Funded by the Australian Government
News Bulletin February 2015
Bytes
Online tutorials for
seniors
D
id you know that BFS kiosk
staff and seniors have access
to interactive online training
modules to help them to
develop their technology skills?
These online modules are entirely
browser based, which means you don’t
need additional plugins or anything like
that to use them. You just need to create a
free user account to get yourself started.
The online training has been developed
by Webster Publishing and is underpinned
by their learning management system
called Knowledge Presenter.
Cont’d p. 3
Editorial
Welcome to the first edition of Bytes
for 2015.
Our cover story
In this issue, we explore the online
training modules that are available to
kiosk staff and seniors. These resources
are a fantastic way to introduce new
technology to seniors or to learn how
to use some new technology.
Kiosk swap at Gympie
Check out our profile on Gympie and
District Gold Rush Festival Inc. (p. 4)
who took over a BFS kiosk formerly
run by the Gympie Senior Citizens
Centre – and it’s been smooth sailing
ever since.
ASCCA and U3A online
Nan from ASCCA shares information
about family histories on p. 5 and U3A
Online have their usual GEMs.
It’s great to be back on board. Looking
forward to sharing information and
working together in 2015.
Enjoy!
Tips for teaching adults
If you are tutoring seniors, it is important to be aware of the
principles of adult learning. Here are some tips.
Tip 1
Adult learners are goal focussed and internally
motivated.
Tip 2
Adult learners want their learning to be relevant and
specific to their needs.
Tip 3
Adult learners demand respect and to be perceived as
capable of learning.
Tip 4
Adult learners want their learning experience to
recognise their life experience, ideas and skills.
Tip 5
Adult learners want their learning to be practical and for
it to apply to their lives.
What is a LMS?
A learning management
system or LMS is a software
application that facilitates the
delivery of learning modules
and resources to learners.
Most LMSs are web-based
which means they can be used
anywhere provided there is
access to the Internet.
The BFS online training covers
areas such as mobile devices,
Office products, cyber safety
and much more.
More about the modules
The BFS online training resources were
designed with seniors in mind but are
also suitable for anyone who wants to
learn an aspect of technology that is
new to them.
After logging into the online training,
learners can easily work their way
through the various modules. The
LMS keeps a track of what training
they’ve done; where they are up to in
each module and allows them to get
certificates upon completion.
The philosophy behind the training
One of the underpinning theories
behind the online training is
Cognitive Load Theory – developed
by John Swiller. The idea is that when
someone is presented with too much
information, they reach their ‘cognitive
load’ and may become confused and
unable to absorb the information. This
theory suggests that it is important
to keep the cognitive load of learners
at a minimum when they are learning
technically challenging information.
The online training is designed not to
overload the learner with information,
images, text boxes or arrows etc. The
modules never exceed 15 minutes.
Most are around the 5 to 10 minute
mark. This makes it easier for seniors
to grasp concepts and also to find the
time to sit down and work their way
through them. Research has shown
that small periods of training are
much more effective than long drawn
out training sessions.
The online training also gives learners
information around how long it took
to complete a module and when they
last accessed a module.
Volunteer tutors should familarise
themselves with the online training
to see how it can help them better
support their senior learners.
Want to know more?
For more information on the online training,
go to the Broadband for Seniors website:
(http://staging.necseniors.net.au/tutor/
index.html)
Thar’s gold in them thar hills
I
n May last year, Gympie and District
Gold Rush Festival Inc. took over
a BFS kiosk formerly run by the
Gympie Senior Citizens Centre – and
it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
Whilst, Gold Rush’s core business is
organising an annual festival, as a notfor profit association that works with
volunteers of all ages, it was an easy
decision.
Gold Rush is situated in a prominent
area of Gympie and has a big space,
which allows ease of access for wheel
chairs and motorised scooters, plus
plenty of parking for seniors.
‘We are proud of our latest venture. It
keeps us in touch with the community
and gives seniors the opportunity to
become proficient with the wonders
that modern computers can now
bring,’ says the President Jan Collins.
‘One client, Katherine, who is originally
from Singapore, ... mainly wanted to
learn how to open emails and send
emails but is now wanting to learn
other computer skills and is excited
at the prospect of where this new
knowledge will take her,’ explains Jan.
A great outcome for the Gympie
community.
Gympie and District Gold Rush Festival
BFS volunteer tutor Jodie Fraser with
enthusiastic learner Katherine.
Service delivery arrangements
NEC Australia is pleased to be continuing in the role of Broadband for Seniors
(BFS) service provider until 30th April 2015 to aid transition to the new service
delivery arrangements. The Department of Social Services will provide further
information on the new service delivery arrangements as soon as they can. We
appreciate your patience during this transition period.
Spreading the word
Are you ‘Spreading the Word to your Local Community’
about your Broadband for Seniors Kiosk?
Have a look at Chapter 2 in our Staying Connected
guide. Click on this link http://www.necseniors.net.au/
hosts/kiosk-documents and then click on the Staying
Connected document.
This chapter is all about increasing awareness so that
the seniors in your community are aware of the services
you provide – FREE computer and internet training
and FREE everyday use of the computers outside of
scheduled training times.
Once you have identified the seniors in your
community, which is also covered in this chapter, there
are multiple ways of spreading the word about your
kiosk:
• word-of-mouth referrals
• your website, social media pages and newsletter
• talking to local community organisations and your local government / shire
council
• editorials and free community announcements in your local newspaper
• providing flyers to local organisations to display for you
There is also a good article from one of the kiosks showing the ways they promote
their kiosk to the seniors in their local community.
Upcoming webinars
Cyber safety – Forewarned is forearmed
When: 20 February 2015 at 1.00–2.30 pm AEDT
Presenter: Phil Hart
Helping seniors learn
When: 6 March 2015 at 1.00–2.30 pm AEDT
Presenter: Vivian Evans
Really easy audio editing and recording with Audacity
When: 27 March 2015 at 1.00–2.30 pm AEDT
Presenter: Katie Wardrobe
For more details or to register, go to https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/
Finding the help you need
Did you know there are resources available to help you to support the seniors
who come into your kiosks?
Online training modules
http://www.necseniors.net.au/training-resources/online-lessons/
Training documents
http://www.necseniors.net.au/training-resources/training-documents/
BFS webinar series
Upcoming webinars
https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/upcoming-elluminate-session/
Recorded webinars
https://ala.asn.au/broadband-for-seniors/recorded-elluminate-session/
BFS Google Group
http://groups.google.com.au/group/bfsvolunteer/
BFS wikispace
http://bfsv.wikispaces.com/
BFS Networkers
http://www.necseniors.net.au/support/bfs-networkers/
Meet your
ancestors
ANZAC is more than a name – it’s a legend.
A
NZAC is a word that stirs our
memories of courage, of
sacrifice, of compassion and
comradeship, of a quality that in the
history of human conflict has rarely
been equalled. The experience of
the ANZAC Campaign welded the
fledging country of Australia, formed
from a collection of Colonial States,
into a nation of people who are proud
to be Australians.
Researching ancestors
We have just begun to commemorate
the Great War, so how can family
historians find out how or if family
members played a part – at home or
far away? How can we respect and
celebrate their actions and remember
those who went into military service
as volunteers?
Choose ‘people’ from the tabs along
the top.
In the search box, enter the person’s
name, and specify the war from a drop
list. If you have more details you can
add them, or else come back here
later.
Taking up the challenge
Click the ‘search’ button.
If you are interested in taking up this
challenge, there are some key Web
resources for military research and
some suggestions to get you started:
Places where that name is recorded
will appear. These are:
Go to the Australian War Memorial
(AWM) website www.awm.gov.au/
• Commemorative Roll (for nonservicemen who died)
Search for a person in the Australian
Imperial Force.
• Nominal Rolls (First World War
Embarkation Rolls and First World
• Roll of Honour (for servicemen
who died)
War Nominal Rolls)
• Honours and Awards (Honours
and Awards Recommendations;
Red Cross Wounded and Missing
and Prisoner of War Records)
Click on one of these, choosing
to open in a new tab. I use the
Embarkation Rolls first. It will give a
list of choices with the name from the
search and their service number. Click
on the name you want to research,
again opening in a new tab.
This page will add to your information.
In the box at the top the service
number, rank, and date, place and ship
of embarkation.
Note the full name and service
number for future searches. Below this
is a link View digitised record. Click
on it, opening in a new tab
It is a jpg, and use the zoom to make it
easier to read. You can save this jpg to
your computer if you want.
Go down the list of service numbers
and names to find the person. At the
top of his section, you will find where
he had been assigned in the AIF.
Going across the columns you will find
what he gave at enlistment:
• the age he gave
• employment at enlistment.
• marital status.
• address
• next-of-kin for contact
• religious affiliation
• rate of pay in AIF.
Use the next-of-kin to confirm this is
a family member, if you didn’t know
before. If the age given was 18 and it
didn’t match your records, you have
now discovered that he lied about his
age.
Nan Bosler
ASCCA forum
Australian Seniors Computer Clubs
Association (ASCCA) will be holding
an audience interactive forum, Meet
your Ancestors as part of their program
to celebrate NSW 2015 Seniors Week.
It will be held in the Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
commencing at 9.30 am on Friday, 20
March. The theme for Seniors Week is
Be inspired and ASCCA will help you
learn how to seek out ancestors who
were inspiring by their pioneering
efforts as they became Australia’s early
settlers.
The forum will have speakers,
demonstrations and audience
interaction on topics such as searching
for births, deaths and marriage records;
how family and local history fits
together; who has lived in your house
and to mark the Centenary of World
War I there will be the opportunity to
access the records of ancestors who
fought in the Great War.
The event is free but bookings are
required either email [email protected].
au or phone 02 9286 3871. A resource
booklet will be given to all participants.
This booklet will be available for
download after Seniors Week.
GEMs for enquiring minds
If you are looking for ways to encourage seniors to surf the Net then look no further.GEMs
include interesting health and lifestyle snippets; fun links and technical bits and pieces. Here
is a small selection from the free U3AOnline GEMs newsletter which is mailed directly to
subscribers’ in-boxes on the first of every month. Read previous editions and subscribe here for
your free personalised edition – http://www.u3aonline.org.au/content/gems
Research
Exercise allows you to age optimally:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150106081223.htm
Cardiorespiratory fitness improves memory among older adults, study shows:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141222131541.htm
Lack of exercise responsible for twice as many early deaths as obesity:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150114143118.htm
Fructose more toxic than table sugar, mouse study suggests:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150105080503.htm
Healthy lifestyle may prevent heart disease in nearly 3 out of 4 women:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150105170010.htm
Fun
Imagine the global population is only 100 people. Here are some thoughtprovoking stats:
http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics
Who was the third man to walk on water?
http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk/files/Selby/Pedro.pdf
Ah! The tranquility of the forest:
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/LYKg0gbRFns?rel=0
And for all you Lone Ranger fans:
http://www.winkman.com/myspace/loneranger.html
The power of words:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hzgzim5m7oU
Information
DASH: your guide to the best diet in the world:
http://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2015/01/12/dash-guide-best-diet-world
Depression is a common problem among older adults, but even in its most severe
form, it is highly treatable:
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/depression/medication/01.html
High blood pressure is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke,
kidney failure and other problems. See what steps you can take to prevent high
blood pressure:
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodpressure/prevention/01.html
Free Antivirus - 2015 Version:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/free-antivirus-2015-version.htm
Technical
How do I get data off of the hard drive in a dead computer?
https://askleo.com/how_do_i_get_data_off_the_hard_drive_in_a_dead_
computer/
12 of the Best Places on the Internet to Get Free Help with Computer Problems
(Ed;a great resource for future tech difficulties):
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/12-best-places-internet-get-free-helpcomputer-problems.htm
Is Moving From Windows to Linux The Right Choice For You?
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/moving-windows-linux-right-choiceyou.htm
Why Backup? 8 Good Reasons (and YOUR backup questions answered):
http://askbobrankin.com/why_backup_8_good_reasons_and_your_backup_
questions_answered.html
Windows 10 - Will it Be Free?
http://askbobrankin.com/windows_10_will_it_be_free.html
Dr Rick Swindell, AM
Editor: GEMs free, monthly quality-of-life newsletter