For seniors and others who suffer from a lack of technology know-how, here are some of these programs being offered to help people learn to navigate various smart devices including phones and laptops, as discussed at the media Lunch and Learn event held July 9.
No more calling your grandson or granddaughter, nephew or niece, to help with your phone or computer — help has arrived, in classes currently being taught at ACTs Community Center and the City of Amarillo Downtown Library. The Digital Literacy Team includes Caiden Scott, Maggie Elder and Reagan Wolf.
Elder said that the classes have been very successful and are growing as the word gets out. “We’ve been both excited and incredibly pleased with the response to the Silver Surfers program,” she said. “Our goal was to start intentionally, to grow slowly and responsibly. The community’s engagement has exceeded expectations.”
“Since launching in October of 2024, we’ve hosted 42 classes with a total of 233 attendees across multiple locations, and we’ve provided over 3,400 hours of one-on-one tech assistance,” Elder added. “We’re looking forward to expanding our reach to more locations and continuing to grow the range of topics we can offer.”
Reagan Wolf is in charge of the classes at the City of Amarillo Downtown Library, and Caiden Scott is over the classes at ACTs Community Center.
Technology classes – Computers, phones & A.I.
The Digital Literacy Department is adding classes to their agenda, due to the popularity of classes at ACTS, according to Scott. Currently, the technology classes at Acts, 816 S. Van Buren, are coming back every Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m. July 23. That series will be about setting up your phone and how to navigate your smartphone of tablet. They are also at 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Downtown Library, 413 SE 4th Ave.
On July 21, the topic will be an introduction to using computers. It will show those who have never used a computer how to use the mouse, keyboard and what a desktop looks like. The same series will be at Warford Activity Center on Sept. 8 and continue until the end of December.
Those interested can go to amarillolibrary.org/computer class to find out how to sign up for a class and descriptions of all the classes.
1-on-1 Technology Assistance for phone, computer or online accounts
1-on-1 Technology Assistance can be found on Mondays from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Warford Center, 1330 NW 18th Ave., or from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at Acts Community. For these classes, register online at www.amarillolibrary.org/how-d0-I/sign-up-for/1-on-1-help.
The classes are for those 13 years old and older. If someone can’t make one of the classes, there are other options, including getting ones available on an online platform. They are trying to keep the class to about 20 people, so everyone can have a chance to ask questions. You can find a class and register online at www.amarillolibrary.org/how-do-I/sign-up-for/computer-classes. Interested people can also visit the Acts Community page to check class dates and topics, or call Scott at 806-341-9339.
The list of programs includes:
- Intro to Computers: Mouse Basics
- Intro to Computers: Keyboard Basics
- Intro to Computers: Desktop Basics
- Web Browsing
- Scams & Safety
- Digital Citizenship & Identifying Misinformation
- Video Conferencing
- Tele-Health
- Email Basics
- Social Media
- Online Shopping
- Digital Banking
- Civic Engagement
