If you’ve used ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for emails or brainstorming, there’s a lot more these tools can do. This small-group, hands-on workshop is for those ready to go beyond the basics and make GenAI a true partner in their work. Practice techniques that separate casual users from confident, capable ones: build multi-step prompts that solve problems; create custom GPTs, Gemini Gems, or Claude Projects tailored to your goals; and use GenAI to test ideas, analyze options, and tackle complex challenges. You’ll leave with a personalized GenAI workflow to use immediately, saving time, sharpening decisions, and boosting creativity—perfect for anyone who’s completed AI Made Easy or has similar experience and wants to level up their skills. Please note: Smartphones are not suitable for this class. Please bring a your fully charge laptop or tablet.

Feeling like AI is moving faster than you can keep up? You’re not alone—and you’re not too late. Get comfortable using today’s top tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini through guided instruction and plenty of in-class practice. Learn how to make AI work for and with you, and walk away with skills you can use right away for everyday tasks—organizing, writing, meal planning, and more. Discover how to ask AI the right questions and apply its power to work, volunteering, and daily life. It’s like having a genius personal assistant. No tech experience required. Please note: Smartphones are not suitable for this class. Please bring a your fully charge laptop or tablet. You must install ChatGPT on your device before coming to class. Instructions can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u5od2FiGdVNnZnRUTNxDgTuKGnZt5rtKQa0A8hr_4GI/edit?usp=sharing If you have trouble, come to class 15 mins early and we will help you.

Learn how to pay for college without losing your mind—or your savings. Get a clear understanding of the entire college financial planning process: estimating true costs, decoding FAFSA and financial aid formulas, maximizing merit scholarships and tax credits, and building a smart funding strategy with savings, 529 plans, cash flow, and long-term planning. Ideal for parents, grandparents, or any adult heading back to school. Gain practical tools, real-world examples, and easy-to-use worksheets to make confident, stress-free decisions about planning and paying for college.

Explore the foundations of modern web development, from HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to building interactive applications with Angular. Each session combines demonstration, discussion, and hands-on coding practice. Develop the skills to tackle real-world coding challenges and see your ideas come to life. By the end, you’ll understand how web apps work and be ready to start creating your own.

Thinking about cutting the cable? With so many ways to watch TV today—traditional cable, over-the-air, streaming services, and live internet TV—how do you choose? Explore the pros and cons of each option and find out whether your TV is smart enough or if you’ll need additional hardware to make the switch.

Keep safe in a changing digital world. Learn how hackers exploit computers and what you can do to protect yourself. Topics include securing your email, recognizing phishing attempts, and adjusting social media privacy settings. We’ll also cover data backup strategies (including cloud storage), antivirus tools, smartphone security, and the risks of public Wi-Fi. Leave with practical, easy-to-apply tips for staying secure online.

With both humor and knowledge, two local attorneys and estate planning specialists will address the fundamentals of estate planning. Essentials: We all have assets that will pass to loved ones at the time of our death. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy—or the old. We will start with incapacity planning (appointing someone you trust to manage your finances and health care decision-making if you cannot) and explain the health care proxy, advance directive, and power of attorney. Learn how to keep your assets out of probate court, with its costs and delays. We will demystify trusts: explaining what they are, how they work, and how they protect assets, reduce taxes, and simplify administration. Then we’ll unpack the new Massachusetts estate tax law and show you how to reduce the “death tax,” often by as much as $150,000 to $300,000. Prepare for Long-Term Care: This class builds on the foundational concepts of Estate Planning Essentials. As we get older, many of us wrestle with important questions: Do I want to age in my current home or move to a new living environment? What will my health needs require? What can I afford? What resources are available to me to help accomplish these goals? This class will focus on leveraging both human and financial resources to provide for your best possible life and care. Learn about various long-term care strategies and the pros and cons of each. We will discuss reliance on family members for care needs, reverse mortgages, long-term care insurance, public benefits through MassHealth, various estate planning techniques (using wills, trusts, and lifetime gifting), protecting assets for children and other heirs, and pulling together a team of advisors to help you navigate your long-term care goals.

Planning for a loved one with a disability comes with unique considerations and opportunities. This session introduces strategies to create a secure, meaningful future. Learn how to structure a Special Needs Trust to protect benefits, manage taxes, and allow family contributions. Explore selecting the right trustee, including the potential role of siblings, and how to build oversight and support into the plan. We’ll also cover non-legal tools, such as assembling a support team and creating a “memo of intent” to guide future caregivers. Designed for parents, caregivers, and family members who want to ensure their loved one thrives.

Take charge of your financial future while still enjoying the present. Personal finance isn’t something most of us are taught, yet it’s essential for making confident decisions about money. Explore strategies for affording a new home or renovation, planning for your children’s college education, reviewing insurance coverage, and preparing for a secure retirement. Get organized and gain a clear, comprehensive view of your finances so you know exactly where your money is going and how to make it work for you.

Ever dreamed of building an online business? Discover the step-by-step process to launch your own Amazon storefront. Learn how to set up a seller account, craft product listings that catch the eye, and manage your shop with confidence. We’ll explore strategies for smooth order fulfillment, harness Amazon’s tools for advertising and brand growth, and navigate potential challenges with practical solutions. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to showcase your products to a wider audience through a polished, professional Amazon shop.

Get one-on-one help with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer. Focus on a specific software application (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, email, Facebook, etc.) or receive more general assistance, such as how to organize and find your files, delete unneeded items, and more. Please call, 781-316-3568, or email the ACE office, communityed@arlington.k12.ma.us, to learn more and register for a two-hour in-person or online

Elevate your impact in this focused leadership intensive. Through guided reflection, facilitated discussion, and hands-on activities, you’ll strengthen emotional intelligence, build resilience for navigating complexity, and develop adaptive strategies to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Each segment builds on the last, giving you practical tools and a personalized leadership development plan while fostering the capacity to continuously learn—and unlearn—in dynamic environments. Ideal for mid-career professionals, leaders navigating change, or anyone seeking to enhance self-awareness, decision-making, and overall leadership effectiveness.

Whether you’re giving a work presentation, leading a meeting, or speaking at a community event, this practical course helps you communicate your ideas with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn how to structure an effective talk, engage your audience, and manage nerves so your authentic voice shines through. With plenty of hands-on practice and supportive feedback, you’ll leave with the skills—and confidence—to deliver presentations you feel proud of and that make an impact.

This one-evening class, led by a state-certified Medicare counseling professional, is designed for those who are either planning to enroll in Medicare or are already on Medicare and would like to better understand this valuable but complex program. You’ll learn how the four parts of Medicare work together, including information about when and how to enroll in Medicare or change the coverage you already have. We’ll address how much Medicare costs, what benefits are covered, and the possibilities of getting financial assistance with this program. Each student will receive a SHINE Information Pack about Medicare with listings of the different options available in Massachusetts.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to deepen your expertise, this fast-paced course covers the fundamentals of investing, from asset allocation strategies to online investment research and the selection of securities. Gain a deep understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds and ETFs, and learn how to build diversified equity and fixed-income portfolios. Discover the pitfalls of Target Retirement Funds and the inherent risks of bond ETFs and bond mutual funds. Develop your skills as an amateur equity analyst and learn to assess the performance of professional mutual fund managers and advisors.

Easily build your own business or personal website and blog using the most popular website publishing system in the world, WordPress. Learn to create, edit, and customize your site, without any knowledge of HTML. We’ll go over technical setup and creative customizations, tailoring our focus based on the interests and needs of the class. Basic computer skills and internet literacy are required.

Explore how to use your iPhone and/or iPad to its fullest potential and get better organized and efficient. Managing your mail, contacts, and calendars is fundamental to using your devices. We will review the many features of these three apps and reveal handy tips and tricks to help you become a power user. Please note: Bring your full-charged device to class.

Discover how to use and take full advantage of powerful features on your iPhone or iPad: fun text‑messaging tools, a refreshed keyboard, document scanner, enhanced Do Not Disturb options, password sharing, major improvements in Photos and Siri, a far more useful Reminders app, upgraded call‑screening tools, and more. Whether you just got a new device or want to get more out of your current one, this class will help you get the most out of your technology. Please note: Bring your full-charged device to class.