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The HAL-PC Senior Learning Center, in the Clearlake Area, opened for business January 7th, 1997.  We taught one course, Beginners.

Today, we are in the same facility where we began.  We have twenty computers, running WIN XP, all on a LAN connected by a WAN to the HAL-PC computers on Post Oak Place Dr.  We have forty-three volunteers, including two of the original six.  One other has retired and three have passed on to a better place.  Our regular volunteers are subdivided into three main groups, office workers, instructors,  and technicians.  We also have several occasional volunteers who teach mini-courses and present topics in their areas of expertise at SIGs. 

We offer twelve courses ranging from beginners through advanced subjects, and all are either computer or digital related.  We have SIGs that meet monthly and offer Saturday mini-courses from time-to-time.  Our volunteers regularly donate over 6,000 hours of their time each year to HAL-PC.

Registration and further information can be obtained by calling the center at 281-316-0768.

 

Email the Webmaster  Contact us:  Email the Administrator
  
  

All of the people working at HAL-PC in Clearlake are volunteers  ̶  the office staff, the technicians, even the instructors.  They all donate their time and energies to our organization.  Wouldn't you like to join us?  Call our office and ask for an application.  We can use your help!
 
 

Front Office:
   

Office helpers need to know how to use computers, copiers, and fax machines properly. They also need to know how to answer people's questions,  call members to fill classes, and handle membership dues and course fees.  They must keep informed of our activities in order to answer questions and keep our coffee pot running.

Activities include:

  • Answering phones
  • Filing and organizing information
  • Taking messages
  • Running errands
  • Typing
  • Data entry and word processing
  • Working to support other office staff
  • Operating office equipment like copiers or fax machines
 
 

Instructors:
   

Our computer instructors are responsible for training individuals in the correct and effective use of various computer programs or systems used for business or personal use. This requires a combination of computer skills plus excellent communication skills and people skills to help those that have little or no computer experience learn how to use the various programs.

No matter what your computer learning needs are, our instructors will help you achieve a higher level of skill and knowledge.  Whether you want to learn how to use spreadsheets, databases, web design, word processing, E-mail, HTML, financial management or simply the basics of how to use your computer.

Classes are generally offered on the basis of student needs, which may require several different levels from the basics to advanced.
 
 

Computer Technicians:
   

Our technical staff has the primary responsibility to support the teaching mission of the SLC by maintaining teaching computers and other equipment in good working order.  On a time-available basis, our technical staff has a secondary responsibility to confer with HAL-PC members and resolve computer problems or to provide technical assistance and support.

Your help is needed by the technically challenged.  Problems range from self-inflicted to real hardware and software problems.  The ability to describe a computer problem in non-technical terms and specify what might be required to repair a computer is necessary.  We try to help our members over the phone or in our facility.  We cannot visit members in their homes.  They bring their computers to us and our services are free.

If you have any technical computer skills or just want to learn about repairing computers, we can use your help.  The profuse "thanks" and gratitude of our members will make you feel good about volunteering.

Computer technical support activities include:
 

Diagnosing, repairing and providing advice for:
  • Buying a PC
  • Booting
  • Formatting drives
  • Preventative measures
  • Internal connections
  • External connections
  • Peripheral Devices
  • Maintenance
  • Operating Systems
  • Application Software

Replacement of:
  • Memory
  • Motherboards
  • Hard Drives
  • CD Drives
  • Floppy Drives
  • Power Supplies
  • Cards
  • Jacks
  • Speakers
  • Fans
  • Monitors
  • Peripherals
   

  

 
This basic course is for students with little or no prior experience or proficiency with computers, terminology or Windows.   Basic Computer Literacy
How to manage files, folders, disks, and drives...   File and Folders
The skills needed to create letters, reports, newsletters, brochures and other text documents   Basic Word Processing
  Introduction to Vista
Advanced Word Processing emphasizes recreational or personal word processing.   Advanced Word Processing
How to create simple spreadsheets for home or small business purposes.   Spreadsheets
Introduction to the MSworks database management program.   Database Management
Lectures and computer laboratory experience on accessing known websites, searching for people and businesses, general searching, surfing, drilling down, and shopping.   Improving Your Internet Experience
Lectures and computer laboratory experience on dealing with e-mail files.   Improving Your E-mail Experience
The basics of digital cameras and image files.   Using Your Digital Camera
Recognizing and correcting common photo problems using photo editing software.   Fundamentals of Photo Editing
How to use your Word Processor, either Word or Works, to create an attractive photo layout with text or captions.   Using Photos in Layouts and Letters
Create your own web page!   Basic Web Page Construction
How to use the scanner as a copier, scan documents as editable text using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software, scan pictures, scan 35 mm slides (5 at a time) to get pictures, and scan negative strips to get pictures.   Scanning - Getting the most out of your scanner 
Make your own movies and slideshows from your video clips and still pictures using the free Windows XP-Movie Maker (V2.1) program.   Making Movies and Slideshows with Movie Maker
  
 

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) focus on the unique interest of our members.  Topics are developed at the SLC when activities indicate members would benefit from  a presentation and a group discussion.