In 2002, a small group of residents met in the buildings that now house the Medical Campus on Palisades Blvd.

A couple of the attendees had some ties to the Scottsdale Senior Center and attended some computer classes at the facility.

The Scottsdale Center, in turn, had ties to a national organization called SeniorNet, dedicated to improving the computer skills of “mature” adults.

This meeting was the beginning of the Computer Learning Center in Fountain Hills.

SeniorNet, which was headquartered in California at the time, was the impetus needed to start senior computer classes in Fountain Hills.

SeniorNet, along with IBM, was instrumental in providing six computers and six monitors to begin SeniorNet of Fountain Hills.

Teaching manuals were available and volunteers who had computer skills volunteered to conduct the classes.

The demographics of seniors today have changed greatly since 2002.

The demand to learn about a computer has changed. The 50-year-old person today has had a computer for many years, compared to the same person in 2002.

Computers at that time were just beginning to be acknowledged for home use and could fit easily under a desk.

In 2012, it was seen locally that the demand was no longer basic computer knowledge.

There has been an increasing demand to learn the new technology connected with iPads, tablets, e-readers and the introduction of the smart phone.

The Learning Center, and its volunteers, had to change also. Volunteers developed a workshop of e-readers and tablets. The goal was to educate the seniors on how new technology would enhance their lives.

It became clear that the organization was no longer a computer-based learning center. It was progressing and moving ahead with current technology.

Accordingly, during the summer of 2013, plans were made for more educational workshops based on today’s technology, rather than just the personal computer.

The group requested a grant to purchase an iPad. The grant was awarded and one of the volunteers was off and running.

Kathy Mullin, who started teaching classes back in 2002, developed an 11-workshop curriculum for the iPad. This curriculum offered the basics of the iPad along with shopping, cameras, iBooks, Safari and Facetime. Hence, SeniorNet became the Technology Learning Center of Fountain Hills (TLC).

It is an all-volunteer organization and a part of Senior Services Inc. of Fountain Hills, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The organization supports itself, leases a room from the town in the Community Center and works closely with the Senior Activity Center.

Residents who still own a personal computer may also take workshops in computer fundamentals, word processing, data bases, spread sheets and photography. Classes are affordable at $20, and if one joins the Technology Plus Club for $40 per year, the classes are reduced to $10.

The revenue from these classes goes to paying rent, telephone and Internet connection. It also allows TLC to purchase new software and hardware to keep current with ever-changing technology.

TLC offers individual help to students on Wednesday mornings (from 9-11 a.m.) for those who have PCs as well as answering iPad and iPhone questions.

Learn more about the Technology Learning Center, its workshops and volunteers by visiting its new website at www.tlcfh.org.