Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public. Our June class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF.

En Free Geek todos/as son bienvenidos/as para compartir el conocimiento. Si usted esta interesado/a en ofrecer clases de computación a la comunidad latina por favor comuníquese con Omar Vargas al 503.232.9350 Ext 113.

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Descubra Xubuntu Linux

sábados 6/15, 6/29 10:30-12:00

¿Compró su computadora en nuestra tienda de artículos usados o se la ganó en algunos de nuestros programas? ¿Quiere aprender sobre Linux Xubuntu 12.04? No dude en traer su propia computadora portátil o usar una de las nuestras, en Free Geek le enseñaremos a usar el escritorio de Xubuntu; además, como agregar programas, cambiar el diseño visual y crear documentos compatibles con la suite de Microsoft Office.

Clase de Primeros pasos con su computadora de Free Geek

sábados 6/29 12:30-3:30

Estas clases ayudan a los voluntarios a configurar y usar sus equipos basados en Ubuntu. Estan invitados a inscribirse los beneficiarios del programa de becas y el público en general.

Computer Basics/Fundamentals

Tuesday 6/25 11:30-1:30

Has it been a long time since you used a computer, or are you just starting to use computers for the first time? This interactive class covers the basics of using a computer including the mouse and keyboard. Terms like “GUI”, “window” and “desktop” won’t be scary anymore!

Getting the Best Customer Service

Saturday 6/15 4:00-5:00

Ever had trouble getting phone or in-person customer service to handle your issue well? Learn the ins and outs of working with customer support to try to get the best possible outcome.

Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public. Our May class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF. Many classes focus on the basics and more advanced skills involved with using computers and the Internet effectively and safely. We also offer courses in job search skills, creating digital art, beginning programming and so much more. Our volunteers currently teach over 25 free unique classes every month (algunas en español), so there’s likely something for you!

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Getting the Best Customer Service

Saturday 6/1 4:00-5:00

Ever had trouble getting phone or in-person customer service to handle your issue well? Learn the ins and outs of working with customer support to try to get the best possible outcome.

Using LibreOffice Writer

Thursday 5/23 2:30-4:30

Students will focus on creating their own resume and cover letter to learn all the aspects of word processing programs like LibreOffice Writer (and Microsoft Word).

Using Git & Github with Linux

Wednesday 5/22 4:30-5:30

Git is the way many developers to keep track of collaboratively-developed (& often open source) software. Students will create a Github account, get a high level overview of the basic kinds of Git workflows, and learn how to use Git from the command-line to interact with Github. Command Line 1 experience required for signup.

Job Search 101

Saturday 5/11 4:00-5:30

Don’t know how to find job openings online or organize your job hunt? Learn important job searching etiquette, computer tools and how to follow up so you stand out from other applicants.

Use any Computer with Ease

Tuesday 5/7 10:30-1:30
Thursday 5/30 12:30-3:30

Does the fear that you might break something keep you from doing what you want with computers? Once you start to realize that many computer programs are based on the same basic design ideas, you can feel comfortable in front of any computer screen.

Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public. Our April class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF. Many classes focus on the basics and more advanced skills involved with using computers and the Internet effectively and safely. We also offer courses in job search skills, creating digital art, beginning programming and so much more. Our volunteers currently teach over 25 free unique classes every month (algunas en español), so there’s likely something for you!

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Starting out in Online Sales

Saturday 4/27 4:00-5:30

Learn the basics of selling your items online through services like eBay, Amazon and Craigslist. Participants will also have the opportunity to apply for an Online Sales internship at Free Geek to gain more experience with selling online.

Websites 101

Tuesday 4/9 3:00-5:00

Almost all websites are created using the same languages including HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Learn how to look behind the scenes at how websites are created and sent out online. Recommended before taking HTML or CSS courses.

HTML 1&2

HTML 1 Thursday 4/18 2:30-4:30

HTML 2 Friday 4/19 2:30-4:30

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the language used to create the content of webpages. Students will create basic webpages by hand. Please take HTML 1 before HTML 2.

CSS 1&2

CSS 1 Tuesday 4/23 2:30-4:30

CSS 2 Wednesday 4/24 2:30-4:30

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) describe how the content (HTML) of websites should look. Students will learn how to style basic webpages by hand. Please take CSS 1 before CSS 2.

Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public. Our March class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF. Classes focus on computers and technology, but cover a wide range of skills. You can learn how to publish online and make sure you’re primed to get the traffic you want. We also offer courses in job search skills, creating digital art, being safe online and so much more. Our volunteers currently teach over 25 free unique classes every month (algunas en español), so there’s likely something for you!

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Bitcoins, experimental new digital currency

Wednesday 3/13 2:00-3:30

Bitcoins are an interesting experiment in a new, international currency. This introductory workshop will cover the basics of how bitcoin works including how to start a wallet and use coins to buy things, how to earn coins with a mining pool, and some general Q&A. An excellent introduction for those who have never heard about bitcoins and those who want to learn a little bit more. Come prepared to ask questions!

CiviCRM daylong workshop ($60)

Monday 4/8 9:00-5:30

This daylong workshop for companies exploring CiviCRM or those who are already using it will go through the process of tracking contributors, events, member lists, cases, grants, campaigns, petitions, bulk mailings and reports. Email or call Darren at Free Geek for more information.

Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public.  Our February class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF.  Along with various other offerings, we have added new classes to help our students become comfortable working with any computer.  Other classes focus on using free tools to organize your job search while maximizing your chance to land work, creating digital artwork with introductory GIMP and Inkscape classes, Internet publishing/best practices and many other excellent options.

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Troubleshooting Your Computer

Wednesday 2/20 2:00-3:00

What should you do when you try to accomplish something using your computer and it just doesn’t work? This class will teach you skills you can use on Linux systems and other computers to fix issues as they arise. Not only will you learn skills to fix your own computer, you will also learn about how to get others to help you by submitting bug reports.

Use any Computer with Ease

Tuesday 2/19 10:30-12:30

Thursday 2/28 12:30-2:30

Does the fear that you might break something keep you from doing what you want with computers? Once you start to realize that many computer programs are based on the same basic design ideas, you can feel comfortable in front of any computer screen. This new class is debuting as a collaborative exploration, so we can better understand our students’ needs in this regard. Please come with questions and concerns about using computers.

Anatomy of a Webpage

Friday 2/22 10:30-12:00

Although webpages tend to be very visual they are all written out in computer-readable text. Almost all websites are created using the same languages including HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Learn how to look at and parse the text-based code behind websites. You won’t learn how to code your own webpages by hand, but this is an excellent introduction to the basic languages of web design.


Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public.  Our December class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF.  Along with various other offerings, we have added a new class introducing students to do it yourself computer-controlled wood mill creation using parts harvested (reused) from recycled electronics.  Other classes focus on using free tools to organize your job search while maximizing your chance to land work, creating digital artwork with introductory GIMP and Inkscape classes, Internet publishing/best practices and many other excellent options.

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

DIY CNC Mill

Wednesday 12/26 2:30-4:30

Learn how to create a computer controlled wood mill using parts harvested from recycled electronics. Students will have a hands-on chance to work with the materials and understand the underlying concepts behind creating and using a computer-controlled machine.

This is a trial run of the class, so student comments on content and teaching methods are appreciated.

Free Geek is proud to offer a wide range of free classes to the public.  Our November class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF.  Along with various other offerings, we have added a new class introducing students to the core basics of computer programming.  Other classes focus on using free programs to create digital artwork, using technology to increase your chances of finding employment, Internet publishing and many other excellent options.

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Intro to Programming Concepts

Wednesday 11/28 3:30-5:30

Have you ever wanted to learn programming but found that just picking up a book never really worked for you. In this class we will discuss how to think like a computer. How to ask a commuter to do work for you. Come learn some basic concepts that apply to all computer languages.

The new October class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF. Notable new additions include Introduction to CiviCRM, Joomla 1, and Inkscape 1.

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350. Classes are free and open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Introduction to CiviCRM

Wednesday 10/17 3:30-5:00

CiviCRM is the dominant open source customer relationship management software for non-profits and other organizations. CiviCRM easily integrates with websites built using WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. This short introduction will help explain how this tool can help organizations track contributors, events, member lists, cases, grants, campaigns, petitions, bulk mailings and reports.

Joomla 1

Friday 10/26 12:00-1:30

Students who have taken our Introduction to CMS class and want to learn more about using Joomla to build their websites will have an opportunity to dive into the various options available through this software.

Inkscape 1

Wednesday 10/3 4:00-5:30

Learn the basics of Inkscape, a vector-based drawing program and the open source equivalent to Adobe Illustrator. This class explains the difference between raster-based graphics and vector graphics and when you would want to use one over the other.

The new August class schedule is now available online and via a printable PDF. Notable new additions include Spanish Command Line and Computer Adoption classes as well as an introduction to CMS.

All classes, excluding Linux Open Questions, require pre-registration. You can do so by stopping by or calling the Free Geek Volunteer Desk at 503-232-9350.  Classes are free an open to the public; you do not need to be a volunteer to attend.

Introduction to CMS
Thursday 8/23 2:00-3:30
A content management system (CMS) is a computer program that makes it easy to create, edit, and display HTML/Internet content. Some popular CMS include WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. Learn the basics of how CMS can make your website creation easier and better.

Clase de Primeros pasos con su nueva computadora de Free geek
Saturday 8/11 12:30-3:30
Estas clases ayudan a los voluntarios a configurar y usar sus equipos basados en Ubuntu. También están invitados a inscribirse los beneficiarios del programa de becas, los compradores de nuestra tienda y miembros de la comunidad.

Línea de comando
Saturday 8/25 10:30-12:00
Los estudiantes aprenderán las partes de un comando, el listado, la vinculación, la implementación del tabulador, la estructura del sistema de archivos y mucho más. Obligatorio para los voluntarios de Free Geek que quieren pasar a otras áreas en Free geek. Usted debe sentirse cómodo con las computadoras para tomar esta clase.

Were you aware that we have a robust and far-reaching free education program at Free Geek?  You don’t have to be a volunteer or Thrift Store shopper to take our classes; all community members are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is required for classes, unless otherwise indicated. You can sign-up at the volunteer desk or by calling us at 503-232-9350 x101.

Here are some interesting May classes, but you  can find the full schedule online at http://www.freegeek.org/about/classes/!

Establishing Yourself Online

Thursday 5/10 3:00-5:30

Do have a small business or hobby that you would like to bring online? Learn the basics of how to create functioning websites using simple tools and other considerations of online publishing. You must have an email address which you can access during the class to attend.

Using Ubuntu Linux

Saturday 5/12, 5/26 10:30-12:00

Ubuntu Linux 10.04 Lucid Lynx? Feel free to bring in your own laptop or use one of ours as we teach you the basic Ubuntu desktop environment including things like how to add programs, change the visual design and make your office documents compatible with the Microsoft Office suite. Volunteers taking systems home should sign up for our Getting Started with Your New Free Geek Computer classes.

Introduction to Internet Use & Security

Thursday 5/17 3:30-5:30

Learn how to use the Internet safely. This class covers how to generate and use secure but easy-to-remember passwords. Students will also learn how to know if they can trust a website as well as tips and techniques to use websites like Craigslist and shopping sites.

Introductory session: Networking Study Group

Friday 5/18 4:30-5:30

No sign-up required. Come learn about and discuss the networking study group that will occur over a ten week period starting May 25th. Participants in the study group will be able to come in on an informal basis to examine together various networking lessons and questions.

Bring Traffic to Your Website

Wednesday 5/23 4:00-5:30

Have you started publishing online, but don’t have many people coming to your website? Learn tools and techniques to advertise your website to the rest of the world. Topics include search engine optimization (SEO), using social media, advertising in the “real world” and more.