Free New York City Classes
NOBLE DESKTOP, LLC
Topping the list is Noble Desktop where able and upbeat instructors offer a multitude of free, ongoing seminars for both Mac and PC users. The idea behind these classes is to familiarize potential students with their coaching methods, as they cover such subjects as "How to Get Started in Web Design," or "Creative Effects with Adobe Illustrator," or "Marketing through Google." You walk away with intensive notes and, in some cases, step-by-step instruction handouts to support what you've just learned! Who else does that? Free? They live up to their name. And the name says it all.
Noble Desktop, 594 Broadway, Suite 1202. 212 226-4149 http://www.nobledesktop.com/freeseminars.html
TECHSERVE
Tekserve focuses on Mac users, offering free seminars and demonstrations on subjects including professional audio, video, and graphic design - ranging from "Delivering Hi-Def Projects via Adobe Flash" to "Getting Started with Adobe InDesign CS4 - Creating and Using Templates." Many courses are Tekserve exclusives, taught by their experienced staff. 119 West 23rd Street _(6th & 7th Avenues) 212 929-3645 http://www.tekserve.com/
NYPC
New York Personal Computer (NYPC) is a non-profit educational organization that brings together (mostly PC) users at all levels to share their knowledge and enjoyment of computers and computing. All Monthly General Meetings are free and open to the public. Also, a full set of classes and workshops are presented every month - and among these, a handful are free. The rest are offered with a modest fee. Better yet, join NYPC and receive member discounts. http://www.nypc.org/
ADULT AND SENIOR PROGRAMS
Parks CRCs offer free classes and specialized workshops for all levels of computer users. Equipped with an extensive selection of professional industry-standard software, CRCs offer training in a broad range of computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop and PageMaker. They also provide instruction in topics like web browsing, Internet security, wireless technology, resume writing, and web design. Some courses are dedicated to seniors (or those that have never touched a computer.) offering the same skills, but taught at a slightly more relaxed pace. All classes are free to recreation center members. Scheduled drop-in times allow independent access to technology for those who wish to check email, design a personal website or learn a new computer application while taking advantage of our high tech equipment. To find out about classes offered in your neighborhood, click on your local Recreation Center: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/crc/locations.html
Or contact: Center Manager: Karen Pedrosa; Deputy Manager: Andrea Rivette; CRC Coordinator: Diana Baker at Phone: (212) 754-5411 or (212) 754-0293
General email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/html/residents/whatsnew.shtml
Free Online tutorials:
MAC LEARNING CENTER
The Mac Learning Center offers a tutorials on how to get the most out of your Apple computer. Tutorials are entirely free and can be viewed online via the Mac website. No registration is required.
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/
BAYCON GROUP
Baycon Group provides tutorials on a growing list of computer-related topics. All tutorials - including such programs as Microsoft Word, Windows, Paint shop and Flash - are in depth, comprehensive, online, and all are free.
TECHTUTORIALS
TechTutorials offers a directory containing thousands of free tutorials for IT professionals, hobbyists, and home users. The goal of this computer reference is to help solve computer problems and learn new technologies using the many existing free tutorials available on the internet. The site also contains discussion forums, a free job search, free tech magazine subscriptions, white papers, and other technical reference materials.
APPLE TUTORIALS
Apple offers an endless supply of tutorials on every product they make. Tutorials are free for everyone - with such courses as Creating Audio Podcasts on Macs or Windows - and they are easily accessible via Apple's website.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/tutorials/
WIKIVERSITY
Wikiversity is an online community that hosts free learning and multimedia materials. Try the Wikiversity site for a GarageBand tutorial that introduces you to the software and also teaches how to create movie scores and podcasts. And move on from there.
http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Introduction_to_GarageBand
Free Computer Newsletter
COMPUTER ARTS ONLINE - A FREE NEWSLETTER
Here, you will find step-by-step tutorials, tips and tricks for web design, typography, 3D, animation, motion graphics and multimedia. This combined with reviews of the latest hardware and software releases, can enhance your skills and knowledge with technical advice and interviews from the leading experts in the global design world. Many free downloads.