Curious about the free tools from Google? Learn about some of Google’s most popular productivity tools that are for personal use, as well as work-related ones. This lecture will introduce Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, and Drive. We’ll explore some practical and creative uses and demonstrate how to make the most out of Google’s many free templates.

Visit sites around the world from the comfort of your home, get a bird’s-eye-view of your childhood neighborhood, or simply get directions to your friend’s house! Google Maps is a mapping application that offers satellite imagery, street maps, and street-view perspectives. It also has a route planner for your preferred transportation method, be it foot, car, bicycle or public transportation. During this lecture, you’ll get an introduction to the platform and a demonstration of how to use it.

This 5-week course will cover the essentials of how to use a Chromebook, which is a type of laptop that is great for beginners who just want to use the internet. Chromebooks are fast, secure and cost-effective computers that run the Google Chrome operating system. By the end of the course, you’ll have a foundation for using the device to navigate the internet. You’ll also learn to send and receive email. We highly recommend that you follow Chrome Essentials with Introduction to Digital Culture for Chromebooks, which will offer additional practice.

Prerequisites: A Gmail address. This course is best suited for people who have had some experience using the internet on any device. If you need help setting up a Gmail address, please call the Senior Planet hotline: 888713-3495.