Bishop Auckland & District

Living with Technology

The vision for this page is that it will be a resource for members with ‘What is?’ and ‘How do I?’ videos, documents, and tutorials that members can pick and choose from as they wish and study at their own pace! Some items will be written specially for you but many will be links to existing excellent learning material that has already been created by others.

Basic IT Training
The Apple training sessions have been taking place since November 2021. The current series has ended but might start again in the autumn if there is enough interest. Informal 'coffee and cake' sessions have taken place for Android learners and are now complete. Several Windows learners have undertaken one-on-one sessions for specific learning needs and these are also now complete..

Ongoing Learning for Everyone
Technology is all around us and it's often hard to even keep up with the basics. Sometimes it seems like the younger generation talk a different language. The purpose of this new page on our u3a website is to explain some of the terminology and give you a place where you can get some answers and build your knowledge levels starting with those basics. There are already many videos both general and device specific here for you, a quiz, tutorials, an article about cookies and scams, and a Police anti-fraud booklet. These are to answer some of the questions that members have asked. More will follow. None of us are experts in everything these days and my advice to you is to learn what you need to learn or want to learn in order to do the things that you need or want to do. When used effectively technology enriches our lives. It gives us access to vast quantities of information at the touch of button. It can help us to do things more quickly and easily. It can be used to keep in contact with family and friends. It can entertain us, and so many more things.

There are many ways you can learn about technology and from this page you can find resources. Some will answer questions like 'What's a?' and others are 'How to' tools. More will follow so come back often to see what is new. Most of the videos linked here have been produced by commercial companies and you will see their names credited on the videos. Most of the videos start off with an ad and in longer videos can interrupt the viewing (just as on commercial TV). Just wait and the real video will start after a few seconds - or click 'skip ads' when that pops up on the right-hand side. There are sometimes pop-up ads during the video as well. Click on the top right x to close them. Please do not click on 'TURN OFF ALL ADS' as this is an ad and will take you to a different page so you can sign up to buy an ad blocker. If you do this by accident then just click the back button on your device to get back to where you were. See the picture link on this page to view a pop-up ad to see what to click to close it. The ads can be annoying but this is normal when viewing commercial videos or TV.

YouTube is a bit like watching TV; when one programme ends another starts up on a different subject and it's the same on You Tube so just stop the video when you get to the end of the one you are watching and return to the main page by clicking the back button. Some YouTube video presenters ask that you subscribe to their page but there is no need to do this. Again, just return to the main page. Note that the start, pause, and stop button is bottom left of the video screen. Use this button to pause any video for thinking time and by sliding your mouse/pointer back along the progress line you can rewind to watch a section again so you are in control and can work at your own pace.

Below are some self-paced resources for you. These are in 6 main sections. The top 2 sections are device independent so it doesn't matter what computer you have. Scroll down to find resources for Windows, Apple, and Android devices plus some materials related to Microsoft Office software and social media.

If you have 'what is?' or 'how to?' questions of your own then send them in and we'll try and get answers for you and post them here. All you have to do is to click on the blue bird to create and send a message with your question.

Device Independent Here are some YouTube videos to get you started. Just click on the title to watch them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Device Independent Below are some tutorials, a quiz, an article, and a booklet. Just click on the title to view them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Windows Below are some videos specifically about Microsoft Windows. Just click on the title to watch them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Apple Below are some videos specifically about iPhone and iPad products. The top section is a 12-part series called iPhone Tips for Seniors. Every iPhone user needs to know 5 things; how to use the phone, how to text, how to check email, how to take pictures, and how to surf the web. Master these 5 things and using your iPhone becomes a pleasure not a chore. Just click on the title to watch them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Still on Apple the section below is about iPad for Seniors and the videos follow the same format as for iPhone. Just click on the title to watch them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Android Below are some videos specifically about Android products. Every phone and phablet user needs to know how to use the phone, how to text, and how to take pictures. They also need to know how to check email and how to surf the web and tablet users also need to be able to do these 2 things. There is very little difference between using an Android tablet and an Android phone so if you can complete a task on one device then you can do it on the other. Just click on the title to watch them then use your 'back' button to get back to this page.

Microsoft and more Ravenshead u3a have a selection of self-paced self-study materials on their Computing Guides webpage and we have permission to add a link to that page from our website so that you can access their information. Some things such as Cloud storage and some device specific information are covered here on this page already. You need to know the basics using your own device before exploring this page.