Special thanks to Richard Dean, the leader of the pack, who makes all of this possible at
Virtual University.

Richard
Richard Dean

California

Virtual University

Richard Dean, an author and network administrator, has developed more than a dozen courses for VU including the popular, award- winning workshop "Exploring the Internet", which now claims more than one million graduates. He has been teaching Internet classes, programming and journalism online since 1995, and he is a former instructor at the Learning Tree University in Los Angeles. In addition to teaching, he manages the Virtual University web site, and he is a Perl/Visual Basic programmer and UNIX administrator.

HTML Team, Paint Shop Pro and Advanced Classes

Anne
Anne Hartman

Michigan

Anne's World Web Page Resources

Anne: I often do things just because I want to learn how something works and share my enthusiasm with others. My friend Oren steered me to VU shortly after I got online at the end of 1995, in time to register for classes offered in 1996. The combination of lessons and interaction with others is a wonderful way to learn.

I started my web page to keep track of all the resources in the Fall '96 HTML class and never stopped. Little did I realize that I would become the "keeper" of the lessons for future classes when I sent Ghatten the new locations for resources and added others. We inherited the lessons and over the years they have become a true Team effort as we revise and update. Someone will add a tutorial or steps to explain a problem area. The Team and student interaction on the discussion board is one of the main things that make the HTML classes so special. Better solutions are achieved with different perspectives.

The new location for the class pages now mirrored at VU, allows us to easily update links on the pages for each year and term:

Eagle
Michele Wills

California

Eagle's Nest

mcwills.com

Eagle: Michele Wills aka Eagle, has been flying through the cyberhalls of VU since she went online in 1997. She began her computing career at Atari Computer Camp in 1982, where she oversaw thirty versions of the game Tron being developed and tennis rackets gathering dust in the closets. "Foreign languages" were also taught at that camp: DOS, Basic, COBOL. Computer code was saved on rolls of paper and the best monitor was the biggest TV you could find.

Today, Michele can be found playing modern-day Tron games and conversing in new foreign languages: HTML, JavaScript and CGI/Perl. She has written a dozen classes for VU over the years and as technology changes, so does she and the curriculum she writes.

Glo
Gloria Kraemer

New York

Let's Do Cascading Style Sheets

Let's Go Beyond HTML

Glo: I left the world of magazine publishing to raise a family in 1990. The World Wide Web soon sucked me in as a means to continue publishing. As graphics began to flourish on the web, I wanted to create my own. VU provided that opportunity with its PSP course.

Introduction to CSS provides instruction for all of CSS level 1. I love watching the students progress through the lessons. I know they are working hard by what I see them produce.

Beyond HTML is for the webmaster who wants to try all that other technical stuff: CGI, DHTML, PHP, SSI, and more. While we are not writing code, together we work with existing scripts and techniques to determine which will work on each webmaster's server.

Rollie
Rollie Braam

Netherlands

HollandVoice.net

Come to thePlace

Rollie: I've been HTMLing and PSPing since 1997 and grow ever more addicted to both. In my opinion, online classes are the best way to learn because of the sharing of ideas. Another reason I have a fondness for online classes is because it was in one of my first classes that I met my husband and later migrated from the US to Holland.

I feel that I have the best of all worlds since I'm able to teach PSP at VU and help with the HTML classes. It gives me tremendous pleasure to see others grow in their knowledge and feel that I have a small part in it.

In my spare time I do a little outside web design and have also started a busy message board called thePlace for graphics, HTML and everything that goes along with them.

DebLev
Debbie Lavasseur

South Carolina

Deb's Place

Tips Using Windows XP

DebLev: I started taking classes at VU in 1997. I began with the HTML1 class and kept going from there. I was asked to join the HTML Team and I am so glad to be able to help other students learn as I did. It is wonderful to be able to payback to VU all that was given to me.

I work at a small Elementary School in South Carolina. I teach Computer Lab to students in Grades K-5. Our fourth and fifth grade students also design and manage their classroom websites. I have two wonderful grandchildren that I spend lots of time with. In my spare time I run a web design business which caters to many of the local businesses in the area. I love working with the children as well as designing for my clients.

Bloss45
Alan Flower

England

Castles - British & Irish

Alan Flower (aka Bloss45): a 50 (+lots) year old retired military helicopter examiner/instructor. He lives in Bournemouth, England, about mid point on the south coast. He has been studying PSP, HTML and associated subjects with the VU on and off for over 4 years. Alan tends to be around when many are sleeping since his time zone is about 9 hours ahead of the VU time.

"I am so grateful to VU and all the staff for all the assistance they have given me over the years. I have been taken from being completely ignorant regarding web design to being fairly proficient in many aspects. I am pleased to be able to return some of what I have learned by assisting new students in my own limited manner."

Words of wisdom...

"Problems are like Christmas trees....... first take off the lights and tinsel which you have placed there, then take a fresh look at the problem."

Gillie2tat
Gillian Buchanan

England

Crafts and Lace

Gillie2tat: I joined VU at the end of 2001 having found it via the Google search engine. I'd started coding a few months earlier and learned so much in the VU class of February 2002 that by week three I was helping other classmates and Otter invited me to join the instructor team. I still enjoy helping people to get their first pages online and the reward for me is greatest when they suddenly understand something for the first time in class.

For me the internet is all about helping other people with its tremendous resources and for that reason in the same month that I became a VU instructor, I also became the Bella Online tatting editor. Very occasionally in class we get people from the tatting lists suddenly realizing that I'm in the instructor team and I sometimes have to think very quickly to keep the class from going off topic!

I wouldn't be without VU and the tremendous friendship offered by the instructors and classmates there and at thePlace.

Maverick Queen
Mary Mason

Texas

Maverick Queen: I started at VU in 1998 taking PSP5 and HTML classes. I got hooked right away and I have been taking classes here ever since to improve my PSP and Web Page skills. I have been part of Eagle's and Rollie's PSP teams for awhile now. I help out by checking new lessons and monitoring the Bulletin Boards each term.

I have made some great friends here at VU and recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning. I love sharing with others what I have learned here at VU.

Kot
Kot Johnson

Canyon Lake, Texas

Kot's Notebooks
Canyon Lake Paddlers

Kot: Earned art degree the old fashioned way in 1976, thought computers were for nerds and engineers. Resisted until 2002, bought my first computer and now I'm trying to catch up! Enjoy paddling canoe down a cold river in hot Texas summer, doing crafts, graphics, and web design. Read about Virtual University in Reader's Digest, the price was right, decided to try online classes. Joined the VU family in 2004, so I am still a beginner around here. I love the atmosphere of sharing and learning with folks from all over--VU really is a global village. I am honored to be on the html team, and its a real blast helping the newbies.

Shirley_c
Shirley Savarese

Portland OR, USA

Shirley_c: I started taking classes at Virtual University in 1999 and I treasure the knowledge I've gained and the special friendships I have made, including my husband, Buster. I'm always looking for an excuse to create a webpage, so you will find me on the boards snatching up students' urls to make class pages! Like the rest of the team, I love seeing people grow in their skills and am ready to help out in any way I can.

Zonie
Floyd Fry

Arizona

Zonie's World

Zonie: I was drafted as an assistant to help with a couple of things!! But I also believe in paying back Virtual University for the help I got.

Zonie started at VU in the Fall of 1996. He can be found all over VU answering everyone's questions and helping in any way he can. He also has tutorials for mIRC and other help for newbies.

Newbie Corner

Blue^

Arizona

IRCLE Web Page - Welcome Mac Users

Blue^: I have been taking classes at VU since January 1997, and have taken all of the HTML classes. I was drafted as an assistant... and I really enjoy helping people learn HTML... Virtual University has opened a whole new world for me... lots of new and great friends... some of which I have been very fortunate to meet in person.

I am a Macintosh user. Kittycat and I worked on the Mac User Web page together. I also have a page for IRCLE users.

Blue^ is a big help for those of you that use a Mac to access the web. Blue^ also has a Christian Web site as well as a Cards and Flowers site.

Oren Walther

Michigan

Redford Theatre
Alder School

Oren: Anne and I worked together on establishing the content and design of the Redford Theatre's website. When we took the site over, it was a single page containing 2 photos. We turned it in to a comprehensive site that is now well over 100 pages. At the time, web design and html were new to us and we learned a lot together. I have gone on to maintain and update that site as well as one for the school where I teach and several other sites.

I have worked mainly with Apple computers since the early days of the Apple II. I currently have a 20" G5 iMac, a G4 iBook and a beige G3 using programs that run under both Classic OS and OS-X. I sometimes cheat and use Apple's free Claris Home Page, especially for doing table work. However, I often use a text editor like the freeware TextWrangler to create and edit the html code on the pages I do.

21 June, 2004  In Memory of Sara Lynn Cather (aka Kittycat)

Sara Lynn Cather

We are saddened by the news that Sara Lynn Cather (aka Kittycat) has passed away. A volunteer member of the VU HTML Team for many years, Sara Lynn volunteered countless hours of her time over the years helping students master HTML and other Internet skills. Literally hundreds of VU students from around the world benefited from her patient instruction and encouragement. If you are a former student or friend and would like to help create a Tribute Page for Sara Lynn, or if you wish to share a memory that you want us to include in this tribute, htmlteam@vu.org

Kittycat
Sara Lynn Cather

Arizona

Kittycat corner - Welcome Mac Users

Kittycat: To the new students-- work with as many others as you can-- Email, class, study groups, and I guarantee you will accomplish greater things than you ever thought possible!!

As a student who turned into an assistant for HTML, I work on a Mac Computer and continued to take the class--partly to learn more skills and hone those I have learned-- and partly to help other Mac Users". KittyCat is a big help for those of you that use a Mac to access the web.

June 21, 2004....We have just learned that Kittycat has suddenly passed away. She will be sorely missed. Anyone who knew her will certainly share our sorrow.

Honoring Previous Volunteers

Otter
Wendy Sekovich

California

Otter's Place for FAQ's

Otter's Sites

Otter - "I took HTML in Fall and Winter '96-'97. Then I became the Instructor for HTML. I was also named Global Outreach Director for VU in Fall '97.

I believe in helping non-profit organizations and am an endless giver of charity and volunteer work -- because I hope that what I do will make a difference in people's lives and the world as a whole. I liked VU's philosophy and am interested in Distant Education programs on the Internet. By helping VU, I can reach people all over the world -- especially those who are disabled, homebound, newly retired or those looking for a new direction in life and a way to improve themselves.

Anything is possible when you put your mind to it and it's never too late to start learning. VU offers a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and meet people from all over the world as you share experiences while working and learning together."

"Ghatten"
Jean Marziale (Engle)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Gatten's Site Temporarily Unavailable

"Ghatten" - "I'm a firm believer in online learning and believe that we are all participating in the wave of the future. I love meeting folks from all over the world and helping them get a page up on the web!"

Ghatten was the one of the top HTML Instructors at VU who got many of us started with the original lessons for HTML 1 and HTML 2.

Ghatten drafted herself into becoming the instructor for the "absentee" one, and has been hard at work since. Literally Thousands have taken her courses here at VU and now have a page on the web.

Who
Steve Charney

Hermosa Beach, California

Writer's Block Blockhouse

"Who's Home"

"Who" - "I've been with VU since 96 (starting with HTML then) ... I became an assistant because I really enjoy helping others and problem solving."

Who has been known to bring in a bit of laughter to the class as well, with you never knowing whom "Who" might turn out to be.

Blossom^
Linda Warford

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Soaring to Greater Knowledge

"Blossom^" - "I really enjoy helping all the new students as well as working with the other volunteers at Virtual University."

Blossom began as a student in the Winter classes of 1996, then became an Assistant, as well as an Instructor and is also a wonderful cyber-friend. Blossom is well versed on ICQ and HTML.

Dowie
Dana Fjeran

South Carolina

Dowie's Good Stuff

dowiesplace.com

Dowie - "I've attended VU since 1997. It was HTML 101 for Beginners. I LOVED it and loved writing web pages. I am grateful for the opportunity to assist with editing lessons, watching and answering Bulletin Board messages, and helping students. The folks at VU were so helpful to me as a computer novice and are still very helpful. I learned soooo much more than HTML. I want to give back to others in any way I can. I met friends at VU that first term who are still great friends of mine today."

Dowie has big plans to develop dowiesplace for her gallery of unique, custom, hand-painted gift items.

Granny-Wicked
Wanda Kirkegaard

Missouri

Granny-Wicked - "I entered VU in Jan 1997, and found a very wonderful group of people to help me and other students learn the Internet. The instructors here work with all of us on learning HTML. I just want to give back what was given to me.

The Language of HTML may seem intimidating until you learn it, time and practice is all it takes. The pride of seeing my first page on the World Wide Web taught by Ghatten and her team of instructors, gave me a feeling of excitement that isn't often matched. I was called a newbie, but it didn't matter. I did it. A simple beginning and from there I can obtain the world."

"Bev"
Beverly Miller

USA

Silverleaf Design

Bev - "The first online class I ever took was Jean's Beginning HTML class in the Fall of 1996. I was hooked right away.

I did work with Jean in designing the web site for the Web Pages that Make a Difference class.

As for why I agreed to be a teaching assistant..well, I guess I just really wanted to find a way to give back something to a community that helped me so much. And because I just truly enjoy helping other people to learn to do something that I love doing so much myself. Plus....I could never turn down a request from Jean..:-) She's been such a wonderful friend and inspiration."

Kinkell
Sue Drury

Australia

Kinkell's Castles

Recent Projects

Kinkell - "I have made lots of friends from day 1 there and still have most of them! People have helped me so much I just want to give a bit back by helping others if I can. :)"

Kinkell has been on the Internet since December 1997 and started at VU January 98. She lives in Australia and the Internet opened up the whole world! "Most of what I know about the net I learned at VU!"

Kayroller
Kaleen Gray

Colorado

We-R-Gray

Disabilities
(Sites temporarily unavailable)

Kayroller - has been attending VU since 1997 and loves to learn. Kayroller comments about on line learning:

"I find that VU has many wonderful classes, and with all I have taken - I have enjoyed. Of all, I find that one of the things I like the best - is everyone helping each other to help over come the online disability of not knowing how to or what next to do."

Kayroller is working on a site for handicap aids for people to be able to find items they need without searching the entire Internet for each item.