Dear Miss Avon:   School students in homes without Internet access, what can be done to help when schools are totally online?

For students without Internet access, these are the 7 things that may help for right now while schools are in the “sudden upheaval but struggling to survive mode.”

1. designating each student a special telephone school tutor like a phone pal to help each student on an as needed basis (used to be called a Computer Help Desk when schools first started using computers)
2. mailing offline printed instructional packets and students returning homework back by postal mail or school homework drop box
3. making school iPads available for students to use at home free of charge with Internet connectivity available by new designated Wi-Fi spots
4. making a school bus a Wifi hotspot that offers free broadband
5. getting school bus drivers to continue their regular route but to deliver meals, instruction packets, and to pick up homework
6. creating new designated parking lot areas as school Wifi hotspots
7. delivering classroom instruction by television

TEM Talks – Tech Education Moment Blog #64

Dear Miss Avon

What will “the New Normal” pandemic changes look like in the future?

The “New Normal” after the pandemic changes are likely to include these 12 things.

1. attending church, funeral, graduation and related program events anywhere, anytime, online rather than at a physical building location
2. attending business meetings and conferences online rather than in person
3. cleaning public and common area surfaces and spaces much more frequently
4. going to the movies, concerts, or sports events via a streaming service rather than in person
5. home schooling rather than public schooling via distance learning
6. online grocery and retail shopping rather than in a physical store shopping
7. preparing more meals at home and less family restaurant dining
8. private transportation rather than on a crowded bus, airline, ship, or train
9. seeing the doctor online rather than via an office visit
10. staying socially connected online rather than at physical site locations
11. working from home rather than working from the corporate office location
12. requiring health checks before starting work or using a public or group facility

Dear Miss Avon: What is the good, the bad, the ugly of IoT for seniors (Internet of Things)?  TEM Talks Tech Education Moment Blog #54

The Good: IoT is terrific for seniors during the current season of social distancing communications and such.  IoT can help seniors to stay healthier and self-sufficient longer. That is, for seniors who have access, know how, and will use IoT technology.

The Bad:   There are still major Digital Divide issues in many homes where seniors do not have Wi-Fi connectivity, up-to-date Internet devices, or someone competent and patient enough to show them how to install and/or use IoT gadgetry.

The Ugly: There are still significant numbers of seniors with trust issues when it comes to using IoT technology, especially for banking and bill paying.

The internet of things is collecting and sharing data over the Internet by adding sensors and intelligence to ordinary, everyday objects to make the objects smart. This could include water bottles that tell you how much water you drank today, toothbrushes that measure mouth cleanliness, refrigerators that order restock supplies for you; telemedicine monitoring shoes, socks, and watches; self-driving and conversational lawnmowers, trucks, and cars.

beyondcomputerbasics@yahoo.com

Dear Prospective Computer Keyboarding/Typing Campers

At the new 2-week typing camps, campers age 13 to 98 will be using Typing.com, an online typing tutor, to learn about proper touch-typing techniques and improve computer keyboarding skills. Learning to touch type helps learners to be more productive and better prepared for success in our digital world. Course completers can earn a typing certificate.

There is opportunity to practice and master the keyboard one lesson at a time. Typists can pick up where they left off in the course which displays a keyboard and hand diagram to reinforce proper finger placement.

Self-enroll with your own individual email account. Access typing.com from any personal computer (with an internet connection and modern web browser). From the teacher account, Dr. Kate, your typing teacher can monitor and review your progress and track important statistics like typing speed, accuracy, and time spent typing.

Welcome to camp. Select the desired camp based on your current typing ability and enroll today.

Self-Enrollment Links and Codes

• Typing 2-Week Basic Training for Beginners or Hunt & Peckerstyping.com/join#5E4B0397280EA     code: 5E4B0397280EA   

• So, You Think You Can Type Fun and Games – Intermediate Leveltyping.com/join#5E965B0C7ED2C     code: 5E965B0C7ED2C

• Job Seekers & 2nd Career Typing Skill Building Camp – Advance Level       typing.com/join#5E965DFD81709      code: 5E965DFD81709

Holy technology is social media, websites, management software, apps, devices, and construction use that enhances church growth, services, ministry, and programs.

Dear Miss Avon

Is it true that some community centers and religious organizations provide free of charge digital education workshops? If so, what are some current topics of interest to the baby boomer generation.

Dear Miss Avon
What is STEAM, TEM, and WIT?
STEAM is an acronym for Science Technology Entertainment Aptitude Money;  the senior technology education movement for age 50+; counterpart to STEM for high schoolers

 What are TEM Talks? 
TEM Talks, Technology Education Moments, is a blog about tech products & basic computer related skills and knowledge that benefit all humankind

What is WIT?
WIT refers to Wise Intelligent Technology usage and also Women in Technology;  a digital literacy citizenship project of 1Byte Computer literacy, Inc.; an acronym coined by 1Byte Computer Literacy, Inc. founder during the early 1990s to encourage women to pursue high tech careers in technology and the trades

Dear Miss Avon

What is the best computer course for a beginner to take this decade from a job hunters’ perspective?

Based on job market demand – machine Learning & artificial intelligence online courses

People are beginning to take online courses in machine learning because projections are that it is one of the most profitable in demand skills to acquire. Machine learning applies to every industry with initiatives like self-driving vehicles, Mars vacations, online medical exams, and robotic friends, pills, restaurants, and cleaning services.

Based on absolute beginner skill level – computer keyboarding and Microsoft office basic courses

People who do not know much about computers will usually take introductory, basic simple courses involving computer basics, typing, or Microsoft Office Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.