​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

​​During the first Be Connected session for March we introduced our members to the Be Connected website at www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au In particular we went to the Topic Library where all the various modules of the Be Connected program are outlined.

As there had recently been an eSafety Day for Be Connected we concentrated on the Safety First Module which included Safe Passwords and Paying Safely on line.

The benefit of this Drop-In session is that members who come to this session often get one on one support for whatever problem they are having with their device.

In the second session Dorothy Webber showed participants how to use Online shopping as well as helping with keeping contact lists for phone contacts.

From 21 March 2020 due to COVID-19 U3A Benalla groups will not be meeting until the second Semester. You will all receive Email notification when groups can recommence.
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Margaret Jenkins & Bill Parris

Over 40 members and friends of U3A attended our Pizza night held on Wednesday 26th February in the U3A room. We all enjoyed pizza and the delicious salads as well as the chocolate cake which followed. The evening was sponsored by the Be Connected program which is run for the Federal Government.

During the evening we took the opportunity to tell our members about the Be Connected Drop In program which commenced in February 2020 with sessions on the first and third Monday mornings at 10am. The members who have attended these sessions are interested in expanding their computer skills to keep pace with the many communications that are available on the internet. People who have few computer skills are also encouraged to come along. U3A Benalla has a small number of mobile devices which are available to lend to members to get them started if they do not have a tablet or iPad of their own.

We are using the Be Connected modules as a guide to help our learners. Following the Pizza night we had a session on Safety first which included safe passwords and paying safely on line. Everyone seemed to appreciate the excellent words of advice that the module provided. The module is available under the Topic Library on www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au for those who would like to look it up. 
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The next session of Be Connected will be on Monday 16th March 2020 at 10am. All welcome.

Margaret Jenkins