10 Excellent Open Courseware Classes for Web Designers

This is a guest post by Julie-Ann Amos, a freelance writer, who covers topics such as online university rankings and reviews, e-learning tools, and more. 

Many professionals already working in the field of internet hosting and web design don’t need to go back to school for credit programs, but they do want to stay current on new trends, concepts and software options. Using open courseware classes is a terrific option since they are free, are designed for self-study and can be accessed literally 24/7 from any computer with internet access.

There are many different courses to choose from but for those already working as web designers or those just getting started the following 10 courses will be of particular interest.

1. Software Applications for Web Applications – this program, offered through ArsDigita University allows the students to actually develop an interactive website based on a real world client’s specifications. The site will include a database, cookies, SQL as well as scripting language and HTML.

2. Open Web Mapping – students will learn how to incorporate open source standard software code to add interactive maps to website designs. Mapping servers and parameters of programs will be examined as well as how to customize these programs to meet individual website requirements. This program is offered through Penn State, College of EMS.

3. Database, Internet and Systems Integration Technologies – this MIT practical applications course is designed to allow students to understand how different technologies can be incorporated into website design. The course will cover http, html, XML, SOAP, security as well as data networking protocols and system integration.

4. Communicating in Cyberspace – this course encourages students to think about how different forms of visual communication online are effective and influence the web. This program is offered through MIT OpenCourseWare and is designed to represent a broader view of online communication.

5. WebAIM: Web Accessibility In Mind – developing websites that are accessible for people with different abilities and disabilities is the core component of this program. Offered through NAGT Cutting Edge (SERC) students explore how different technologies or applications enhance website design for a wider audience.

6. UNU Media Studio Blog – this study reflects the unique and multidisciplinary approach to developing open source documentaries and interactive content for the world wide web. The information on the site is tagged and categories for ease of searching and reading.

7. Blogs, Wikis and New Media For Learning – a very current look at the Web 2.0 user generated materials now popular as aspects of webpages and sites. This course is designed to address how blogging, RSS feeds, social bookmarking, photo sharing, podcasts and video sharing have influenced web design in an interactive website design. This course is offered through Utah State University OpenCourseWare. 

8. Designing Sociable Media – an MIT OpenCourseWare program, this course looks at how social websites have influenced and changed both online interactions as well as in-person communication. This understanding can help web designs in developing sites for specific types of target audiences as well as for the general public.

9. International Politics In The New Century – another MIT OpenCourseWare program, this reflective course takes a look at how online gaming with a political focus has changed how opinions are formed and modified. This information can be very useful to web designers with clients that wish to share specific political or organizational opinions.

10. An Introduction to E-Commerce and Distributed Applications – offered through The Open University OpenLearn, this course focuses in on different e-commerce options and applications for sales websites. The course will allow web designers to learn the pros and cons of different online sales programs as well as security issues.

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