The August 21, 2009 Contribute training has been cancelled. Unfortunately the trainer had some pressing medical issues come up that had to be taken care of on that date.
However, there is a training Wed, Aug 12: The class runs from 9:30-12 AND 1:30 to 4 in Batmale 313 on the Ocean campus. Pre-register below. If you can't make the training on the 12th but are still interested in a Contribute site, put a note in the comments field.
Apply to pre register by clicking here.
You must have ITS staff set up a fog account before the training. To accomplish this, fill out the ITS form Application for Computer Account and return it to the address on the form. Obtain the form from the Help Desk (239-3371), from the TLC lab (313 Batmale), or from your local ITS staff person.
CCSF has hired a Web design firm to thoroughly redesign the CCSF web site. Part of the redesign is templates for the faculty. These templates will not require special software (like Contribute). Since the educational price of Contribute is up to $99, this is a boon.
Folks with sites on the fog server will be allowed to remain indefinitely. Sites on the www server are in question.
We don't yet have answers about when the new templates (and training for them) will be available, what they will look like, or what features they might include. Stay tuned!
 Contribute, created by Macromedia, the SF-based company that also created Dreamweaver, is a new type of program that allows you to add content to Web pages in order to set up your own Web site.
Contribute is designed to overcome many of the hurdles associated with web design and offer the benefits of a Web presence without a steep learning curve or extensive time commitment.
However, the training is at an intermediate level. If you are not fluent with using a browser to navigate the web and fill out online forms, and at ease with basic computer skills like word processing, copying and pasting, and running multiple programs, these sessions are not for you. Take a look at a checklist of skills needed for Contribute.
The TLC provides a workshop that can help upgrade your skills and help you to evaluate if it's wise to go ahead. It also provides a preview of Contribute. It is usually scheduled before the Contribute starter sessions.
Because of budget constraints, the TLC cannot provide you with a copy of Contribute. The program is available for use in our Faculty/Staff lab computers (Mac and Windows) in Batmale 313 as well as in L422. It is also installed on selected computers at most networked CCSF campuses. To keep your site secure, remember to log into your own account before using Contribute on a shared CCSF computer! Contribute 4 has replaced Contribute 3 on those computers.
What should you buy:
- First time buyers: Contribute CS4 - from Adobe's Education site
- If you already have an earlier version: Adobe doesn't provide a lower-priced upgrade version of Contribute, so you have to buy the full product at the Ed price (about the same as the usual upgrade level). But we've found that all versions from 4 up continue to work fine.
- Create attractive and functional Web pages based on templates created by a Web designer (so you don’t have to worry about making your pages pretty)
- Connect to the CCSF Web server to establish and update a Web site
- Transfer Web pages from your computer so that they are visible to anyone who types your CCSF Web address into a browser
- Update information on your site as easily as typing text into your word processor
In CCSF’s Technology Learning Center (TLC) Contribute project, support staff set up a pre-designed index (home) page for you as the starting point for your own, personalized site. To create additional pages, you start with one of several templates created by a designer (and approved by the appropriate CCSF committees).
The blank site awaits information that you supply for the world to see!
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