RHEA-L Archives

From: Robert D. Rhea< >
Subject: Designing a Genealogy web page
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 16:22:11 +0000

The following is self explanatory ( I hope) and surely will be of
interest to some of you Rhea researchers:

Note particularly the second half of the message which outlines a free
online class on creating Genealogy web pages-

Message follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"""""""""""""""""""""

VIRTUAL U EXPANDS WEB SITE, ANNOUNCES FREE SUMMER CLASSES

Los Angeles CA, July 26, 1997 -- After spending nearly 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have been replaced by a monthly calendar and enrollment forms have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 <).

------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

END OF QUOTED MESSAGE

This thread:

• Designing a Genealogy web page by Robert D. Rhea< >