn what you can do with your flash drive, including how to name it, scan for viruses, save files and folders to it and then find them again, and use it as a back-up or storage device.
Genealogy for Macs using Mac Family Tree W/S
Learn how to begin a family tree, by entering details of your immediate family and go back through the ancestors. Bring some basic facts like dates of birth and correct names, and as much other information that you have. See how to add photos of persons too, as well as extra interesting facts, and print out a simple family chart.
Google Tools – overview
Join us for a romp through the increasing number of tools Google has on offer. We’ll concentrate on a few e.g. Google Earth, different ways of web searching, Google News, translating, creating a personalised calendar, Google photos back up ………
iMac Preview
Preview is one of the essential apps provided free with your IMac. It is an amazingly useful programme in so many ways. Learn and practise all the cunning uses for this app which resides waiting to be used at the bottom of your screen. Anton and Malcolm will be on hand to guide you. Bring your MacBook, or use a SeniorNet one!
Inkscape – free graphics programme for Mac and Windows
Inkscape is a vector based drawing program and is a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
Installing, configuring and uninstalling programmes
Learn how to safely install programs from the Internet and from CDs, looking out for pitfalls and unwanted extras along the way. Configure them to suit yourself, and uninstall correctly. Includes making a Restore point, free programs and lists of suggested sites. Not suitable for Beginners. Bring a flash drive.
Internet – Search engines and search tips
The world of the internet is always changing – if searching for what you want doesn’t always work for you – come along to share your frustrations & queries! We’ll have some good tips to share.
Internet – What’s new, what’s useful & staying in control
This course will give you confidence to search the Internet, find what you are looking for and stay up to date. There will be time for some familiarisation with internet terminology, time for your questions and for plenty of hands-on practice.
IPad – Stage – 1
An introductory course for those new to the iPad. Learn how to use the touch screen with various finger gestures. Set up and use the Contacts and Mail apps. Learn how to use the keyboard and how to download apps from the app store. Please bring your own iPad.
IPad – Stage – 2
Continuing to understand the iPad, searching the web, backing up, downloading books, taking, editing and storing photos, Siri, map, messages and new apps to try. Please bring your own iPad.
iPhoto
An introduction iPhoto, the photo editing program that comes with your Mac. Learn how to import and work with your photos, organise them into Albums, detect Faces and edit them using crop, rotate, straighten, enhance and add effects.
Movies – Moviemaker -For Windows
Movies – Mac I-movie
An introduction to the iMovie program on your Mac. Learn how to import movies, organise clips and titles, add transitions, include a picture in pictures, still shots, and special effects. Then burn your movie to a DVD.
Music
How to find, save and listen to music from the internet.
Music
Mp3s – how to find, record, save, convert, rip, burn and share. Also how to make all your songs the same volume, as well as how to make your own ringtones. Transferring music to and from an iPod without going through iTunes will also be covered.This course is for Windows OS only.
Music – a sharing session
Do you need to know about downloading and sharing music? How about iTunes – Internet Radio – and play lists? Need to convert vinyl, cassettes, CDs to MP3 format? Come along and share your knowledge.
Online banking
A feature of the workshop is the ability to use the Westpac demonstration internet banking site, meaning you can log into the site and practise transactions using dummy informationence overcoming any privacy issues that may arise if you used your own internet bank site. Workshop is applicaple regardless of the bank you use.
There are two parts to the two-hour workshop:
Part one – SeniorNet tutor will present the Confidence with Online Banking presentation
Part two – Participants will practice using ‘Westpac One’ Online Banking demonstration site, with the help of a Westpac representative in attendance.
Online shopping
Find out about Online Shopping together. We will navigate various online shopping sites and cover how to pay safely online. Please bring your own devices. You will need a google or similar account to access the internet.
If you have any specific sites you would like to cover or questions please contact before the session starts.
Pages – for iPad
Learn how to use this powerful word processor to produce reports, newsletters, greetings cards, etc. Start with a blank page or one of many templates, choose a font and font size, add shapes, photos or videos to the text. Learn how to convert the document to Word for emailing to others, and how to import a Word document for editing in Pages.
Pages – for Mac
Think of a cross between Word and Publisher – Apple’s word processor with the ability to handle and edit pictures and graphics, use templates to produce professional-looking flyers, letters, and newsletters and so on, produce graphs and even do simple spreadsheets.
Photobook making
You will be shown a couple of easy to use websites which enable you to make a photobook – holiday, family celebration, hobby – topics are endless! Time to practice and share tips as we work on our projects. NB: Only those who have completed the “Getting to Grips with your Photos” course may enrol.
Photos – storing, editing, sharing
Get to grips with your photos – These sessions can be taken singly or together. 1: Storing photos: moving photos safely into folders, naming them and backing up. 2: Editing photos: learn how to do this with some free easy to use programmes. 3: Sharing photos: how to send to friends on email or different social media, sharing bundles of photos via the web.
Photo Editing with free software – Faststone
FastStone is a free download from the internet which helps you enhance your photos. Such as crop, straighten, enhance colour, lighten/darken add text and much more.
Photo Editing with free software- GIMP 1
This software is free, it has many functions and can do a lot more than edit photos. This course covers the fundamentals of Photo Editing, including text, selection tools, using layers and much more.
Photo Editing with free software – GIMP 2
Replacing the background and colouring black & white photographs, adding reflections to an image. Making a Collage with your Photographs. Creating interesting ways to present photos. Adding and removing objects from an image. Creating a Panorama from several images. Having fun while learning. (Must have completed GIMP 1)
Photos – a sharing session
Do you have problems organising and editing your photos? Is it a mystery how to transfer photos from phone or tablet to PC or Mac? Come along to problem solve together.
Photos – Syncing your photos between devices
These sessions will look at ways of syncing your photos between the various devices you use – phone, camera, tablet. We will look using Google Photos, which syncs your photos, saves storage space on your device, as well as providing a secure backup in the cloud.
Pinterest beats Facebook hands down for its lack of gossipy rubbish, as it concentrates on photo images and video. Users get their own pin board to pin up their pix etc. great for displaying wedding and other occasions, but also valued for hobbies like quilting and animal breeders, etc. to display their favourites.
Suitable for both PCs and Mac users.
Portable Apps
Can’t install new programs on your computer as you’re running out of space ? Want to try a program before buying and/or installing it ? Sick of spending days reinstalling programs on a reformatted computer ? Don’t want to have to install a program you may only use once or very infrequently ? Wish you could carry your programs with you to use on any Windows computer ?If you answer yes to any of these questions this course may be for you.
Presentation software – Powerpoint (Microsoft)
Learn how to make a slide show presentation – perhaps to show photos of a trip, to accompany a talk you have to give, or to show at a function? We will use Microsoft Powerpoint so please check that you have bought this software and have it on your computer.
Presentation software – Slides (Google)
Learn how to make a slide show presentation – perhaps to show photos of a trip, to accompany a talk you have to give, or to show at a function? We will use the free Google Slides software.
Presentation software – Keynote (Apple)
Learn how to make a slide show presentation – perhaps to show photos of a trip, to accompany a talk you have to give, or to show at a function. Keynote comes free with Apple devices
Saving documents and photos on your computer
This class will run through the ways of saving documents and photos and your computer ……and then finding them again! We’ll look at troubleshooting when items get “lost” and share some tips for organising your folders.
Skype
Learn how to keep in touch with friends and family through Skype Video, see your grandchildren from over all over the world free of charge (if they have skype). You will need Skype down loaded on your computer but it is a free download.
Smartphones
see courses for Android and iPhone
Spreadsheets – Excel (Microsoft)
This course is designed to teach basic spreadsheets and simple databases up to the level that can be used for domestic budgeting or managing the finances of a small club. Learners must be already familiar with basic processing functions before taking this course, including creation of folders, “Save” and “Save As”, Print and Print Preview, and Cut, Copy and Paste.
Spreadsheets – Apple Numbers
Numbers is a spreadsheet application developed by Apple Inc. as part of the iWork productivity suite alongside Keynote and Pages. N
TradeMe
Here is your chance to learn how to use Trade Me safely.
Website Creation using WordPress
We use one of the leading Web Site Content Management Systems – WordPress. A live student web site for you to work on is provided. We include the following: – You can choose a template, called theme and then create your site header, pages, posts, menus, photo galleries etc. No knowledge of HTML. Some skills in word processing and understanding of the internet would be of advantage.
WhatsApp – Beginners
A free mobile messaging app allowing free secured exchange of digital messages worldwide. Users can create personal groups; send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages. Use it to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. Class fun whilst learning about a really useful App. For Android and Apple smart phone users only.
WhatsApp – Advanced
More learning about this really smart and fun App. While you may have used it every day there are heaps of really cool tricks hiding in this app. The Advanced class is for showing off some of these and to share experiences and knowledge. Members must have previously done the basic class. Android and Apple smart phones only.
Windows 10 – Beginners
This course is for those who have a Windows 10 operating system. Learn to find your way around this new system and how to use the different Apps that come with your computer. Not suitable for those new to computing.
Windows 10 – Advanced
Want to learn more about Windows10.
Tips for Windows 10
Coming along to this workshop to learn some special things you can do when using Windows 10 such as the Snipping Tool etc.
Word Processing – Word (Microsoft)
Become more confident when using Word. Learn how to use the formatting tools to make changes to words or paragraphs, use shortcuts to move around a document, become skilled at using cut, copy and paste, set margins, insert tables and photos and lots more. Students must have Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 on their computer.
Word Processing – LibreOffice
This is a shortened course covering Libre Office Word Processing for those wishing to recap on previous course.
Word Processing – Google Docs
Introduction to this free word processing software PLUS using automatic storage in the cloud on Google Drive.
YouTube
YouTube can provide us with access to world wide places for entertainment, knowledge, and other tips and tricks.
The workshop will show you how to access it safely and easily. You will be able to search it to meet your needs or to accept YouTube suggestions as it learns of your interests and creates communities of like interest. It will also demonstrate how to connect YouTube from your mobile device to your TV using Chromecast and other gadgets. The course is for Apple or Android devices. BYOD encouraged.