A federal-run organization in the Dallas County area is helping residents become better equipped to handle a technology-driven world by offering free computer classes.

Selma AmeriCorps Program, a federal organization that engages adults in intensive community service work, is offering free computer classes at the Valley Creek Community Center until Jan. 30. The one-hour classes, which are taught three days a week, teach the fundamentals of computers, computer applications, social media networks and more.

“We have this class so the people in the community can have access to the computers, and we can keep them updated on the different aspects in technology,” Selma AmeriCorps Program director Teresa Carter said.

All computer classes are taught Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Basic Computer Literacy class is taught at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m, the Basic Microsoft Office class is taught at 12:30 p.m. and the Intermediate Microsoft Office class is taught at 2 p.m.

Over the course of the month, students receive 9 hours of training.

They take an assessment test before and after their training to determine how much the student has learned. After the training process, the student receives a certificate of completion.

“Some of them don’t even know what the space bar or what the monitor is, because a lot of them are older members,” computer instructor Kenyetta Banks-Scott said. “A lot of them haven’t had a chance to learn about the computer.”

She said that students have given her several reasons as to why they don’t know how to fully operate a computer. She said some don’t have access to computers, some do but were never taught and others have been told computers are dangerous to use.

“I had one student tell me that he was afraid to use the computer, because they told him it would give him brain cancer,” Banks-Scott said. “He never used it until now, and he’s over 60.”

Selma resident Rebecca Smith is taking AmeriCorps computer classes to learn basic computer skills. She said that it was important for her to get a better understanding of computers, because there are so many situations in which it would be helpful to know, such as paying utility bills.

“I didn’t have any computer skills, and I really just wanted to learn the mechanism and see all the different things you can do on it,” Smith said. “I think I’ve learned a quite a bit.”

For more information about the computer classes, call 874-2410.