Web-design class offered at WNCC

Launching a Web page just got easier.

Western Nevada Community College will offer a spring course in Web-page design.

"We really felt it was needed for our community," said Anne Hansen, director of marketing and information at WNCC. "We have heard for years from students that they wanted a graphic design class."

Darcy Field, of Prism Design in Mound House and instructor of the course, said the first thing the students will do in his class is fill out a questionnaire.

"I want to get an idea of what they want to get from the course," he said. "I think that's real important."

Field, who has been designing Web pages for the past four years, said he wants to get rid of the fear that people have of the Internet.

"Once you get over the fear of computing and geekdom, it's really not complex," he said. "It doesn't have to be that complicated."

To demonstrate the simplicity of it, Field created a Web page that said "Hello World" in less than a minute.

"See how easy that was?" he asked.

He said he will operate his classroom with a hands-off manner.

"I will not touch the student's computer," he said. "You only learn by doing."

In order to take the class, Field said, students should have a good understanding of the computer and have some knowledge of a photo-editing program.

By the end, he said students will be able to design their own Web page for a small- to medium-size business.

"If you pay attention and do the assignments, I guarantee you'll learn it," he said.

The class will be from 7:15-10 p.m. Thursdays in the High Tech Center on the Carson High School campus.

The Internet will also help those who cannot attend regular classes on campus.

WNCC will offer 13 courses this semester over the Internet.

Information about the classes is available at the college Web site at:

www.wncc.nevada.edu/douglas/onlinesch.htm

Classes will begin Monday.