On Wednesday 19th October following Meet and Mingle, we went on to our Get Online Week function which was supported by the Good Things Foundation who run the Be Connected program. We talked about the benefits of the Be Connected program and the variety of Topics that are available in the Topic Library. Topics can be accessed through the website www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au

A paper copy of these topics was given to those who attended so that they can access any topic which they required help with at home.

The theme of this Get Online Week program was Try One Thing. Jenny Sawyer who runs our Apple Beginners class then demonstrated being able to buy books online. She went through the process of selecting an appropriate website, and then choosing the most suitable version of the children’s book. Jenny walked us through the payment process using PayPal.  Jenny also talked about using Borrow Box to download books and audio books from the local library, and being able to use these for up to 14 days.

After Jenny’s talk we all enjoyed a delicious lunch on tables placed under the veranda of the Senior’s centre. Thank you to everyone for a very enjoyable morning.

The Be Connected regular program is not running in November due to lack of participants. However, some of the new people who attended Try One Thing are participating in Robyn Lukey’s Android group, which uses Be Connected's resources, for the remainder of 2022.

Be Connected will recommence in February 2023.
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Margaret Jenkins ​

This month we had Jenny Sawyer running the first session of Be Connected before she and Neville went on an overseas trip. Thank you, Jenny, for the effort you have put into running Be Connected for the majority of 2022.

The second session saw Margaret Jenkins, ably assisted by Geraldine McCorkell, run a session on using My Gov for those that attended. My Gov is a relatively new innovation which encourages everyone to use it to contact Medicare, Centrelink, The Australian Taxation Office, My Aged Care and many other Government departments. Using My Gov saves people wanting to find out information being on the phone for a long period of time to the relevant department.

Be Connected have a very good segment on My Gov, and explain that all anyone needs to start a My Gov account is an Email address and a mobile phone number. Once the initial My Gov account is set up for one entity such as Medicare, other Government departments can be added at a later date as required.

This month we revised some online skills. I paid my Telstra bill using PayPal and my North East Water bill using BPAY, projecting the transactions onto the TV screen.  Sometimes it can be daunting paying bills online for the first few times.  You could ask a trusted friend or relative who has experience with online payments to be with you when you are learning.

So then, in light of the long cold winter we are having, we went to the Games Centre in The Topic Library.  The games differed depending on what device you are using. We all had tablet devices so went to the unit for them--Games for smart devices - touchscreens.

We tried all of the games--Jewel Match, Word up! Night Piano, Fill, Fruit Swipe, Car Park, Hidden Objects. Beware! We did find ‘Jewel Match’ was a bit addictive, but probably the most fun.

Due to my forthcoming overseas trip, Margaret Jenkins will be taking over the Be Connected classes from Wednesday 14th September.
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Jenny Sawyer

This month we continued the unit ‘Online Hobbies’ and looked at Blogging.

​Blogging is a means for you to share your interests and hobbies online with either a closed audience- people you select or the whole world - those who find your blog online.

Many people using blogs use a travel blog to share their travel stories and photos.

When visiting the App Store, some blogging apps are free and others you will need to pay.

​Google has a free blogging site called Blogger.

More recent social media such as Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr are another form for posting and sharing interests and hobbies.
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Jenny Sawyer

This month we explored the Google Earth App. The Unit, ‘Exploring Google Earth’, is found in the Online Hobbies Section of Be Connected topics. ‘Google Earth is a computer program that’s like an interactive digital atlas. It shows you the whole planet, right down to your own house.’ Be Connected's Google Earth Program gives you information about places and links to find out more.

You can plot distances on maps and view in various modes.  It must be remembered that none of the real-life images are in real time.    They are satellite images taken beforehand - sometimes years ago.   

​So, over the course of two weeks, we familiarised ourselves with Google Earth and went searching and exploring the earth.

And yes, we all found our current and sometimes a previous house that we had lived in. 

​Jenny Sawyer

In May we continued the theme of buying online. In the Be Connected Topic Library we viewed ‘How to Pay Online’.

The main focus was using PayPal. There is an informative video explaining setting up a PayPal account.

PayPal is now an option on some service providers eg. Telstra bills for payment.  So, I demonstrated a real payment to Telstra using PayPal.

Some advantages of using PayPal online are that -
~. A PayPal password is a lot easier to type in than your credit card details.
~ You receive a payment receipt almost straight away via email.  

I did receive my new iPad cover which I purchased in class through eBay in April using PayPal. 

Jenny Sawyer

​We had two sessions in March. Again, we discussed the Internet and made sure all participants were connected to the U3A Internet by looking for the appropriate network and then entering the passcode.  If already connected previously then we checked that devices were set at automatically connect.

​To save time we added the Be Connected site to our Home Page as a direct link eliminating a Google search.  

​The ensuing lessons were focused on ‘Using Email’:
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• What is email?
• Creating an email account.
• Sending an email.

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Jenny Sawyer

Welcome to all Be Connected participants, old and new.   

Be Connected has added new courses and topics to the program. The 2022 Course list handout now comprises seven pages. 

Seeing as we are at the beginning of the year, we have gone back over some of the introductory information.   We started with ‘What is the Internet?’ and ‘Using the Internet’.    It was interesting to reflect on these topics, even for seasoned users who are using the Internet every day.
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Jenny Sawyer

​Safer Internet Day – ‘Play It Fair Online’, is a time to consider ‘best practice’ in internet safety in terms of our own online presence as well as protecting ourselves from online scares. The ‘Safety First’ online topic resources on Be Connected will continue to be drawn upon in 2022 and we will continue to regularly raise the issue of protection against scams—a topic at a Meet and Mingle presentation last year. ​

Protect against Scams

Be alert. If you get an email or phone call you suspect is not genuine:

1. Verify –Check using contact details you get from a phone book or independent online search.
2. Avoid clicking links – before clicking, hover your computer mouse over the URL (web link) and the ‘from’ email address:
   • If an email address doesn’t end with the company’s name and .com after the ‘@’ symbol, it’s likely to be a scam.
   • If a URL is different from the link description, it is probably a scam.
3. Take your time – many scams will try to create a sense of urgency. Don’t be rushed into handing over your personal information.
4. Consider your privacy – Only provide information such as Medicare numbers and credit card security codes to organisations you can trust. Requests for private data should ring alarm bells.
5. Report – If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.

​In November we revisited the ‘All About Data’ Course.  This is divided into five units.   We have been working systematically through these during our last few sessions:

• What is data?
• Choosing a data plan
• Managing your data
• Home data vs mobile data
• Going overseas

How timely is it that our last unit to complete next month is ‘Going overseas’ just when the pandemic rules are being revised to allow overseas travel!   ✈️


​Jenny Sawyer

​Over 20 U3A Benalla members attended the Be Connected lunch held on the veranda of the Senior’s Centre on Wednesday 20 October 2021. This was part of the Get On Line week celebrations supported by the Good Things Foundation who run the Be Connected course for the Federal Government.

There were many pleasing aspects of the lunch. First the food from Hide's Bakery was delicious, and the outlook from the veranda of the Senior’s Centre was magnificent. U3A Benalla has never used this as a venue before, but on a beautiful sunny October day the setting worked very well.

We also welcomed three new participants Joy Campbell, Terry Campbell and Trish Saker who wish to join our digital classes.  We were pleased to see our Android Convenor Robyn Lukey joining in the fun.

Another pleasing aspect of the lunch was the interaction between members who were able to share their skills of attaching a vaccination digital certificate to the Services Victoria App for other members who needed assistance. We also distributed a photocopy of the method for attaching the vaccination certificate to the Services Victoria App to several other members.

The lunch ran until Jenny Sawyer’s Apple class commenced, everyone voting that it was a very enjoyable way to celebrate Get On Line week.
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Margaret Jenkins  

Jenny Sawyer

In addition to Jenny’s Sawyer’s Be Connected classes on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of the month from 2 to 3.30 pm, we are currently piloting a small group ‘Zoom’ short course for beginners and on-line mentoring sessions for members keen to try hosting Zoom sessions themselves.  There are also some useful ‘self-help’ resources on the website – go to  https://u3abenalla.weebly.com/using-zoom.html. If you are interested in learning to attend or host Zoom Meetings, please fill out the online application form at https://u3abenalla.weebly.com/news/are-you-interested-in-learning-how-to-attend-zoom-meetings or call Margaret Jenkins on 5762 6944.

Also related to Be Connected, U3A Benalla are celebrating Get On Line Week with a Pizza Lunch at the Senior's Centre on Wednesday 20 October at 11.45am. Depending on how many people are allowed in the Senior's Centre that day, plans have been made to use the verandah outside our U3A room for some tables and chairs so that we can enjoy the lunch without breaking COVID regulations.  If you have neighbours or friends who would like to join our computer classes next year, please bring them along to the lunch so that we can provide them with information regarding the various digital classes available in 2022.
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Margaret Jenkins, Bev Lee and Jenny Sawyer

U3A Benalla is hoping to have a Pizza lunch at 11.45am on Wednesday 20th October 2021 in the Senior’s Centre as part of Get On Line week for U3A members.  This will follow Meet and Mingle which will be held at 10am that day.

The theme of this year’s Get On Line week is “Get Connected”. The Committee understand that this needs to be a COVID safe event, and are hoping that lock down will be relaxed by that date.  

​Margaret Jenkins

Our Be Connected Program has been interrupted by Lockdowns and we managed to deliver one session this month.

​We looked at QR coding which stands for ‘Quick Response Code’. Then we began working through a new Be Connected Unit; ‘Connecting To Others’.

Hopefully we are able to keep in contact with friends and family during Lockdowns.

The telephone helps you do that, but computing technology can let you see each other online (mobile phone, tablet or computer) and even have a group chat or meeting.
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Skype   Messenger   Facebook   Zoom   FaceTime   Instagram 

Jenny ​

​We have been working through the unit for ‘Staying Safer Online’ and have covered:
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• Safe Passwords

 

• Paying Safely Online

 

• Avoiding Scams and Tricks

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• Downloading and Saving Documents

During the units presented on the TV screen, there are videos and some interactive tasks and  quizzes.

There are also also discussion comments and questions encouraged to further everyone’s knowledge and confidence when using computers, laptops, tablets or smart phones.

Jenny Sawyer

Welcome to past Be Connected participants and to new ones for 2021.

Joining the Be Connected Network was the first order of the day and it was relatively smooth computing with those signed up for previous courses helping newcomers enrol.

So when logging in to the Be Connected site everyone now clicks or taps on Sign In. And enters their Email and Password. There are now 29 modules of informative computing information.

We had an in depth look at Passwords. Great when you remember them and great when they work! They are necessary when you have any computing device.
 
Our main focus over the past two months has been on Safety Online. Our last session looked at Phishing scams. 

​Jenny Sawyer

Just a reminder that Jenny isn't available to take the class on May 5th, but will be back next week!

Be Connected is being offered in 2021 for members that would like to broaden their computing knowledge and increase their confidence using smart phones, tablets, iPads and laptops. You will need to bring a device to each session - internet access is provided by U3A.  The first sessions of Be Connected, which is held on the 1st and 2nd Wednesday from 2 to 3.30pm in the U3A meeting room will be on the 3rd  and 10th March.
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Jenny Sawyer  0409 545 182

News update!  'Be Connected' is be taken in 2021 by Jenny Sawyer, who takes the Beginner iPad courses and has often worked alongside Margaret Jenkins in presenting Be Connected since its inception. The 'Be Connected' course description for 2021 is -     

"Attention to all members with portable computing devices, be they smart phones, tablets, iPads or laptops.  Be Connected is being offered in 2021 for members who would like to broaden their computing knowledge and increase their confidence using smart phones, tablets, iPads and laptops.  You will need to bring a device to each session - internet access is provided by U3A.  If you don't have a suitable device, U3A have a limited number of iPads and tablets for borrowing."

Margaret Jenkins, has thoughtfully and capably implemented the Be Connected program at U3A Benalla - from making early and continuing funding submissions resulting in successful grants to taking up the challenge of presenting sessions, then semester length courses for the past few years. Thank you so much, Margaret, for your committment to providing opportunities for U3A Benalla members to gain skills and confidence in the online environment  And thank you, Jenny, for being prepared to take over from Margaret in 2021!

Bev Lee
Tech Savvy Teaching Team

Whilst we have not had face to face contact, a few members have phoned Jenny Sawyer and me with computer and phone related questions. That is fine. We are only too happy to help.

During the past few days we have been told that Be Connected has some new courses available in its Topic Library. One of these courses is related to setting up a myGov account. This account is extremely handy if you need to claim on Medicare, contact Centrelink or the Australian Tax Office, find out about My Aged Care or use My Health Record.

To access myGov you need an Email address and a mobile phone number. The myGov course takes you through registration, the benefits that are available through registration and how to access the various Government departments.

In your browser put www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au Then Sign In on the top right hand side. Go to the Topic Library where you will see All Topics and New Topics. Tap on New topics and then the myGov section. If you cannot sign in for any reason, you can still access the myGov part of the Topic Library.

It is a useful tool. Hope you find it useful too.

Margaret Jenkins

The value of our Be Connected Drop In sessions has been really emphasised with the need for us all to use our computers and devices so extensively during this COVID-19 lockdown.

Now we are starting to regain normality, but only slowly at the moment. We are going to have to wait until the Benalla Rural City Council opens the Seniors Building before we get back to face to face classes.

It has been suggested that two Be Connected groups might be worthwhile when we return. The first group are our U3A Benalla members who have developed basic skills in using their device, but want to expand their knowledge and be able to do more things on them. They have seen the benefit of using Skype, WhatsApp and Face Time and perhaps have started using Zoom for communicating with family.

The second group are those U3A members and others in the Community who have yet to acquire digital skills.  Some of these people have heard about U3A digital classes for beginners run by Jenny Sawyer and have indicated that want to join them when face to face groups recommence. 

So at the moment, look after yourselves and we hope we can resume U3A Be Connected again soon.
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Margaret Jenkins

The value of being able to use our tablet, iPad and computer during this time of isolation is very important.  We hope you are using Email to keep in contact with friends and relatives.

There are also programs such as Skype and Face Time which we have covered as part of the Be Connected program previously. The value of using these programs now is enormous.

Refresh your involvement with these programs by looking up www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au   and then going to the Topic Library and scrolling down to find the Learning Module you are looking for. Connecting to Others is the Module which takes you through Skype, WhatsApp and how to use Face Time.

We look forward to continuing our online journey when U3A resumes face to face classes.
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Margaret Jenkins