OLLI at UC Participants Resource Page

Resource Page for Course Participants of OLLI at UC: Build Your Own Website from Home

Entry for December, 2008:
The quarter is now over for Build Your Own Website from Home at OLLI at UC, and may I say how much I enjoyed our classes! The course will be offered again in the spring at RWC and those of you who want to review are invited to attend. Bring a friend or spouse just for fun! We will see you on Thursdays, a little later, I think, same time, same venue.

It is hard to believe that there is only one class left. The quarter flew by, didn't it? You are invited to repeat the class in the Spring with OLLI at UC where what I learned in this "shake down" voyage incorporates into version 2 of the course.

Adults to not have to show up, they do not have to participate, they do not have to "prove" themselves anymore because they have "been there, done that" on their life paths.

Perhaps that is why it is such a pleasure working with this age group, my peer group. You have asked piercing questions, showed a mighty enthusiasm, and I assure you, I learned a great deal from you these last weeks.

If you leave the class December 4 confident that yes, you COULD develop your concept into a "work from home" business, my goal has been achieved. I hope my enthusiasm for my material "came through." Please do not hesitate to keep in touch by the email address I provided to you in class. I want to know how your project unfolds and will help you realize your webmastering adventure if I can.

Response to the Suggestion Form Mid-way in the Quarter

I would like to respond to a few of those brave souls who actually turned in a response to the "mid-quarter" review of the course, "How to Build Your Own Website from Home."

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Don is "very comfortable" with the idea that after five weeks learning this system, he could build his own website.

Since this is my primary aim, how could I be anything but pleased with this?
In response to the question "Please suggest one improvement for this course for spring," David said "Nothing."

Well, that's encouraging! I'm sure he is too kind.

Marnie liked the "keywords session" (she is, like myself, a "drill down" person who likes to see the data).

She wanted to know how to get the content to put on her website. Truth is, this is the best question of all. If you don't LOVE your material, and can't figure out how to provide it, your website will suffer.

This business of what to put on your website is a very personal choice, and Marnie's comment makes me think that it would be helpful to have an individual session for those who want one brainstorming for how to find content.

I, for instance, chose to write about a thousand limericks for my first website and that was my content. It was a lot of work and I won't deny it. A couple of years later, and I am something of a limerick expert. But nothing worthwhile is easy, is it?

Let us say you are interested in stained glass. There could be page after page with projects you have completed with pictures of the results and the lowdown about the struggles you surmounted to make the final product. You could write a page about wrapping the glass, the tricky business of cutting an "inside curve," another on the health dangers of lead solder, and yet another about guarding against the illnesses caused by working with glass shavings. You could have pages describing how long it takes to make an art work, the artistic skills involved in drawing the pattern, a page on how to transfer that paper pattern to glass. There really isn't a limit to what people want to hear from your experience. You get the idea.

Essentially, you are writing a book on your website. Let us say your book will have 300 pages when complete. You can take as long as you wish to finish it but you have to have a good outline when you begin and simply flesh it out as the days go by. Your book might have 15 chapters and each of those chapters has about 15 subsections (topics) beneath them.
The good news is that, unlike a real book, you can do this in bite-size installments, one page at a time, like that great book "Bird by Bird." Each page will get a "grade" from the public, defined by the "traffic" that it gets---the "host" gives you this data as part of your purchase.

One member, Joe, worries about the modest cost of the hosting system that I use. All I can say here is that you get what you pay for. So many people with cheap or free systems are making nothing from their websites. For those who can structure everything from their own webmastering knowledge and writing skills, and I am certain that there are some, more power to them. Some of us need a little "handholding." The system I am advancing is all about bringing the novice along gradually.

I might point out that working up one site the way I have recommended it might provide the participant with a knowledge base to optimally construct his second or third site through one of those other alternatives.

We wish to thank Osher for programs such as those offered through OLLI at UC. Without the support of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, such programs in adult learning and enrichment would be most difficult.

Agenda for October 30 for OLLI at UC:

• Build a page
• Keyword searches-your homework is to come up with a "keyword concept"
• Using a decision tool

Participants will find a contact form below which may be useful for:

• class dates, location, or time
• attendance
• bringing guests
• website building in general
• the Sitesell host program
• homework assignments

For those of you who have asked about sample SBI websites, see the fun and interesting ideas that people have come up with for their sites.

Aids for Writing Content

Design Help for Your Website

Technical Assistance

Moderator's Websites

Webmaster's Development Tools

Utilities to Make Life Easier

Special Use for Organizing and Creativity

Rating Your Website

Drop me a line!

New resources for family blogs which are free or inexpensive. I am not endorsing these providers, just pointing you toward something to investigate if you need a family blog.

Family Lobby
My Family
Your Family Website
Family Plan It
Sampa