So you've bought a computer and want to learn more to do with it than play card games.  Where can you go to get some instruction?

One answer is to enroll in some of the local computer classes taught throughout the Midlands.  The Richland and Lexington Library systems, Adult Education Centers of local school districts, some County Recreation Centers and Senior Centers, the Palmetto Personal Computer Club, and local colleges offer courses that will help you learn your computer better.

Some free courses are offered at local libraries.  The Richland County Public Library offers the 2-hour "Introduction To Computers."  The Lexington County Public Library sponsors 1-hour sessions of "How To Use The Internet" on 3 different levels-beginner, intermediate, and advanced.  Most of these classes are conducted in a computer lab.  Call your local library branch for details.

The costs for classroom instruction vary from $2.50 to more than $15 per hour.  Rock-bottom prices are available if you take courses from the Adult Education Centers.   Richland School District Two offers courses to its teachers in its Technology for Two programs.   If seats are available you can take 3 hours of instruction for $10.  Richland Two has a variety of courses, such as Using Adobe Photoshop, Advanced Features of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc), and Introduction to Computing.  The contact information for non-district employees is:  W. R. Rogers Technology Education Center, 750 Old Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229, Call 736-8787 ext. 305, or visit http://www.richland2.org/tech/Classes/tfor2Classes.html.

Richland School District One also offers courses on computer basics and Microsoft Word.  The first course is free and a second one is $45.00.  The absolute lowest cost per hour is available at the Lexington Technology Center, part of the Lexington One School district, which teaches basic computer skills as part of its Adult Education Classes. Telephone: 359-4036.  Courses are taught on Monday and Tuesday nights, from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm and run for 4 weeks.  The cost for this hands-on instruction is $2.50 per hour.  Typical courses include Advanced Microsoft Word, Advanced Microsoft Excel, Intermediate Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint and Desktop Publishing, and Web Page Design.

Some recreation centers in Richland and Lexington Counties offer computer classes.  Irmo Chapin Recreation Center (ICRC) offers classes to people over the age of 14.  ICRC is putting the finishing touches on two computer labs, one at the Seven Oaks Community Center and the other at Saluda Shoals Park, opening in January, 2005.  Basic Computing, one of the typical courses, costs $78 for five 2 1/2 hour sessions, about $6.25 per hour.  These courses are taught during the day.  Contact information:  http://www.icrc.net and click on "Senior Services" or call Seven Oaks Park, 772-3336.  Capital Senior Center at Maxey Gregg Park also offers computer courses, 779-1971.

Midlands Technical College, 732-0432, offers a wide variety of quality courses at its 5 branches.  The courses are pricey, with 12 hours of instruction in Microsoft Word costing $195, or $16.25 per hour.

An excellent source of instruction is The Palmetto Personal Computer Club. Join the club for $35 per year and learn a lot from guest speakers and club members with expertise in many areas.  Attend a main meeting once a month and also any of the special interest groups (SIGs).  From my personal experience, you can learn how to manage your e-mail better, how to prevent viruses from attacking your computer, and how to organize your computer to better serve your interests.  You may also learn how to choose a digital camera, how to edit photos and e-mail them to your cousin, who lives in Taiwan.  You may also learn how to research your roots in The Genealogy SIG or how to publish and maintain a web site in The HTML/Web Site SIG.   One advantage of joining the club is that you can ask questions at any time.  It
is that informal.  And our SIG leaders are that well informed.