Computer classes start Jan. 8 at Montgomery CountyNorristown Public Library

For Digital First Media

The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Computer Lab is excited to announce that the registration is starting on December 12, 2018 for its Winter 2019 season of classes. This will be our 16th year offering computer classes to the Norristown and greater Montgomery County area.

Our classes cover a diverse set of topics, including computer fundamentals, Microsoft Office and the Internet. Our classes are “hands-on”: Each student is seated at his or her own computer, where they follow along with the instructor, whose screen is projected at the front of the room.

Class difficulty ranges from absolute beginner to advanced. Our introductory Computer Basics course starts from the very beginning, assuming no prior computer experience. It covers how to use the mouse and keyboard, as well as how to navigate around the Windows operating system. Our more advanced courses, like Microsoft Excel and Word require our students to have basic computing skills.

Our class lesson plans have stood the test of time. Every season, we improve upon them by adding content and making explanations clearer. Our entire collection of lesson plans and class resources are available for free online at w w w.mc-npl.org/class-resources.

Classes range in length from two to three sessions. Each session is 2 hours in length, of which 1½ hours is dedicated to teacher-led instruction. Most classes end with a practice exercise that students complete on their own, giving them a chance to reinforce the skills they just learned and ask the instructor additional questions.

We invite all interested persons to visit the Computer Lab, where they can pick up the class schedule and interview with the instructors to determine which class would best suit their needs. Classes are taught using desktop computers equipped with the Windows 10 operating system and Microsoft Office 2016 software. Each class holds up to 12 students. All classes except Computer Basics require students to demonstrate basic computer literacy before registration. Registrations must be done in person in the Computer Lab. Class fees must be paid at time of registration. Classes cost between $10 and $15. All students must have a library card that is in good standing in order to attend class.

The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library is located at 1001 Powell Street, Norristown. For more information, call the Computer Lab at (610) 278-5100 ext. 141. In this undated photo, students receive instruction at the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Computer Lab.

Class descriptions and schedules are on the next page.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

COMPUTER BASICS (2 SESSIONS)

Tuesdays, January 8 & 15 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays, January 11 & 18 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Provides hands-on experience with the mouse and keyboard. Also covers the basics of working in the Windows environment, including the desktop, start menu, opening programs and manipulating windows. INTERNET (2 SESSIONS)

Tuesdays, January 22 & 29 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays January 25 & February 1 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Learn how to enter web addresses, use navigation tools, perform simple searches, create favorites, print, and more, using the Mozilla Firefox web browser. FILE MANAGEMENT (2 SESSION)

Tuesdays, February 5 & 12 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays, February 8 & 15 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Learn to use File Explorer to organize and manage your files and folders. Learn the difference between Save and Save As, create folders, move files, delete and rename files, and more. MICROSOFT WORD 2016 (3 SESSIONS)

Tuesdays, February 19, 26 & March 5 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays, February 22, March 1 & 8 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Learn basic word processing skills with Microsoft’s word processing program. Learn how to use the ribbon, create and save documents, print documents, highlight and format text, insert tables, insert headers and footers, use spelling and grammar check, and more. MICROSOFT EXCEL 2016 (3 SESSIONS)

Tuesdays, March 12, 19 & 26 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays, March 15, 22 & 29 10:30AM – 12:30PM

This course provides an introduction to Microsoft’s spreadsheet program. Learn how to use it for managing numbers and equations, such as with budgets. Topics include formulas, charts, sorting, conditional formatting, and printing. THE CLOUD (2 SESSIONS)

Thursdays, February 28 & March 7 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Learn how to create, edit, and share files in the “cloud” using a free, online platform called Google Drive.

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