Web Design Class

Check out this great report from Jon, our Web Design class teacher!

For a short while, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. I'm a web designer and developer. I'd done this for many years, and I was eager to teach it to other eager minds. But web design is not a small, nor easily defined, topic. The sheer volume of acronyms and buzzwords can induce uncomfortable head spinning.

On the other hand, coordinating with Seattle Free School was a breeze. Jessica was a perfect balance of professional and approachable. She gave me great insights on planning, and what to cover. What's more, she knew folks at Seattle Public Library were interested in very generously lending us some space in their computer labs. It was a perfect match.

So, I decided to put it out there. One class, an hour and a half long. We'll see who signs up, and what we can get done in that time. Both the Free School and the Public Library listed the event on their calendar, and the class seats filled up in a hurry!

I put together a loose outline of what I wanted to cover, authored a few Powerpoint slides, and decided on a good approach for teaching such a large topic. I designed a basic layout, that we could tackle in class and code ourselves.

Teaching day came. I showed up early to get the room setup. The facilities were perfect, replete with dry erase boards, nice computers, a projector screen, the whole nine yards. Library staff were super helpful, and went out of their way to help get the computers setup for the class. Folks started filing in early, taking seats and eager to learn.

The class was nearly a full house, and a lot of fun. We talked about HTML and how to structure good semantic markup. We had a good side talk about how Google works, and how to make your site easy to find. Then, we moved on to start building the design I'd laid out for them, and styling it with CSS. I'd walk through brief explanations of what different pieces of code do, then we'd all write them in our code editor (Notepad!). Along the way, I could see eyes light up across the room when small bits of code they'd written turned into something they were proud of, piece by piece. Not unlike giving someone a robot making kit, and watching their machines come alive.

We couldn't get through every piece of the design I was hoping we'd finish -- my time constraints proved to be a bit too optimistic. But, I promised that we would have more classes like these in the future, and allot more time to the subject at hand. Once time expired, they all filed out with warm smiles and a sincere thanks. It felt really awesome to teach folks a new skill, and I hope to do many more of these in the future.

I want to extend a huge thanks to Seattle Free School, all of the nice folks at Seattle Public Library, and everyone who came out to learn a little web design! I look forward to doing it again in the future. :)

First Official Partnership!

Check this out! We now have our first class where we are officially partnering with the Seattle Public Library. Very exciting and hopefully more great computer classes to come. Thanks a ton to our instructor Jon for helping us get this scheduled!

Free Homesteading Classes

Our friend Leslie at Fresh Picked Seattle has written this great post about free classes all over the city to get your homestead going. Lots of great resources so check it out here.

Two brand new classes!

Oddly both of these classes are for the same day so you'll just have to choose which one you want to go to. The great news is that at least one of these instructors has shown interest in teaching again so hopefully it won't be the last time for either class.

Here's the info:

Tue, Aug 24:

HTML CSS An Intro to Design for the Web
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Central Library
HTML / CSS - An Introduction to Designing for the Web

You know, the web! That thing we use everyday to find answers, buy stuff, check email, and Facebook our buddies. There is a lot of interaction and publishing happening there, but how does it all really work? How does all that code translate to a pretty interface on your screen?

This hands-on class aims to teach you the basics of HTML and CSS -- the two languages of the web that make pretty things happen on your screen. Learn how to author well-structured HTML pages, and layer on a gorgeous coat of CSS paint. Come tackle these skills in a fun, approachable learning environment.

This class is at the Central Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Located at 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 the class itself will take place at the small computer lab on Level 4, Room 3 (on the “red floor”).

The class size is limited due to the size of the lab so please register early and let us know if you won\'t be able to make the class so that someone else may take your space.




Overweight and Overwhelmed?
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Greenlake Library
Overweight and Overwhelmed?

So was I. Let me share with you my journey from the unknowing, confusion, fad diets, food deprivation, exercise obsession, self doubt, loss of control and surrender to acceptance, understanding, action and self actualization.

Are you interested in starting your own unique journey to wellness?

In our time together we will learn how to identify your unique journey, gather the tools needed for this journey, create an action plan and learn how to design a fitness program that works for you.

Facilitator: Joles Tahara, founder of Walkabout Journeys, has over 35 years of experience struggling to manage weight. Over the course of her valiant weight battles, she has gained and lost over 800 pounds. Joles combines her years of management leadership skills with her personal fitness training background to integrate a whole system approach to optimum wellness.


Register on the website here.

More free classes!

Check out this great blog post from our friend Leslie Seaton on free and low cost cooking school classes! Yup, she talks about Seattle Free School too.
Seattle Budget Events Examiner

What free classes on cooking would you like to see offered at Seattle Free School? Reply to this post to let us know and maybe we can get a class on the books!

New Classes!

We've got two new classes posted!

The first is a series on Happiness by author Cecile Andrews. Explore research findings about the nature of authentic happiness, how to make individual changes, and the importance of a Gross National Happiness standard.

Second we have Making Informed Decisions about what you Eat and Drink with Summer. You'll explore food and the choices you make.

Learn more about both classes by going to the Seattle Free School website here.

Green Festival

This weekend we spoke at the Seattle Green Festival. 25 people passed up hearing Amy Goodman of Democracy Now to learn more about Seattle Free School and what we do. Not one of these people had ever been to a Seattle Free School class so hopefully we've recruited a few new students and at least one person expressed interest in teaching. Did you go? What did you think?

We also got a great write up on Culture Mob by Alyson Lewis. Check it out here.