Workshops

Upcoming NCF Workshops

Thanks to funding from the City of Ottawa’s Community Economic Development Program, we are pleased to offer a bilingual handbook and series of free workshops that help people learn how to save money online while staying safe and protecting their privacy, respecting copyright, and understanding the trade-offs involved with many free services.

The workshops are being offered in partnership with Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and we will confirm which library branches will offer which workshops soon. The workshops will also offer opportunities for people to get help one-on-one. At this time, the workshops are only being offered in English. Here’s an overview:

Internet Security Basics:

At Internet Security Basics learn about using public wifi and other ways to feel safe online without spending a bundle. You're at a cafe or a public space and the free wifi login pops up: learn how to make sure your private information is safe, and other online security precautions you can take.

Date: Thursday, October 11^th at 6:30pm

OPL Event Links: Event Page | Register| Location

Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch

3870 Old Richmond

Ottawa, Ontario K2H 5C4

Public transit routes: 88,9,256

Directions:Google Map

Free anti-virus and anti-malware programs and how to use them effectively

You don't need to buy a pricey software program to be safe, learn what's available and how best to use it.

Date: Wednesday, October 17th at 6:30pm

OPL Event Links: Event Page | Register|Location

Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch

3870 Old Richmond

Ottawa, Ontario K2H 5C4

Public transit routes: 88,9,256

Directions:Google Map

Identifying spam, phishing emails and websites

Saving money online can mean using unfamiliar websites, signing up for email newsletters offering discounts, and entering contests. When is it real and when is it too good to be true? We'll teach you how to tell the difference.

Date: Tuesday, October 23^rd at 6:30pm

OPL Event Links: Event Page | Register|Location

Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch

3870 Old Richmond

Ottawa, Ontario K2H 5C4

Public transit routes: 88,9,256

Directions:Google Map:

Saving money on long-distance calling

Technology has made the world feel smaller: use the internet to connect with friends and family around Canada and the world for free or a fraction of traditional long distance rates!

Date: Monday, November 5^th at 6:30pm

OPL Event Links: Event Page | Register|Location

Location: Ottawa Public Library, Alta Vista

2516 Alta Vista

Ottawa, Ontario K1V 7T1

Public transit routes: 87,92,93

Directions:Google Map:

Wednesday, November 14^th at 6:30pm: Finding free entertainment online while respecting copyright

Wednesday, November 28^th at 6:30pm: Open Source options: free robust operating systems and free software that can work on your existing system

Monday, December 3^rd at 6:30pm: What free really means: understanding the privacy and personal data you're trading to save money

Wednesday, December 5^th at 6:30pm: Finding and using online coupons, flyers, and promo codes!

Wednesday, December 12^th at 6:30pm: Hands-on help to apply online for government subsidies: Ontario Electricity Support Program and the Canada Learning Bond

Past NCF Workshops

Saved with a Click

How to shop for internet and computers

Date: Monday, September 10^th at 6:30pm

Saving money online starts with your internet connection and the computer or mobile device you want to connect. Megs vs gigs? Cable vs DSL? Ram vs processor? Desktop vs tablet? How do you buy what you need without getting oversold? Join us as we help you understand the basics.

Location: Ottawa Public Library, Nepean Centrepointe Branch

101 Centrepointe

Ottawa, Ontario K2G 5K7

613-580-2940 (Infoservice)

Public transit routes: 82,83,84,86,87,94,95,111,174

https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/branch/nepean-centrepointe

Other Workshops

We started offering workshops in partnership with the Ottawa PC Users' Group (http://opcug.ca/public/home.htm) in 2015. They continue to offer many of these workshops at Ottawa Public Library locations around the city, check them out!

Then in 2016 and 2017, thanks to funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program from Economic and Social Development Canada, we ran "WiseNet" a hands-on 16-workshop series targeting those 55 years and older. Thanks to Pinecrest-Queensway Employment Services Centre for use of their space.

We also offer occasional workshops by NCF staff and volunteers on areas of interest to NCF members, including copyright and maximizing wifi.

Windows 10 — the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:

Windows 10 represents a considerable change from Windows 7 and an evolutionary refinement from Windows 8.1. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users™ Group, will talk about some of the important changes both visible and under the hood. If you find Windows 10 confusing, or just want to know more about what's hidden, this session is for you.

Computer Basics:

This workshop includes content on the basics of your computer, from connecting your mouse and keyboard, to types of memory, installing a new program, creating short-cuts, to how to turn on your wi-fi, use a USB port and more!

Office suites/word processing:

This workshop includes the basics on different office suites (MS Office vs. LibreOffice), how to start a document, save it, and retrieve it. As well as different file types, and how to change font size, page alignment, numbering, margins etc.

Basic internet/web browsing:

This workshop includes an overview of different browsers, bookmarking, how to optimize your search results, and some basics on safe web-surfing.

Basics of computer and internet security:

This workshop digs into malware, how to create strong passwords, how to set-up secure wi-fi, and anti-virus programs.

Email:

This workshop covers browser-based email vs using a mail client, IMAP vs POP, attaching documents and images, and a detailed exploration of spam/spoofing/phishing and how to avoid them.

Communications:

This workshop includes an overview of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone services, as well as Skype and similar programs.