I am pleased to report that an ever-growing number of our Class Leaders have embraced the use of technology to keep in touch with class members and run online classes. Some of our online classes are new and some of the existing classes that have gone online are open to additional members.

To join an online class you need an internet connection and a computer or mobile device with a video camera and microphone. See Learning Online on our website for instructions on how to participate in a Zoom class.

What a strange time we are experiencing as we try to remain connected to our U3A Members. It has been a steep learning curve for the Admin team of Elsie, Ken and Valerie and special thanks go to Ken who took on the challenge of programming and working with Class Leaders to get them up and running with holding a class via Zoom.

Although we are officially closed, many of our Leaders have embraced the use of technology to keep in touch with their class members and to run online classes. Email, Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom and Jitsi are some of the methods being used and are proving to be marvellous solutions to our enforced isolation, allowing members to still interact with others in their classes and to continue their class work.

This new way of teaching was helped by the Committee of Management purchasing three Zoom Pro licenses, allowing us to program time slots for all of our Leaders who want to run classes online.

Some of the classes running online are closed to additional members as the Leader is concentrating on their enrolled members who have reached a certain level of competency.

The classes that are available for you to enrol in now are listed below. If you wish to enrol in any of these classes:

• Click here to login to the UMAS database with your membership number and password. (If you have forgotten your membership number or password email )
• Go to view courses. The courses you can enrol in start with the special online code 20AAOL.
• Click on the class you wish to join and don’t forget to press confirm.
• Once you have enrolled and been accepted into a Zoom class the leader will send you the Zoom link to join.

If any member would like to host a one-off or short course, contact the Course Administrator with the details.

Online classes that have vacancies and are available for enrolment include:

General Classes

Seated Zumba Exercise, Fitness at Home, Oil Painting for Beginners and experienced, Guitar for Beginners, Accompaniment and Song, Yoga, Yoga Laughter, Dance Exercise, Africa the Dark Continent, Legs Strength Training, Photography as a Hobby

Computer Classes

Computer Internet Searches, Genealogy continuing online, Should I replace Office 2010?, Android, Beyond the Basics, How to Manage your Budget, Smart Device as a travelling companion, Security for Mobile Phones, Facebook Security, Browse Security, Don’t be a Wally Online, Secure your WIFI, Using A VPN, Back up for your Computer, Using a Password Manager.

More classes to come?

Keep an eye on our website for any additional classes that will be available online in the coming weeks.

Missing your library?

Many of the services only previously offered during library visits are now available to library members online. You will find a number of goodies like the inclusion of Choice, Press Reader, Ancestry and The Age. Here is the link for you to search http://www.wml.vic.gov.au/Files/Digital_Resource_Guide_Interactive.pdf

Military History

Leader Mel Green publishes a weekly mini newsletter each week. It is available on our website.

And a thousand cranes were made by our craft class as a sign of hope…

One thousand paper cranes were made for U3A Nunawading as a sign of hope and good health for all members in this strange time. They were made by Jasmine Teen and her Nunawading craft group: Bee, Bobbi, Christine, Connie, Teresa, Tien, Nellie, Chieko, Kieko, Rebecca and Sumiyo. Thank you ladies! As Silver Grove is closed I brought them home and they are hanging in my U3A workspace waiting to go to U3A when restrictions are lifted. Read more about the Cranes for Hope here

Congratulations to our adaptable Leaders and class members for adopting technology to continue their U3A involvement! And many thanks to Ken Briscoe who spends a large amount of time each day assisting Leaders and members who might be having a problem and also to Valerie for being available to be the sounding board and tester as we go from our Learners to our P plates.

Elsie Mutton on behalf of the Course Admin team