The aim today is to move on to consider applying what we have learnt if mentoring others and in extending the reach of U3A Benalla and District's Facebook account.

Review -  posting at least two posts with a comment and a link to an article, a photo or a youtube video.  Take the opportunity to respond to others posts' by liking/commenting ... remember there isn't a share button as this is a secret group!  All see what is posted and we can all share within the secret group.   

Admin change from secret to a closed group--what are the differences?

Supporting others to use Facebook - 

Overview of esources on the Resources for Mentors page and other resources.

Practical activity - Mentor/Beginner group activity....setting up and using a Facebook account.

Becoming an editor of U3A Benalla and District Facebook account (or admin of own group's 'FB group' 

Intro to/discussion of role of the U3A Benalla and District FB Page -  Keep people 'in the loop', including people who are unwell, away, have family commitments and can't attend, etc....by...
1. Adding photos and info re courses/activities we attend/convene - all participants in Group 2 who want to
2.  Posting links from website reports and slideshows to FB - Bev 
3.  Adding events - executive members Dorothy and Geraldine...
4.  Important updates for members - executive members Dorothy and Geraldine
5.  Interesting articles about eg. positive ageing - all participants in Group 2 who want to
6. Sharing of news about community events, Ensign articles etc. of interest to members.- all participants in Group 2 who want to 
7.  Other -  

Feedback and evaluation. 

We are now half way through our second short course with an enjoyable pre course session in our meeting room followed by a very productive and fun first session with Christine Nicholas at GOTAFE.  The course includes executive members, convenors and mentors and David Muir, who teaches the computer programs at Goulburn Valley U3A in Shepparton.  It’s good to have him on board!  Like the first group, the second group now has a ‘secret group’ for course members to practice sharing good ideas and news. 

A side benefit of the course is increased awareness by convenors, executive members and mentors of the possibilities and limitations of our Facebook community page ‘U3A Benalla and District’.  Margaret Walshe from our first short course has joined Bev in regularly sharing news and photos of groups she attends as Facebook posts.  You can see Margaret's posts—just search for U3a Benalla and District on Facebook.  

'Tech Savvy' mentors will be attending this session prior to commencing November's two session 'Facebook for Mentors' short course with Christine Nicholas at GOTAFE.  Our 'Facebook for Mentors' short course aims to develop trainer and mentor confidence when working with members interested in learning to use Facebook.  The November course is also open to U3A executive members, convenors and tech savvy members who may use Facebook in a range of ways in future . There will be a post course review session following the GOTAFE source.

Today's preliminary registration session has been designed to review and reinforce basic Facebook skills so participants are 'on the same page' when the short course with Chris begins.  
 ​
Introduction - 
'Paperless' office introduction practical introduction - Go to  U3A Benalla Website, use FB on top menu to open Benalla's Facebook Page, then open post about today's session.  Open and read the Course Information for November document on the side menu.

Housekeeping:  
​
November course - Session Dates with Christine Nicholas, GOTAFE 
Tuesday November 14th = 1.30 to 3.30 pm at GOTAFE, Samaria Road 
Tuesday November 21st = 1.30 to 3.30 pm at GOTAFE. 
​
Post Course Session  - 28th November U3A Meeting Room - Bring Your Own Device 

Group Sharing Activity  
Each person to introduce themselves commenting on, for example, and current skills, understanding, issues 
Follow up - shared problem solving and trouble shooting

Review Activity:  
Watch the following short You Tube video clip which reviews some basic principles. Find the privacy inconsistency in the account. 

Our first ‘Facebook for Mentors’ short course concluded recently with a post course follow up session directed towards applying what we learnt during the course when mentoring others.  We practised posting to our ‘secret Facebook group’ and explored resources and strategies we can draw upon when mentoring beginners who are keen to use Facebook.   Course evaluation indicates that after the course participants felt more confident in being able to explain basic Facebook features and encourage Facebook skill development; have a greater awareness of Facebook’s privacy features; consider their skills in using Facebook have increased and are able to participate as a member of a Facebook group.

The dates have been set for our second course in November.  All sessions will be from 1.30 to 3.30 pm,   
Tuesday 31 October  Precourse registration and 'recognition of current competence' session - U3A Meeting Room (BYO Devices/Laptop)
Tuesday 14 November  GOTAFE Session 1 Tuesday  at GOTAFE (PC based)
Tuesday 21 November   GOTAFE Session 2   at GOTAFE (PC based)
Tuesday 28th November Postcourse Follow up and Evaluation Session  - U3A Meeting Room. (BYO Devices/Laptop)
Places are still available – contact Bev for an application form 5762 8171 or bevlee47@gmail.com

The aim today is to move on to consider applying what we have learnt if mentoring others.

Initial activity - this involves working within our secret group by posting at least two posts with a comment and a link to an article, a photo or a youtube video.  Take the opportunity to respond to others posts' by liking/commenting ... but you'll notice there isn't a share button as this is a secret group!  We can all see what is posted and we can all share within the secret group.

Report back - on resources on the Resources for Mentors page and other resources.

Practical activity - if we have enough people - Mentor/Beginner/Observer activity....setting up and using a Facebook account.

Feedback and evaluation. 

I've set a date which I hope suits everyone for our Post Course Workshop - next Tuesday 10th October from 1.30 to 3.30 pm in the U3A Meeting Room.  As you'll see I've put an event up on the 'secret group' page.

To give us a burst of renewed focus and hopefully enthusiasm, I've set up a simple website U3A Benalla Facebook for Mentors which has useful links on it as well as some news reports.  You can also access it through the U3A Benalla website under T for Tech Savvy group /Facebook for mentors.

Our aim at the follow up session will be to consider resources and strategies we can draw upon when mentoring beginners who are keen to use Facebook.  I've put together some resources on a page titled Facebook Resources for Mentors. I'm hoping you won't mind spending time on one of the resources and reporting back briefly to the group about it.

Could you also think about/find something useful you have learnt; found yourselves or tried since we last met. It could perhaps be a YouTube clip; another website with good ideas; etc... 

​Bev

‘Facebook for Mentors’ is a short course for people with basic Facebook skills who mentor or coach older people in using the features of new technology. It aims develop the understanding and skills to enable mentors to better assist older people beginning to use Facebook and will have a particular focus on learning how to use Facebook safely.

The first of two funded Facebook for Mentors courses is now almost complete– we began with a registration and pre-course session in the U3A meeting room and have just completed the envisaged two session course with GOTAFE trainer Christine Nicholas. We are planning to meet again for a post course follow up session in which we will translate what we have learnt into practice in supporting others to use Facebook.

Another course has been scheduled for in late October/November—applicants will be contacted soon with further details. Places are still available – contact Bev for an application form 5762 8171 or bevlee47@gmail.com

Bev Lee

'Tech Savvy' mentors will be attending this session prior to commencing September's two session 'Facebook for Mentors' short course with Christine Nicholas at GOTAFE.  Our 'Facebook for Mentors' short course aims to develop mentors' confidence when working with members interested in learning to use Facebook.   There will be a second short course in November. 

Today's preliminary registration session has been designed to  review and reinforce basic Facebook skills so participants are 'on the same page' when the short course with Chris begins.   ​

Introduction - 
'Paperless' office introduction practical introduction - Go to  U3A Benalla Website, use FB on top menu to open Benalla's Facebook Page, then open post about today's session.  Open and read the Course Information document on the side menu.

Housekeeping:  
September course - Session Dates with Christine Nicholas, GOTAFE - note changed time on 26th Sept
Tuesday September 12th = 1.30 to 3.30 pm at GOTAFE, Samaria Road 
Tuesday September 26th = 10.30 to 12.30 am at GOTAFE. 

Group Sharing Activity  
Each person to introduce themselves commenting on, for example, and current skills, understanding, issues 
Follow up - shared problem solving and trouble shooting

Review Activity:  
Watch the following short You Tube video clip which reviews some basic principles. Find the privacy inconsistency in the account. 

Coffee Break:

Activity:  Become friends with as many people from the group you feel comfortable with - take and share some messages, contacts, likes and shares on Facebook so that you are really comfortable with these.  

Closing

Suggested Homework:  Find the Facebook Help Centre - use it to find out the answer to at least one problem, ​