The Warrnambool branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A) has headed in a virtual direction as it continues to hold tutorial sessions through Zoom.
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U3A president Peter Dexter was elected through the group's online annual general meeting and is helping steer the branch's online world.
"We're trying to keep our members engaged and one way we can do this is continue our tutorial program with Zoom.," he said.
"As you can imagine, some of our members are not familiar with modern technology so we are working on undertaking training.
We don't think we'll be coming out of this with our normal face-to-face program for quite some time, so we're looking at lots of possibilities.
- Peter Dexter
"The use of Zoom technology to stream tutorials online will continue even after we go back to face-to-face presentations."
The Warrnambool branch has begun Zoom tutorials and U3A members David and Kay Fallaw have stayed connected with their friends through the pandemic by learning how to work the online resource.
"It is a weird feeling being on your own but alongside many other on the screen. But Zoom is damn good, very convenient and something we can do from the comfort of our home," Mr Fallaw said.
"It's enabled us to learn more about the subject with just one person speaking and no other distractions around.
"Personally I got a lot out of it."
Mrs Fallaw agreed the technology suited the needs of U3A and adds to the long list of programs the couple use to communicate.
"We lived in France for four years not so long ago so we're used to finding new means to communicate and do our day-to-day work in," she said.
"I hope we can continue using Zoom and maybe we can use it to link up and hear lectures from all over Australia and the world."
Dr Dexter has prepared his own tutorials on various areas of climate and climate change and has enlisted the help of other tutors John Sherwood and Peter Hankinson to give sessions on a range of topics including south-west geophysics and Captain Cooks voyages.
At a later date, face-to-face sessions will likely include Robyn Southey discussing the Bayeux Tapestries, Professor Sherwood sharing his knowledge on the Moyjil site archaeology and Dr Noel Batley on his charity work in Timor-Leste.
"We've introduce a series of talks on the same subjects for our members to understand a broad perspective of an area," Dr Dexter said.
"We want to open this to the general public and encourage people to get involved.
"Currently we're working through the planning of an extended program which we'll make available on our website.
"We've heard other U3A groups are using Zoom for music appreciation and even mahjong so we have lots of possibilities."
U3A knows all too well the importance of education and is hoping to involve more community members, no matter the age, to get involved in their online program when it launches.
"We're all about the idea of continuing to learn, no matter your age," Dr Dexter said.
Our members are learning things they never learnt when they were younger. They come along to our lessons because they want to, there's no formal exams.
- Peter Dexter
"Now we have a lot of time to learn a whole lot of things."
To find out more about the University of the Third Age head to u3awarrnambool.org.au and contact Peter Dexter on 0417 431 277 if interested in joining the Zoom tutorials.
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