Having phone or laptop trouble? Not sure how to spot scams? Free local workshops can help

As phones and laptops evolve over time, users have chosen to remain stagnant or adapt.

Some seniors in Milton chose the latter when the city and a local school district started offering free technology workshops this fall.

The city of Milton recently partnered with Fife High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter to host workshops for seniors, focusing on how to navigate commonly-used devices such as smartphones and laptops.

FBLA is an organization that helps students develop business skills through things such as competitive career-related events, chapter projects and leadership initiatives, according to an email from Martin Moore, the city’s community outreach coordinator.

Communicating through technology has become crucial, especially during the pandemic, high school sophomore Rylee Harwood said. She likes being able to help seniors with that.

High school sophomores Madison Reed and Marguerite Schoenfeldt said the same.

“I like knowing that we have an impact,” Schoenfeldt said.

The first workshop was Sept. 16. Around six students gave an overview of what smartphones and laptops can do. The Oct. 21 workshop dove deeper into smartphones and apps, among other things.

Milton resident Harriette Kring attended both workshops. She said she’s usually skeptical about having to do things online. The students help lower her skepticism and boost her confidence, she said.

“There’s a lot of terminology in the tech field that we don’t know,” Kring said.

The workshop includes a presentation, question and answer session, activities, as well as one-on-one and group socialization. Workshops are the third Friday of every month until June 2023. Topics vary.

Mayor Shanna Styron-Sherrell said one of her missions is to create more senior and youth programming. The tech workshops “make perfect sense,” she said, because some seniors need help with technology, which students can help with.

The next workshop is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Milton Activity Center at 1000 Laurel St. Students will talk about scams and how to detect and avoid them in the virtual world. Attendees don’t need to register in advance.