CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Classes offered by the Claremont Senior Computer Club are paced for seniors, but are open to all adults who are interested. Sign up for classes at the reception desk of the Joslyn Senior Center (660 N. Mountain Avenue) or call for information about class schedules at 909-399-5488.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

This is a basic introductory class for those who are new to computers and want to learn about the personal computer and to acquire some basic computer skills. Ownership of a computer is not required. 10 AM – Noon and 1 PM – 3 PM, one day.    [$10, lunch included]

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Morning: Basic information on Pixel, compression, resolution, uses of the various camera modes, and brief discussion of composition.  In the afternoon, everyone takes photos, downloads them and uses Picasa to do simple editing, printing photos and make a CD.
9 AM – Noon and 1 PM – 3 PM, one day.   [$15, lunch included]

WINDOWS 10

This is a survey of the Windows 10 operating system. Participants should have taken the Introduction to Computers class or have previous computer experience. They are expected to own a computer, to review lessons and to practice between classes. Instruction begins at a fundamental level. It follows with familiarization with folders, files, and hard drive layout, as well as uses of the USB thumb drive. Basic word processing skills using Wordpad, essential elements of the Control Panel to customize the look and feel of your computer and hard drive housekeeping (Disk Cleaning, Disk Defragmentation, ScanDisk, etc.) complete the series. Classes convene Monday, Wednesday and Friday, over two weeks 9 AM – Noon, six sessions. [$35, book included]

DIGITAL PHOTO EDITING

(This is not a class on the use of digital cameras.)

The 2-day class covers editing digital photos & interfaces with Cameras, Scanners and Printers. Instruction will include demonstrations and follow-along, hands-on computer exercises.
A "take home" CD of exercise images used in class and click by click procedures are included.

Digital Photo Editing uses Microsoft's Digital Image Pro 10 or 2006 and includes:
1. Copying the exercise photo files from a CD and using file management processes.
2. Changing Image Size (pixel dimensions = resolution) to optimize for e-mail.
3. Reducing File Size with JPEG compression for optimum e-mail and practical storage.
4. Cropping to optimize composition, zooming & elliptical cut outs with feather edges.
5. Removing wrinkles and blemishes as well as spot brightening facial shadows
6. Removing redeye caused by camera flash and removing unwanted objects.
7. Adding text to photos and making collages with multiple photos and text.
8. Repairing damaged photos (tears, cracks, spots, scratches etc.)
9. Correcting old photo color shift and color fading.
10. Correcting old washed out photos by adjusting brightness / contrast and tonal range.
11. Making Panoramic pictures by automatically stitching several photos together.

The section on making CD Picture Shows for TV & Archives is now a separate class.

For the Digital Photo Editing class, students must possess good working skills with Windows, especially the menu systems and saving files in folders and retrieving them. Agility with the mouse is important. Classes meet over two days, 10 AM - Noon and 1 PM - 3 PM. [$30, lunch included]

DIGITAL PHOTO CD PICTURE SHOWS & ARCHIVES

(This is not a class on the use of digital cameras.)

This 1-day class covers making CD picture shows with voice narratives on selected photos and background music for TV and computers.  The same CD is also an ARCHIVE  for all the high resolution image files for printing, e-mail and other shows.

Instruction will include demonstrations and follow-along, hands-on computer exercises.  A CD of exercise images used in class and click by click procedures are included.

Digital Photo CD Picture Shows for TV & Archives uses Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 and includes:

1. Converting common music CD files to MP3 for CD Picture show background music.

2. Authoring at least 2 picture show CDs with voice narratives and background music.
   Three sets of image files (about 100 scenic photos and music files supplied.

3. Burning at least 2 CDs that contain Picture shows for TV and computers and photo image file archives.   

For the Digital Photo CD Picture Show class, students must possess good working skills with Windows, especially the menu systems and saving files in folders and retrieving them.   Agility with the mouse is important. Classes meet 10 AM – Noon and 1 PM – 3 PM.  [$15, lunch included]

MICROSOFT WORD 2007

Featured are basic functions, such as: manual spelling correction, use of spell and grammar checking, editing with cut, copy, paste, and moving text. Page setup, formatting to select font, font size and style, and the creation of templates will be emphasized. Students are expected to be familiar with the material covered in the club’s Windows 7 class, especially file management and the use of the mouse.
9 AM – Noon and 1 PM – 3 PM, one day.   [$15, lunch included]

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GENEALOGY

Family Tree Maker is the most widely used software program in the genealogical community. We will be using the newest version, #11. This class will introduce participants to the many features in this program.
They will learn how to enter names, data and pictures to produce a wide variety of charts, trees, books and reports. Gedcom files will be created which allow "rooters" to exchange their entire or partial database with others through email. A web page creation feature will also be introduced.
Participants will learn how to access new Web sources containing all US Census records (1790-1930). They will learn how to search passenger records, vital records, naturalization records, social security death records and land records. US Genweb and World Genweb, which can be used as sources for obtaining genealogical records from across the US and around the world will be introduced. Enrollees will also be presented with a number of mail lists and newsgroups that will allow them to query other genealogists for needed ancestral data. Class meets on one day from 9:00 AM – Noon, then 1 PM – 3:00 PM. [$10, lunch included]

COMPUTER CLUB CLASSROOM

The Bob Binder Classroom at the Joslyn Center Annex has many uses. Every Friday afternoon, from 1 PM to 4 PM, it is open to all members. Several experienced senior members will be there to assist in the solution of problems related to computer hardware. You can bring your computer and it will be connected to a keyboard, mouse and monitor and the trouble-shooting will begin.
This is also a place where you can find answers to many software problems. Bring a description of the problem you are having with your computer program, and the software. The staff will attempt to help you solve the problem.
If you have taken a class and want one-on-one help, this is a good place to get it.
For those who do not own a computer and wish to acquire or increase competency by working on a computer, our machines are available for your use on Friday afternoons.

The Hughes Center (on Danbury) also has a computer lab with Internet access. A city employee is on hand to supervise and their machines are available throughout the week.

You can sign up for classes at the reception desk of the Joslyn Senior Center (660 N. Mountain Avenue) or call for information about class schedules at 909-399-5488.