Needham Community Education

Cybersecurity is a concern for many. Spend an evening learning tips for keeping yourself, your computer and your mobile devices safe online. Various aspects of cybersecurity will be covered, including: 1) How and why you are tracked online: should you be worried? 2) Cookies: what they are and what you can do about them. 3) How to browse the web anonymously. In addition, you will learn about common online scams and how to protect against them. The instructor will also explain how to determine if your computer or mobile device may be infected, and he will cover some products that can help to guard against viruses. Email safety (phishing and spoofing) and tips on how to shop safely online will also be covered.

Have you ever thought about buying or flying a drone (UAS - Unmanned Aircraft System)? Drones are fun, but they are also a lot of responsibility. Whether you want to use drones as a hobbyist or for commercial purposes, there are rules and laws that everyone must follow to maintain safety. This two-session course is for beginners with minimal drone experience. In the first session (held virtually), you will learn the drone laws and how to fly a drone safely. You will also get information about various types of drones and what you should know before purchasing one. Please join the first virtual class on a laptop or computer as we will be taking a test online together to get your hobbyist license allowing you to fly at the in-person session. In the second session, the class will meet outside, and you will have your first experience flying a drone. If you don’t yet own a drone, you will be able to borrow one from the instructor.

Bring your curiosity, and leave with a fully functional and hosted website! This course is intended for non-technical users who are more interested in having a maintainable web presence, and less in understanding the infrastructure of the Internet. We will however look under the hood to observe the moving parts and understand the utility of web content management systems. Note: Please bring your laptop to each class, and register for a Wordpress account prior to the first class.