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[ Monday, Jan. 25, 1999 ]
Free Web design classes most popular, CAC says
By JENNIFER NEJMAN
Collegian Staff Writer
The IBM lab in 117 Wagner was pretty full. Penn State student Rachel Graefe (sophomore-business) sat in a seat in the second line of computers. She came prepared to learn HTML coding with the hope of eventually knowing how to add animation to her World Wide Web page. "What we are going to learn today is how to publish your own Web site. Publishing your own Web page is easy," student instructor Andrew Schlosser said. "The challenging part is knowing exactly what to write, and that's HTML." He explained Web pages are text files linked together by code. Graefe, who said she enjoys working with computers, was one of about 20 Penn State students and others who attended the two free sessions about creating Web pages. Training was offered in both an IBM and a Macintosh computer lab. The Center for Academic Computing offers free weekend seminars every Sunday afternoon. Subjects include using Eudora and Netscape, Microsoft PowerPoint and Web page creation. Students who have questions also can attend an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sundays in 116 and 117 Wagner. Students in attendance had different reasons for wanting to learn HTML. Graefe wanted to improve her Web site and brush up for computer classes she plans to take in her major, while others needed to use their knowledge almost immediately. Mark Fallet (freshman-computer engineering) said he needed to learn how to build his own Web site for an English project. "I've fooled around (with computers) a little bit on my own," Fallet said, "but I've never had anyone show me what the deal is." The first exercise students performed illustrated how to format text. Soft clicking noises started as attendees began punching in codes. Graefe typed: <HTML> My cat's name is Memphis. He is adorable. He is orange and white with beautiful eyes. </BODY> By the end of the first session, computer screens showed a practice file of a small image and text on the Web. HTML programming is one type of computer work students have shown an interest in learning, said John Harwood, CAC education technology services director. "Anything that has 'World Wide Web' in it has been really popular," he said. "The challenge is to find ways to present the training so people don't find it frustrating, so they can make good use of the hardware that they have." Seminars vary from basic user skills to higher level programming. Schlosser said Web classes draw more students than other sessions, but the labs are not filled to capacity. He pointed past the rows of IBMs to the other room. "It would be cool if more people came out. The other lab was empty." In addition to providing students with the training they may need for classes, these seminars also can be useful for learning skills for future careers, said Susan Shields, CAC microcomputer systems consultant. "(Students) should attend and take what (skills) they want," Shields said. "They are going to be the best determinant of what will help them in their major."
<BODY>
</HTML>
Registration is required for weekday sessions, but for weekend seminars no registration is required. Admission for students is free. Brochures are available on the sessions or students can check cac.psu.edu/training for listings and registration.
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