We commenced the Apple Refresher Course in August.

U3A have slotteded in 4 sessions only. The remaining two are on the first and second Friday of September at 1:30pm.

So back to the August sessions…..

We looked at the Settings App which is the central control hub on both the iPad and iPhone.  And that is where you can make changes to how they look, behave and connect.

We concentrated on the Wifi connectivity and the storage and iCloud capabilities.  We could ascertain the data capacity of both devices and the iCloud availability.  Once you reach the 5GB of iCloud (which is free), you have the option to pay for an extra 50GB at $1.49 per month.

In the second session the focus was on using the Calendar app. To use this app as a replacement for a paper calendar does take perseverance.

My advice is to use both until you are confident enough to go virtual!

​The more you use your tablets and smart phones they become less scary and easier to use.

Jenny Sawyer

​If you have an Apple iPhone or an Apple iPad and would like to feel more confident using either of these devices, we are offering a four-session refresher course, commencing on Friday 1st August from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, with sessions to follow on Friday 8th August, Friday 5th September and Friday 12th September.

We will go over some basics and each week explore different apps on your device. Topics will include - Wifi vs mobile data/Settings/Using the Calendar/Notes, Messages and Emails/Money (Bills and Buying).

One-hour sessions with flexibility to extend another half an hour for troubleshooting individual problems.

​Bring - Apple Device, Apple Username (your email) and Password, Pen and Paper If you would like to enrol, contact the Course Co-ordinator Anne Nelson on 0438 447 379

The July Session was the final Apple Pages class for Semester 1 and the year.

The challenge was to use some former Pages knowledge and make an invitation to a possible Christmas celebration.

A new function we used was the Text wrapping function in the tools bar at the top.  We tapped on the Shapes icon then found the word Text.

We’ve come a long way with our skills and confidence using Pages. I hope everyone who attended will be confident enough to undertake making a Pages document post classes at home.

Any Apple computing device has access to the Word Processing Program ‘Pages’.  There are no costs involved in either running the program or keeping it on your device.

​This month it was all about tables  …

In the Pages App we used the table icon and made two tables. One was portrait with four columns and the other was a landscape table, again with four columns.

We learnt to add rows, add a title, type inside cells and to export our documents.  Even though written instructions were prescriptive there was scope to personalise each table.

Jenny printed each person their masterpieces which they could use to fill in at home. Of course the next step is to actually type in data on your device. And Graeme already had a table which he had programmed to compile his data into graphs.

​Everyone worked very hard and it’s great to see everyone’s confidence using Pages grow.

The June session is being postponed and our next Pages class will be on Wednesday 12 July.    

Jenny Sawyer

This month we learnt how to insert photos from the photos app into a Pages document. Everyone found at least four photos and arranged them onto their blank document page.

The best part was each person could screen mirror their photo page on to the TV screen via the Apple TV device. An interesting array of photos! Everything from donkeys to old slide digitised photos.  

We then searched the internet to find an Easter picture which we then screenshot, thereby sending it to the photo library so that we could edit it. We then tapped the + to send the photo to a Pages document. 

Jenny Sawyer

We began our March session with a YouTube clip demonstrating the Pages program on three different Apple devices; the iPhone, the iPad and the Macbook laptop.  Essentially Pages is the same with some differences in the layout on the toolbar.
Getting Started with Pages on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone - Dan's Tutorials:

Jenny Sawyer

​We began our February session watching a YouTube presentation which was an introduction to Pages. And then we had to apply some of that information to our practical tasks.

We had two tasks to complete.

1. To create and name a Folder.
2. To create and name a document inside our folder.

Everyone worked very hard to achieve these goals. A big thank you to Denise Jarvis for her individual assistance to many of the class members when they needed a helping hand. 

​Jenny Sawyer

Attention Apple Device Owners!  Are you interested in Word Processing using Apple's free inbuilt app, "Pages"?  Once a month we'll explore Apple's alternative to Word (The orange square with the pen).  This is a short course that runs for one semester, February to June.

Jenny Sawyer

The August session was my last Apple Beginners class for this year. Thank you to all who have attended.   There will be no more Apple classes for the rest of the year.

Jenny Sawyer

This month we had a revision session.   So, we put pen to paper and recorded answers for the research tasks set for our iPads.

Our first tasks were in the Settings App, which has a lot of information within it. We each found our iPad’s GB capacity and how much GB capacity we had left.

We found the time in Montevideo on the Clock App.   We checked out the weather forecast for Benalla over the next week.

And we saved a News story in Bookmarks.   It’s a tricky operation - but we are still working on it!

Finally, we checked out the distance to Tamworth and some accommodation for two nights.

We managed to do all of these tasks in about an hour.

So, to all the Apple iPadders who attended - Well done. 👍 ⭐ 🤗 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐


​Jenny Sawyer

Class members should have received an email from Jenny - but just in case - this week's class has been cancelled as Jenny is unwell and isolating.  

This month we followed on from using Siri to using dictation for text. This new function is specifically for dictation.  By enabling the Dictation function on your Apple device, typing a lot of text is a thing of the past. You do have to check that the translation of your spoken word is accurately recorded, just as you do when touch typing.

When the Dictation function is enabled, you can tap on the microphone symbol which is located to the left of the Space Bar on the keyboard, then speak. We all tried it out and had a lot of fun. 
​

​Jenny Sawyer

This month we looked at Siri which is the voice assistant for Apple devices.

After viewing a website that gave explanation of the Siri function and how it works, we all enabled Siri on our iPads.

In settings - (General - Siri and Search) you can also choose whether or not you want a male voice or a female voice.  Then after that, you can choose the accent you’d like Siri to use.   We each asked Siri a question and often the reply came with a visual link. 

For people who don’t like typing, Siri can take on the role of personal secretary and you can dictate your message or email.   If enabled on your phone Siri can make phone calls and give you map directions.

So, Siri can save you time - you just speak and Siri can set a timer, check sport scores, check the weather, check your calendar, make calculations, check cinema showings ................ And the list goes on. 

Jenny Sawyer

Once we got everyone connected to the U3A wi-fi we introduced ourselves and our devices.

We then watched two YouTube sites introducing iPads showing how to set up and how to customise your Home Screen.

My favourite tip was the diagonal swipe down from the top right corner. You can adjust your volume and your screen brightness.

We also looked at Settings and adjusted the display font and app layout. 

​Jenny Sawyer

We revisited the Settings App and checked out our data capacity (number of GB), iCloud usage, the model and the software version.

Then the class was given a problem to solve……How to show the degrees symbol.

Yes, we all managed to solve this and email reports were sent with a report of the current temperature.

As I write this - it is 17°C    📱

Jenny Sawyer

After COVID Restrictions and Lockdowns have curtailed the U3A program this month,
Tech Savvy Apple completed three sessions; Sessions 12, 13 and 14.

We discussed how computing technology is becoming increasingly more evident and
important in our lives. This seems to have been accelerated by the pandemic.

This month we have explored the FaceTime, Zoom, MyGov, Emails, AppleNews, ABC
News, BorrowBox, and AppleBooks.

When emailing we learned how to attach a news article and also just part of an article by
using the Select, Copy and Paste functions.

​In Session 5 we really got into the Camera App. Participants were challenged to complete 8 camera tasks including taking videos. Also, we screen mirrored a favourite photo each person had taken recently.
​
In Session 6 we finally began exploring the Photo App. The App already does a lot of sorting and classifying of your photos automatically. When your photo collection reaches a few thousand it is very handy to be able to search for a particular photo by honing firstly to years, then months, then days.
​
We played with the photo editing tools, after we had made a duplicate copy of a photo just in case our editing plans went amiss. 
​

Jenny Sawyer

In Session 3 we explored the Bookmarking function which enables you to save a website. When tapping on the Bookmark symbol you get three choices:  Bookmark, Reading List and Search History.

We looked up the program for The Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre 2021. And yes, there are lots of interesting shows coming up. E-tickets are becoming more commonplace having your phone linked to your tablet will make things easier.

We also entered data into our Contact List and our Calendar.

In Session 4 we watched a You Tube video explaining iCloud. There are many to choose from and if you would like to know more, try watching one. Bookmarking is a tricky function to use at first, so we practised again by choosing a favourite iPad stand.

Finally, we began exploring the Camera App and will be moving on to some photo editing next time.
​
Jenny Sawyer

During our first session we spent our time acquainting ourselves with all the buttons ports and camera lenses on our iPads.

​Then we fired up our devices and explored inside the Settings App. Each person could see how much iCloud storage they have and how much they have used. On the bar usage was colour coded and most of the used storage was for photos and videos. Newer devices usually have larger storage capacity.  All Apple devices come with 5GB of iCloud storage.

The next session was devoted to searching the Internet. What a great website Benalla U3A is.  Lots and lots of information accompanied by fabulous photos. Everyone was able to put the Benalla U3A weebly website onto our home screens for quick and easy access. In our searching we found out that there is a bus service from Benalla to Bendigo (which is a lot quicker than train) and that to walk from Benalla to Bendigo would take us 33 hours.  I’m definitely going to catch the bus. 

​Jenny Sawyer

​Tech Savvy Beginners is on again for anyone who has an Apple phone or iPad or is thinking about purchasing one.  Each session we will explore different functions with a hands on approach; or I should say fingers on approach. 

Classes in the U3A meeting room are held on the third, fourth and fifth Wednesdays of the month from 2 to 3.30 pm and will commence on Wednesday 17 February. 

Jenny Sawyer 0409 545 182

This month we revised researching the internet through the Safari App. Two of the best links in helping you with operating your device are:

• Stating the problem in the Google search bar and then choosing a site.
• Be Connected - Topic Library

We revised entering events into the Calendar App and also discovered that birthdays were automatically listed from your Contacts List.

But the birth date has to first be entered in the Contact List Mickey Mouse was our practice contact-

He is going to turn 92 on May 15th 2020!
 
A great discovery was being able to put the U3A Benalla website directly onto the home screen of an iPad or iPhone. It really was very easy!
​
We all had great fun discovering many of the features in the Camera App. This is a 10 second time lapse photo of the group taken with the ‘front camera’.

Our last session was spent looking at the Email App focussing on writing, attaching photos and sending.


​Jenny ​

So far we have had two sessions of Tech Savvy Beginners Apple.

During the first session we spent our time acquainting ourselves with all the buttons ports and camera lenses on iPads and the iPhone.

​Then we actually fired up our devices and explored inside the Settings App and each person could see how much GB they have on their device and how much they have used so far. Our largest capacity iPad in the group is 128 GB. We watched an 8 minute video about the history of Apple. Will Apple be able to keep up the tech innovations without Steve Jobs? - The iPhone being the first smart phone.

The next session was devoted to searching the Internet. What a great website Benalla U3A is. Lots and lots of information accompanied by fabulous photos. In our searching I found out that there is a bus service from Benalla to Echuca and that to walk from Benalla to Echuca would take me 26 hours. I’m definitely going to catch the bus.
​
Jenny Sawyer

2nd & 3rd & 4th Wednesday in Semester 1
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
U3A Meeting Room.

Tech Savvy Beginners is on again for anyone who has an Apple phone or iPad or is thinking about purchasing one.  Each session we will explore different functions using a hands-on approach.  There will be mentors to assist and give individual help.  Participants are encouraged to share their knowledge and skills with others as well.  iPads are available for borrowing so that you can familiarise yourself with the Apple operating system for either the iPad or iPhone.  Topics include:  Settings, Emails, Internet data, Internet research, Staying in touch through the internet, Camera, Photos, Money transactions, Apps (Apps that come with your device and Apps you can choose yourself/The App Store).

​Jenny Sawyer

Sadly, Tech Savvy Beginners iPads is finishing at the end of June. U3A is offering an Android course in the same time slot for the remainder of the year.  So a message to all the iPadders is to keep on using your devices for news reading, emailing, messaging, bookmarking, Face Timing, Pod casting, taking photos, filming, keeping a digital diary, adding to your Contact list, surfing the web, booking tickets, buying stuff, downloading apps, Note taking, reading maps, etc, etc.  If there is something you want to do on your iPad and are not sure try Google!

​Also a ‘Thank You’ to all of the participants who have been instrumental in my iPad learning journey too; I have now discovered Pod Casts!


Jenny Sawyer