As a website designer and retired professor, I am often asked by
other how they can learn how to use HTML, CSS and other basic things
to design a good quality website. Most of the time these
individuals do not have time to go to a college, etc. I know the
following comments will surprise some of you since it is coming from
a retired university professor: attending a traditional college
course over a 16 week may not be worth the time, or the cost of the
tuition, fees and books.

Many years ago, while directing a business development center at a
college, a new academic vendor approached me about offering low-cost
courses. At first, I was hesitant because I always thought people
learned best with their backsides in the seats in the classroom.
Eventually, I read all their proposal material and after a lengthy
discussion we decided to partner with this new company. Not only
were we impressed but eventually, we put many of the staff members
though the various online courses including two who then redesigned
the entire College website.

We discovered that our employees and our student workers learned
more in less time and could design websites efficiently. This did
not set well with the academic computer department; so eventually,
we could not advertise the courses to the student body. We
continued to promoted the online courses to business and industry.

I served on various State-wide college committees and shared what we
discovered and over 20 colleges signed up with this same educational
partner and started delivering these courses through their
continuing education department. Eventually the provider of these
courses partnered with over 2000 colleges and universities
throughout the U.S. Eventually, they sold their business to
Thompson Learning a major provider of distance learning programs and
corporate training programs. However, the program was preserved and
continues today.

Eventually, I retired and started assisting a nonprofit research
group made up of professional who were seeking to assist in the
amelioration of issues in isolated regions and developing
countries. Just like all nonprofits, they needed revenue; so I
identified the online program we used at the state colleges and we
contacted the partnering agency who agreed to allow the program to
deliver these same courses. With one difference, the nonprofit
delivered the courses at a lower average cost and delivered them
globally to anyone anywhere as long as the student could register
online and pay for their course. This is difficult for some Middle
East and Asian countries. However, the number of US and Canadian
citizens makes up the majority of people registering .

This program offers some of the best low-cost website development
courses that you can find. The cost at the moment is $89 for
computer and internet courses and $79 for several personal
enrichment courses. There are few higher cost courses but they will
not be of interest to website developers: paralegal, accredited
health care courses, etc.

For 99% of the over 300 online courses there are no text books
required and all course material is furnished at no cost. All the
academic material is furnished online and student who printout and
save their assignments will have the equivalent of a free reference
textbook when they complete the course. Students have to have
access to the Internet, from their home, work, a library, a friend.
etc. to login to the classroom.

Courses last for six weeks with two new assignments issued each
week. There is a real instructor that designs and monitors each
course. There are student discussion boards. Many of the course
instructors in the computer and Internet courses are the people who
authored the "... for Dummies" or are former college professors who
realized the dream of teaching online and reaching more people with
real substance material.

Again all lesson material is furnished. For each course, you can
review the description, syllabus, prerequisite, prior students
comments, the price, frequently asked questions and you can register
for a courses. A new course session begins each month until the
course is retired or replaced.

If you desire to be a good to great web designer or just need to get
updated in a new software or programming method, I encourage you to
go to the Earthnet Institute Online Instruction Center
http://www.ed2go.com/earthnet and check out the catalog of online
courses.

I told you that over 2000 other college offer these courses;
however, ENI is the only one using volunteers to keep cost low and
provides after hour support via its volunteers. They must do this
because the sun is always up somewhere in the world and a student
may need assistance. When visiting the Earthnet Institute Online
Instruction Center http://www.ed2go.com/earthnet please take time to
read the About Us section and learn about what ENI is doing globally.

Now, the embers of this group has an inside edge on where to get
quality low cost web development training. You also know how to get
a hold of me for advice. But, please do not pass out my business
email address to others. Like you I design websites!