I was just writing about this today and it pops up: Things happen for the best. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Calendar of Free Classes & Events August, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------ After spending two months revamping its web site, Spectrum Virtual University will kick off a new round of classes in mid-August, sporting a new look and a simplified approach to online learning. Classes will remain free to the public as they have always been but traditional semesters have been replaced by a monthly calendar and enrollment forms have been eliminated. "Life moves in the fast lane on the Internet and people don't want to sit around waiting for things to happen," said Paul Leighton, a spokesman for VU. "Going to a monthly schedule makes sense because new classes will always be starting and people can jump right in." Eliminating enrollment forms also makes sense, Leighton explained, because Internet e-mail has become increasingly unreliable and forms often go astray. "Now students can just drop in on classes that look interesting, and we can focus our energies on teaching rather than paperwork," he added. The web site sports a user-friendly interface permitting students to move quickly and easily from one classroom to another. New "learning channels" have also been created. Each channel has its own classroom area, library, and web-based bulletin board where students can ask questions and take part in online discussions with instructors and fellow classmates. The web site is now running on a dedicated server and the bulletin boards have been redesigned. Sara Kennedy, a member of the VU web design team, said 10-15 new learning channels will be added each month and live lectures will also be hosted. Later this fall, the campus will begin "broadcasting" classes to users' desktops, using the latest "push" technology. The Calendar of classes for August follows. New classes will be announced on the 25th of every month. Those desiring to receive future Calendars can subscribe to the Virtual U mailing list at <http://www.vu.org/subscribe.html> or e-mail <Subscribe@VU.org). ------------------------------------------------------------------ Calendar of Classes for August, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Designing A Genealogy Web Page" (Channel 32) <http://www.vu.org/channel32/> Interest in genealogy has soared thanks to quick and easy access to a global database of information that can be accessed with any desktop computer. Scores of genealogy sites have sprung up on the World Wide Web, created by people interested in researching their family trees. This summer expert Marthe Arends will teach "Designing A Genealogy Web Page" at the Virtual U. The class begins Aug. 18 and will run 11 weeks. The goal of the class is to help participants get their genealogy and family history on the web. Weekly topics will include HTML basics, how to design a genealogy web page, and how to put one's family tree online. The class will also discuss where to find genealogy clip art, animated graphics, audio and video clips, and JavaScript; how to create guest books, query forms, and surname lists, and how to publicize a genealogy web site. A basic knowledge of HTML is recommended. Access to the World Wide Web and the ability to download files is required. Marthe Arends is a respected author and lecturer with 16 years experience in the field. She is editor and publisher of "Online Pioneers," a popular genealogy newsletter. This is Marthe's second semester at VU. Last spring, she taught "Introduction to Online Genealogy" to a packed classroom of 8,000 virtual students. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "PC Basics: Meet Your Computer!" (Channel 23) <http://www.vu.org/channel23/> You've got a computer on your desktop, a keyboard in front of you, and you've found the ON switch. Now what? "PC Basics" will take beginners on an indepth tour of their personal computer. What's a RAM chip? How does a modem work? What about those weird messages that flash on your screen? This 8-week workshop will explain what you've always wanted to know about your computer -- and more! Weekly lessons will be supplemented by informal class meetings and chat sessions with the instructor and fellow students, allowing participants to develop a practical understanding of the basics. Instructor Christy McBride has been developing and teaching inter- active courses at Virtual U for several years. She describes herself as an avid computer enthusiast who has been fascinated by computers for as long as she can remember. She holds a degree in Microcomputer Applications, and she is currently on the faculty of a community college. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "HTML & Web Design for Beginners" (Channel 21) <http://www.vu.org/channel21/> Now that most larger ISP's offer unlimited access to the Internet for $19.95 a month and many include a free web page in their basic subscription, the rush to build a home on the World Wide Web is on! But once you arrive, the task of building a web site that is interesting and visually cool may not be as easy as you expected. This 8-week class is for the person with absolutely NO experience in HTML or web design. The goal is to impart a simple working knowledge of HTML tags and the basic steps to build a home page on the World Wide Web. Students will receive weekly lessons and individual attention by e-mail as needed. The instructors will also host weekly online meetings which will give participants the chance to ask questions, obtain further instruction and swap ideas with classmates. Lead instructor Jean Engel began her journey on the World Wide Web several years ago as a student in an HTML class at the Virtual U. When she volunteered to teach HTML 101, she described herself as "just an everyday person who wants to use what I've learned to help others learn HTML and avoid having to go through months of unproductive and dissatisfying attempts as I did." Today, Jean, who holds a degree in Drama/Communications from the University of New Orleans, is an accomplished web designer and graphic artist in New Jersey. She has been on the VU faculty since 1995. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright ©1997 Spectrum Learning Network. This Calendar may be freely reposted on bulletin boards and web sites and reprinted in publications. To browse our current calendar, visit our web site at <http://www.vu.org/calendar.html> or e-mail <Calendar@VU.org>. ------------------------------------------------------------------ [END OF DOCUMENT]