Courses

ADVANCED EDUCATION CLASSES

Quicken

Quicken is a financial program designed to assist individuals in managing their financial resources from

daily checking to long term investing. Topics covered will include tracking of bank accounts, credit card

accounts, investments, and budgeting. For more info click here Click on BACK Arrow to return.

Genealogy / Family Tree Maker

This class uses a popular genealogy program, Family Tree Maker, to preserve and organize your family

history and to share information with your family. You will print and/or display it. You will search for

genealogy information on the Internet and via a CD-ROM.

For more information click here Click on the BACK Arrow to return.

Data Base

Computer databases take advantage of the computer's ability to store information so that you can

retrieve it in whatever way you choose for a particular use. You can learn to personalize and print

holiday newsletters or create an address or phone list for an organization. You can organize and

manage inventories, such as stamp or coin collections, CD's, household items and hobby information.

COURSES

Our courses are designed to be "hands-on" and easy-to-use as well as fun! The focus is on your desire

to learn - there are no tests and no grades. Open lab time for practicing the techniques you will be

learning is included in the class fee. Our instructors and coaches, all volunteers, give individualized

attention and help during both class and open lab sessions. The most popular course requested at

Raleigh SeniorNet is "Introduction to Computers." Once you have taken the "Intro" course you may be

interested in our other course offerings. Click here for a quick review of those courses (close the new

window to return) or continue on this page for a more detailed description of all our courses.

Computer Fundamentals – This is a prep course for beginners or new users who are just starting to

get familiar with a computer, mouse, and/or keyboard. Exercises are included to improve skills in these

areas. Students will be introduced to the basics of word processing, Internet and email.

(You do not have to have a computer to take this course.)

Introduction to Computers - This course is for students who have some knowledge of computers,

who are able to control mouse movement, and are familiar with the keyboard. This course introduces

the basics of Windows Vista Operating System, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line /

Internet computing, and file management. (You do not have to be a good typist to take this course.)

New SeniorNet students with advanced computer skills should take this course to acquire a good

understanding of Raleigh SeniorNet and to build a better foundation for all the courses taught at

SeniorNet.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Upon completion of the Introduction and/or Fundamentals courses, students are encouraged to

continue their computer journey with any or all of the following courses. Some of the following are

offered every session and some at a time when enough students show an interest to make them

available:

Word Processing

You will use Microsoft Word to learn the procedures to create letters, documents, envelopes, labels,

letterheads, etc., using various fonts and clip art to enhance their appearance. Topics include

paragraph characteristics, formatting tabs, lists, spell checker, headers, and footers.

For more information click here Click on the BACK Arrow to return

On-line Communications (Internet, Email)

You will learn about chat rooms, email, downloading files, attachments, bookmarks/favorites, instant

messaging, etc. Using the Internet, you can find health information, track your stocks, order items on-

line, plan vacations, keep in touch with family and friends. The Internet Service Provider(ISP) for the

SeniorNet classroom is Time-Warner's Road Runner service. The browser used in class is Internet

Explorer and the email program used is Outlook Express. Both of these programs are part of

Windows' operating systems. For more information click here Click on the BACK Arrow to return.

Digital Photo Editing

In this class you will become familiar with a Digital Photo Organizer & Editor called Picasa. ( A free

download from Google at http://www.picasa.com/ ).

Find all your photos -- and make photo folders, quickly and easily. Edit with ease -- Crop, reduce red-

eye, and enhance with one quick click. Print at home -- No mistakes. No waiting. No hassles. Just

beauty. Share photos online -- via email or through a Web Album. Make slideshows -- set to you own

MP3 music files. ...and much more! For more information click here Click on the BACK Arrow to

return.

Spreadsheets

The course uses the Microsoft Works Spreadsheet program to introduce you to the basic elements

of a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is similar to a paper worksheet with columns of numbers that are

summed for budgets and plans. The course explores features, functions, and charting and graphing

capabilities of the Works spreadsheet using example exercises and worksheets you create in class.

Typical uses of spreadsheets include budgeting, household and other expense tracking, tax planning,

investment management, checkbook and financial summaries, purchase records, home inventory,

auto mileage calculations, and many, many more.

* Most classes meet once a week for eight weeks - a total of 8, 2-hour classes.

* The SeniorNet session for November & December is 2, 2-hour classes each week

for four weeks, with no classes Thanksgiving week.

File Management

This course will offer ways to increase your ability to manage data storage and files on your Personal

Computer using Windows Vista. You will learn to create folders and organize your data so that it will

be easy to retrieve. You will use Windows Explorer and some new tools will be introduced as shortcuts

to accelerate your search and file management process. File structure, backups, and copying files to a

CD will be discussed.

Windows Operating Systems

You will learn how the Windows operating system allows you to manage files and folders on your

computer, customize your PC to suit your individual preferences, and maintain it for optimum

performance. Although this class is based on Windows Vista, the concepts & techniques covered

also apply, in large measure, to Windows XP.