Hampshire 27 February, 2014 Anthony Hughes U3A Trustee for Wales “…what a Godsend … membership of a number of interest groups helps to keep me mentally.

Hampshire27 February, 2014

Anthony HughesU3A Trustee for Wales

“…what a Godsend … membership of a number of interest groups helps to keep me mentally and physically active”

“… I believe in its life transforming capacity for so many people and for a whole range of reasons”

“… I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered U3A…. I find this with all the people I’ve met; we can’t sit at home”

“… U3A provided me with an anchor in that bleak time just after retirement – the biggest problem turns out to be selecting interest groups!”

All of this hasn’t been achieved by accident!

People throughout the UK have worked hard to achieve wonders!

Compared with founders, newer members have different:• Backgrounds• Behaviours• Values• Aspirations

Not sure of longer term impact of changes in retirement / working lives

Communities no longer as supportive as when we were young

Increasing need for adult learning

U3A will have an even more important role in the future. BUT…………..

Background to this talk

Background to this talk

Visible• We’re still a ‘best kept secret’

Available• U3As• Interest Groups• No waiting lists

Vibrant• Seen to have modern ideas

Compelling• To all sectors

We need to be:

Whilst still caring for ALL existing members

Background to this talk

STARTED TO THINK:

• What works?• Where?• Why?• How do we know?• What do we do about it?

What can technology do to help?

Background to this talk

Technology

… for Learning… for Sharing

… and for Efficiency

NOT as a replacement for any present Network / Forum / Other get-togethers / Newsletters (etc etc etc) !

Technology –For Learning

A vast opportunity!

• U3A online courses• MOOCS• TED• Tablet Apps• eBooks• Podcasts

But where do you start?How to make them Group activities?

Technology –For Learning

My start point:

Technology –For Learning

The Poem

Interactive Notes

Original Manuscript

6 Recordings

35 Filmed Interviews

Video performance

Wouldn’t it be great if we could do that!

Technology –For Learning

A Dylan Thomas project

Started with what we know how to do:• Internet research by team• Download articles / photos / family details

Created PowerPoint presentations

Joint authorship via Dropbox

Added poems and movie clip

Collated on to:• PowerPoint• Timeline software

Technology –For Learning

Next Steps

• Make PowerPoint slides available• Convert Timeline into movie• Transfer to eBook

• Narrative• Photos• Slide presentations• Movies• Sound etc

• Publish (initially for iPads)

Try other subjects e.g.• Armchair travel• Craft / hobby instructions• Music tuition• Local history• Local U3A guidelines!

Technology –For Learning

Online Courses

U3A

MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses) e.g. FutureLearn, OpenLearn

TED

Technology –For Learning

Art: Specific artists / General

“Painting” and techniques

History: Monarchs etc.

Literature: Complete Shakespeare

Astronomy

Nature: BirdsTrees Butterflies &

moths

Tablet Computing

Becoming much more of lifestyle device – leading to ubiquity

Technology –For Learning

Podcasts:

• Many Radio 4• TED on iTunes• “50 Educational Podcasts To Check Out”• Photography / astronomy / technology etc.

Or why not make your own?Local radio programmes??

Technology –For Sharing

Between:

• Individuals• Groups• U3As• Networks

Share:

• Photographs• Calendars• Events• Best practice• Presentations • Work on projects• ….. and so on

Technology –For Sharing

How to deliver:

Websites

“Cloud” Computing

Technology –For Sharing

From Third Age Matters

Summer 2013

Technology –For Sharing

What is it?• Secure storage space offered over the Internet

What would I use it for?• Backing up some, or all, of your data• Sharing information between people• Sharing information between various devices e.g. PC, iPad, Android (etc)

What are the advantages?• Data is always up-to-date• Better than email for sharing large files (e.g. photo albums)

How much does it cost?• Free up to certain volumes e.g. (check latest situation – and deals!)

• Dropbox (2 g/bytes)• Microsoft Onedrive / SkyDrive (7 g/bytes)• Google Drive (15 g/bytes)

Technology –For Sharing

Start point1. You sign up and create an account2. Software will be downloaded to your PC / tablet

PCs / Macs - basic principles• A folder will be placed on your computer• Anything placed in this folder will automatically be copied to

your secure space on the Internet service• Anything deleted from this folder will similarly be removed from

your Internet storage• Your Internet folder can be accessible from all of your devices • Any device can add to / amend / delete • All changes are immediately reflected on all of your devices.

Technology –For Sharing

Update Folder (e.g.amend / add file etc)

Start PCCloud Account

Folder updatedautomatically

Internet

All devices updated- automatically

Can give access to others• View only?• Update / amend /

delete?• Authorisations?

Technology –For Sharing

Authorised Committee

U3A info: Members, Accounts, Groups (convenors, calendars, venues)

Private

Group info • Family History• Art• Reports

What’s OnPicturesSongsNewsletters (incl. back issues)eBooks

Public

Technology –For Sharing

Best Practice

This is what we do

This is why we think you’ll find it interesting

Some benefits you can expect

Contact

BUT!!!

Technology –For Sharing

There must be a will to share – a real intent to help others

Things to overcome:• It cost our U3A – why should others get it for free?• Others will get recognition for our work• We didn’t receive any thanks, why should we bother?• What’s in it for us?• It only seems to be our U3A who are contributing

Technology –For Sharing

Idea Who updates Who can view Where held Accessed by

Photos Webmaster Everyone Web s’ware / Cloud Website

Membership lists Membership Secretary

Authorised Committee members

Cloud Cloud

Local U3A guidelines

Webmaster Everyone Web s’ware / Cloud Website

Best practice Webmaster Everyone Cloud Website

Presentations Webmaster Everyone Cloud Website

Convenors Group Secretary Everyone Cloud Website

Newsletters (current / archives)

Publicity Secretary Everyone Cloud Website

Activity Group ideas Convenor Group members Cloud Website

Calendars / venues Group Secretary Everyone Cloud Website

Local events Webmaster Everyone Web s’ware / Cloud Website

eBooks Convenor / Webmaster

Everyone(?) Cloud / Website

Responsibilities would vary from

U3A to U3A

Technology –For Sharing

Things to note:

• Keep everything relevant• Keep it all up-to-date• Make sure passwords and access rights are

• Secure• Logical (i.e. in terms of who uses the info)

• Keep it simple• Keep use of key board to a minimum e.g. ‘click

here’ and automatically generate a blank email message

The principle is to encourage usage / feedback / grow interest- it’s NOT an exercise in how much technology can we use!

Technology –For Efficiency

Make use of:

• Email• Use sparingly

• Cloud computing• Member data• Back-ups

• Websites• Your own• Other U3A• Sitebuilder info

http://u3asitec.org.uk/live/oversights/show.php?page=groups

Technology –For Efficiency

For member subscriptions• Direct credit• Use of PayPal via the Internet• Make sure you’re recognised as a Charity (sign-up & compliance)• Roles, responsibilities, processes (test, test, test)• Reconciliation of individual payments with membership• Matching payment with individual member

• but introduce gradually!• don’t make it obligatory

For shared expenditure• Outings etc (but make sure you use the right bank account!)

For payment of expenses• Dual signatures

Electronic payments:

Technology –For Efficiency

For Planning

Technology –For Efficiency

Skype / Facechat etc.• Education (public and private) is

greatest user of Video Conferencing

Social Media• Facebook• Twitter….. but both need managing• Pinterest

Other U3As initiatives• Membership management• Barcodes

What people use in their work / home environments becoming increasingly blurred: newer members will expect to use new technology

Other things to think about:

Technology –For Efficiency

….. check roles, responsibilities and procedures….. manage user names / passwords….. back-up regularly / have recovery procedures….. have a privacy policy in place (DP Act)….. allow plenty of time to introduce change….. keep watching brief on developments such as payments

….. get carried away by the technology..... forget that members come first….. ignore those who can’t use technology

Do

Don’t….

Technology Summary

Some benefits open to you:

• More ideas for your members• More activity groups• Added vitality• A lot of satisfaction• A lot of fun• Help change external perceptions of U3A• More efficient management of your U3A

Thanks for listening!