Posts filed in category ‘Tasters’.

We run several Internet taster sessions every week — and in the summer months we have special sessions in the early evening for people who cannot attend during the day. Tasters are not classes — they are short introductions to what the Internet can do for you, and how you can learn more at Hackney Silver Surfers.

Internet taster campaign 2009 (updated).

New media, new technology, new learners.

Two cats looking intently at a screen display of goldfish.

Two cats looking intently at a screen display of goldfish.

Our main focus for the remainder of this year will be our Internet tasters — a campaign to introduce the Internet to as many new learners as possible.

What is a taster?

A taster is not a course — it’s an introduction to a new topic.  We hope that the new learners will be inspired to take it further and sign up for more advanced activities, but we will assume that they come to the tasters out of curiosity as much as anything else. That is what tasters are for.

Our tasters are usually spread over two sessions, each lasting about three hours.

When do the tasters happen?

  • Tuesday afternoon, 1.30 - 4.30 pm.
  • Thursday all day, 10.00 - 4.30 pm.
  • Friday morning, 10 am - 2 pm.

What can everybody do to help?

Please tell all your friends, neighbours, colleagues, relatives, people you talk to at the bus stop. If you belong to a club or any other social group — tell them that we are organised to accept block bookings — up to 12 people can attend together as a group. You don’t have to be pushy to be persuasive — you already know that The Lawns can be an amusing, warm and hospitable  place to spend a few hours.

There is more information on our Tasters page.

Filed in: Activities, Tasters, ~ shelf life exceeded ~.

Taster postcards.

Reduced image of one side of the postcards.

Reduced image of one side of the postcards.Ca

Can you help distribute our new postcard flyers?

We have printed 1200 postcards to help publicise our taster session. We have two designs on glossy card, printed on both sides. If you can’t see them on the shelves at The Lawns, ask a helper to show you some.

Our idea is to get the postcards all over Hackney as soon as possible — wherever older people meet, or visit.

This is where you can help! Do you ever find yourself in a pensioners club, a church hall, a doctor’s waiting room — any place where you know older people might pick up one of the postcards?

If you know of a place like that, please ask a helper to give you a handful of postcards, and put them where you know they will be found.

20 postcards in 50 different locations around Hackney would make a huge difference to our taster campaign. Please help!

But don’t leave them on buses please — they just end up on the floor with the freebie newspapers!

There is more information about the taster campaign on our Taster page.

Filed in: Activities, Tasters, ~ shelf life exceeded ~.

Silver Surfers’ Day, 15 May 2009.

Silver Surfers' Day logo.

Silver Surfers' Day logo.

Friday 15 May is Silver Surfers’ Day in the UK.

Hackney Silver Surfers All-Day Silver-Surfing Party.

At Hackney Silver Surfers we have 5 silver surfer days every week — but we are going to make an special effort on 15 May. We will have an all-day silver-surfing party for new learners. If you are not new yourself, bring a friend. We will have informal Internet taster sessions for the curious, in a party atmosphere (we are good at that).

You can find out more about national Silver Surfers’ Day on the Digital Unite website.

Filed in: Activities, Tasters, ~ shelf life exceeded ~.

Adult Learners Week, 9-15 May 2009.

Adult Learners' Week logo.

Adult Learners' Week logo.

9-15 May is Adult Learners’ Week in the UK.

Our timetable will be even more packed than usual. We expect to be very busy!

Special Internet taster sessions.

Our taster sessions on Tuesday 12 May and Wednesday 13 May (2  - 5 pm) are sponsored by the Hackney Learning Trust.

Our Silver Surfers’ Day celebration on Friday 15 May is also part of Adult Learners’ Week.

Hackney Libraries tasters.

The Hackney Library service has planned more than 50 events in Adult Learners’ Week. Please visit their ALW 2009 web page for full details.

Filed in: Activities, Tasters, ~ shelf life exceeded ~.

For absolute beginners.

A senior learner being helped by a volunteer to use a laptop computer.

A senior learner being helped by a volunteer to use a laptop computer.

Here are some ideas for people learning with a helper ….

Online tutorials.

Games

Things to do offline.

  • Keyboard skills — it’s hard to beat Notepad for learning about the keyboard, and also getting some practice with the standard Windows menus.
  • Mouse skills — Solitaire of course! Pinball is also excellent.

If you have any other ideas, please don’t keep them to yourself!

Filed in: Activities, Tasters.