Attention LVS Students!
September 29th, 2008 lvs Posted in LVS Updates |
Tell us who you are and which class(es) you are enrolled in. Let us know how LVS classes has affected your life in your professional field and/or in your personal life. We enjoy hearing of your experiences. Thanks for sharing with LVS staff, fellow LVS students and our blog visitors!
If you’d like to view other students experiences at LVS Online Classes, click the Blogroll links on the right.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hi all! I’m a long-time LVS student, ever since they began. Here’s a website of my homework pages for some of the courses I’ve taken: http://www.ibritt.com/flamingo/studies/
As you’ll see, most of them were for learning skills and various software for website making. This has enhanced my professional life enormously. Because of these skills I have been able to design and create online courses for the K-12 students I’ve taught for 14 years. I have also created several websites of my own (one of which is my current professional website for my freelance editing business; linked above). AND, I’ve even taught many of the skills I’ve learned at LVS to my own students. Passing it forward…
The LVS courses have enriched my life personally, as well. When I first started, the class I was in had a cohort of women all about my age and we ended up forming a lasting bond and friendship. For a few years we kept taking the same courses at the same time, one semester after another, just so we could hang out together in the halls of LVS. Long-time LVS staff may remember the “DreamTeam” from back in the day — we were mischief makers in our classes sometimes, but really enjoyed the social aspects as well as helping each other with homework and learning. Some of us have even met in real life during our travels.
My personal photography skills were enriched via my LVS Digital Darkroom courses. I’ve always been a photographer, including 10 years of professional photo work. But I was lost when digital cameras came along. These courses helped my transition and taught me to enhance my digital photos in wonderful ways — as well as what I need to do to them to use them on websites, or print them for framing, etc. I do a LOT with those skills, ongoingly.
And, crazy as it seems to be taking an online course about “real” painting (not digital, not computer), that’s what I’m doing right now. I retired from teaching, my interest in website making is dwindling after 10 years, and I want to get back to my art. Who ya gonna call? Well, LVS of course! Seems like whatever I need as my life moves ahead, LVS can help me with it.
It’s so affordable and fun around here, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stay away.
Thanks for all you do, LVS!
Kate (a.k.a. PinkFlamingo in some of the LVS courses)
October 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I just finished taking Build I. It was a tough class but I throughly enjoyed it. I didn’t go to college when I was younger. But I finished and passed that class and I’m proud what I’ve accomplished. I want to take Build II but I just started a new job so I’m debating if I can juggle both. I probably will take it now because I don’t want to forget what I just learned.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Time is running, the Vue intermediate course nearly over - and I have to say that I’ve learned a lot! Although one or another part of the lessons weren’t actually new for me but in return there was a great deal of things I always wanted to know - or I’ve had no clue that they even exist in Vue.
It was great fun and really interesting studying the lessons, I printed all of them out and enjoyed it while I was lying on the sofa with a great pot of cappuccino. This is definitely an advantage compared with a normal scool *g*!
I also appreciated it very much that my class was small and not overcrowded, with nice people, and Peggy did a great job to look after all of us.
A conclusion? Well, I’ve just subscribed for the Vue advanced course and can’t wait to learn more. It’s a bit like a virus but for once a nice one ;). Thanks for all!
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:45 am
Hiya all at LVS
My name is Monika and I have enrolled for the Vue6 Intro , Photoshop Intermediate and Digital Scrapbooking Components… And I am having great fun making and doing landscapes.. Underwater scenes to giving my photos a total makeover(younger looking me)..lol and making ribbins and frames for my scrapbooks..
I started learning at LVS in 2006 and with them I have managed to further my studies with the most up to date programs which I can now put on my resume..I am like a kid in a candy store … I want to subscribe to Vue6 Intermediate and Photoshop Advanced and Poser Intro, so I hope that I will see some of you around…
Cheers Monika
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Oh Guys! LVS IS PRESERVING MY SANITY, as well as helping me LEARN!
My first LVS Course was either HTML or PSP7. Looking back, I believe I took both classes at once.
In those days, we had just moved to a tiny Oklahoma town with about 180 people, a Bank and a convenience store. “Mayberry” without law enforcement, and with only dial-up internet. So, I began taking courses, to keep my brain exercised!
Our only “child’s” first day of military service was 9-11-01…so again, I reached out to LVS for escapism and stability, as well as learning.
It was also about that time, that our little “Mayberry” environment, was exploited on a website for drugs and several other criminal activities, by being listed as “a small town where anything goes, and there is no law enforcement”.
As our well kept older home, became surrounded by East & West Coast inner city people, running from arrest warrants, cooking bathtub crack, and so many other scary things….LVS Courses were there to bring a form of Civilized Security for me.
Then our Son was involved in Americans taking control of the Kandahar Int’l Airport in Afghanistan. And, my husband pulled me out of a coiled, crying ball, one night, with a pep talk ending in “Get into a new course, and you can work through this.”
So, my LVS Courses helped me through the “Battle for Fallujah”, a tour in Baghdad, a drunk, naked woman, in a stolen car, ramming down our porch pillars, and many things that typically occur in one’s life.
Currently, I’m in Photoshop CS3 Intro, and it’s doing more than merely teaching me…Vikki, Sonja, and my Classmates are my Creative Companions, as I adapt to our Son’s upcoming return to Baghdad. They are keeping my mind on pretty things of the World, while I’m being well educated! Providing just what I need, yet again!
Look! There are innumerable tutorials on the net, and a few good schools. But, what sets LVS apart, is the EXCELLENT Educational Value, and the COMPANIONSHIP that develops between the Student, the Instructors, and fellow Classmates.
LVS is consistently a Class Act! It provides Professional Quality Education, in a remarkable, interactive, learning environment.
Ya just can’t beat LVS with a stick! I’m grateful for the opportunity to spill the beans about what LVS has done for me!
Marquee
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I must be a professional student because I love taking classes. My friend Bea introduced me to LVSonline when she saw they/you offered Vue Beginner classes. I have been taking classes ever since.
I am currently finishing up Vue Advanced with Peggy Walters (you da best hon!!!!) and also taking a couple of self study PSP courses at the same time though I’m a bit behind on the PSP Vector class.
I have taken XaraXtreme, PSP and Vue classes since starting here. So many classes, so little time, lol. I intend to continue in my pursuit of student enlightenment till I reach guru status.
I am not using graphics in my professional life but in my hobby work I have so many more tools at my disposal so my serious work is much more detail enriched. I’ve learned so many tips and tricks and am not afraid of my programs anymore.
Thank you LVS!
Nancy Griffin
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Retiring and finding LVS has been a wonderful experience for me!
Ive learned so much in just these few years of classes. I had not a clue of how to make a web page and now I have so many I can’t keep track of them. And Photoshop is now something I can use, and I love it. I have always enjoyed taking pictures and now with what Ive learned, I can put my photos up on the web and color-correct and fix ‘em up if needed.
Bryce, KPT Collection, Filter Frenzy, and Terragen, and more including all the web classes Ive taken, have been the best of the best.
I am always signing up for more.
Yes, indeed, LVS is the winner!
Jane
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
In 2004 I was given a gift voucher for a course on this site by a good friend. I am from the UK and had not experienced online courses or heard of LVS. In autumn that year we both enrolled on a great Photoshop course. I knew nothing about this program. It was the first of several enrolments and through it I developed a very good grasp of Photoshop.
Four years on and I now have two college groups for a year teaching them the theory and practise of digital graphics. There is no way I could have learned as much as I did on this site through books or brief tutorials or developed the confidence pass on what I have learned.
I have even met and made some online friends through the courses with whom I am still in regular contact.
Like others have said, I am still signing up for more courses.
Sophie
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I have been taking classes for a long time at LVS,I’ve taken psp, web design among others.now I am taking a class on blogging. One thing I like about LVS are the instructors very helpful. I take these classes because of my fasination with learning and using the new information. I am retired and have time to spend on doing things I enjoy.
Gloria
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I just stumbled upon LVS by chance in a search of improving my skills on the computer. It offered Flash and Dreamweaver at a reasonable price…as well as I later have learned in a way that makes it fun and easy to follow. Both classes have been a challenge yet it has been rewarding in that I have actually been able to make something in flash!! The instructors have been great and am truly looking forward to taking more classes here!!
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I have a tendency to repeatedly sign up for more classes than I can handle. I am currently in Xara Xtreme, Painter X, Effective Writing and another class off-site. Xara has received most of my attention and even though I haven’t posted I have done the lessons for Effective Writing. Unfortunately, Painter has suffered so I’ll be signing up for a do-over on that one!
I have tried other learning sites and have found LVS to be my favorite. I love the clean, easy style of the web site. I do not use a lot of graphic work in my daily job as an Desktop Analyst (I work on computers), but every night I am on my computer in between the cooking supper, bath times, play times and bed times in my house.
I will continue to sign up. Hopefully, I’ll be able to contain myself to one or two classes!
Crystal
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I have taken quite a few art courses because it makes me spend one day a week doing my second muse. Right now I’m in the Trompe L’Oeil class and it has been a blast. It’s a little tricky as I am a digital artist and the lessons are for painting by hand on canvas.
Vikki was also kind enough to put my 20 Paint Shop Pro 9 Video Tutorials in the self-help section. So if you have that program, you might want to check it out (shameless plug here).
I can’t say enough about the XHTML, CSS and SSI classes I’ve taken several years ago. The instructors were brilliant and I continue to use these skills daily.
On a huge HTML list, I plug LVSonline every chance I get. I so love to learn and LVS helps me do that in a fun way.
Judith
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
While work, family and health demands keep me from giving my all to the classes, they’ve been lifesavers. They provide challenge and exercise the old brain cells well not to mention raising one’s self-esteem. CorelX3, Painter and a couple others I cannot recall. Thank you for this opportunity! I’ll be around from now on.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I am presently taking “How to Paint” with Dia Spriggs. Love LVS… this is my fifth course… Took 2 digital painting courses and 2 digital photography..101/102 …still waiting for 103 RON???? Nice to see this blog…. will definitely drop in regularly!!!
Caroled
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 am
This is my first LVS class, and my first on-line class. I have been taking pictures for decades and using Paint Shop Pro since the beginning, but I decided to take the Digital Darkroom course to learn more about the latest tools and get some tips through the dialogues with instructors and other students.
And it works. I’m enjoying the course, with one more week to go.
In the days before the Internet, I actually stood in front of a classroom and taught some computer science classes. Now I get to work when I have the time. Thanks.
P.S. I found out about LVS through the PSP Photo magazine.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’m Ronda. I am taking PSE6 Basics. It is my first experience with LVS and with online. I have really enjoyed the class and plan to take another or two.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hi everyone! I’ve been taking classes here off and on for about 3 1/2 years. Some classes have been more challenging than others but that keeps me coming back for more.
The instructors are fantastic. Anytime that I’ve had problems or questions, they have been right there for me.
The price is right. You couldn’t ask for more affordable classes.
I can work at my own pace. What more could I ask for?
Sherry
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
THIS IS MY FIRST CLASS WITH LSV BUT IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi all
I’m Tryfon Gavriel. I run a popular online correspondence chess site called http://www.letsplaychess.com. I have been doing the Website basic building courses 1-3 because I wanted to know the latest HTML and CSS standards.
My main skills are in SQL Server and database design. My website is also heavily reliant on advanced javascript as well.
However, I believe I have benefited from the Building a Website series, and each lecturer has been a different style through the three courses. Each one has been beneficial to increasing my interest in HTML and CSS standards.
In Build 1: Debby, was just perfect for the introductory course. I enjoyed her sense of humour, and easy to read papers. It was a nice gentle introduction, and the banter was also really great, as it was the most student populated of the three levels, as one would expect.
In Build 2: Becky. I recognise a IT Guru here!. She really knows here stuff. She tested as well as the underlying material, also the ability for students to try and know what reference material and resources are, and not try to hard to try and understand gobbledygook, otherwise you won’t get to the end of the course in time. You need real skills here to be able to effectively experiment and play with the resources given. And for this reason, I found this Part II, incredibly challenging and also very rewarding. I am sorry I didn’t leave feedback at the end of the course - I was just too shattered!!
In Build 3 which i am doing now: Vikki. She is more relaxed, and gives time therefore to experiment and play with the CSS styling technologies. I am relieved not to be under so much pressure as in Build 2. Build 2 people - take Build 3, you will make it! Honest!
Thanks LVS Online for my first interesting experience with online virtual courses. I have already a BSC Hons(2:1) degree in Computing in Business from Brunel Univerity, and also some Microsoft Certified Qualifications. I didn’t expect these online courses to be that challenging, but I have been proved wrong, and I believe I have gained important skills to be able to give good nice new looks to future pages on my commercial site letsplaychess.com.
Best wishes
Tryfon
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Well I was new to online classes and being a student when I signed up for the Painter 1 class. Now I see why so many say they are hooked on it. I love it! This has been a wonderful class wth a great instructor, Elaina. She has taught me so much and really made it fun. I can hardly wait for the next class.
Sally
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I have taken many LVS courses — mostly graphic design. My husband and I run a webdesign business and I do all the artwork and graphic design for the websites we build. Without LVS I would not have had the skills to create many of the sites we have designed in recent years.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I’ve been taking classes through LVS for about 3 years in order to improve my knowledge of how to build web sites as I work on some for fun for my friends. I have learned SO much from the classes I’ve taken. The courses are so reasonable and the instructors have all been great. I am currently in PHP 101 and will be repeating it as I need to understand the concepts better but am enjoying the challenge of the course.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I’m enrolled in Digital Darkroom w/PSPP X1 and I’m finding it to be a powerful foundation for retouching digital images. I’m looking forward to the continuation of my digital imaging education through LVS Online. –Stuart
October 4th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Something is awry with the English Composition site because it does not afford an opportunity to leave comments. Am I doing something wrong? I’ve had no difficulty commenting at seven of the class blogs I’ve visited. Stuart
October 4th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Also . . . could not leave comments at the Piano and Skills for Learning blogs.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for letting us know. We’ll have a look at those three blogs…
Best,
Vikki
October 4th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Hi, I’m Meli and I’m from Alaska. I’m currently enrolled in Vue Intermediate and Intro to Poser 5/6/7. I’ve taken Intro to Vue and am looking forward to attending the Vue Advanced class as well as the UVMapper Pro one. These classes have helped me greatly! I’ve been using Vue for a year now, and with Peggy’s classes have improved by leaps and bounds. The Intro to Poser class helped me round out my knowledge.
I look forward to more classes, and thank you for offering this!
~meli
October 5th, 2008 at 6:47 am
I have been taking classes for a long time at LVS. Subjects were Bryce, Terragen, PSP andy many others.
I really like the opportunity to meet people all over the would.
I’m just participating in a Painter course and this will not be the last one …
Cheers Monika
October 5th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hello:
I am Kim and I am currently enrolled in the Poser 5,6,7, class and it has been a very informative class. It certainly helped take care of some of the how’s and whatfor’s I have had since I started useing poser 6.
Thanks to Britt for a wonderful class, and hopefully there will be a intermediate and advanced soon.
Great job LVS, I will be back.
Kim
October 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I have taken several technical classes in the past to assist me in my own trade as a technical instructor. This time I am taking a class just for fun — floral painting. I’ve never painted anything before and have discovered it’s a great deal of fun.
Betty
October 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Hi
My name is Randy and am from Kansas, USA.
I have been taking lvs classes for a number of years.
Classes I have taken
All Illustrator classes
All Flash classes
Html 1 and 2
Dslr class waiting on a advanced class to be added. hint hint
October 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I just completed the Build series this time around. The classes are very good and the instructors are dedicated. I can’t wait for classes to start up again here at LVS!
October 10th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Just did the Indesign Essentials course, the first LVS course I have done, and well pleased with the course. Certainly more comprehensive than I expected, particularly with the low cots of the course. It taught me a lot, and it is good to have a teacher to answer any queries you may have.
I have done online courses costing many times more with a lot less material and almost no feed back. I will certainly recommend LVS to others and plan to do some more courses with them
Lloyd
October 10th, 2008 at 10:44 am
This is my first online course and indeed my first structured class since the 1960’s! I’ve always studied on my own in conjunction with the context of practical experience. In the computer age I used the internet as an inexhaustible resource requiring merely my own initiative. As a result of long habit, I had assumed that any structure tended to retard my learning patterns which were connected by context and serendipitous impulse rather than someone else’s direction.
The experience here with Peggy Walters’ Vue 6 Intermediate class has changed my belief that guided instruction is limiting. Each week’s lessons were carefully prepared and I found my horizons constantly expanding through her shared knowledge. Such condensed knowledge opening new vistas in a short time is both exciting and enjoyable. I’ve signed up for the Advanced course to continue the experience.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I first started studying at LVS in 2003 and since then I have taken over 20 classes including Poser, Bryce and Bryce Workshop, Vue Intro and Intermediate, Illustrator, Beginning Javascript, PHP, Introduction to Database Development using MySQL, Database Development using MySQL & PHP: Intermediate, Designing Digital Scrapbook Components, Design Principles, Flash MX 1, Flash 2, Swish, Build 1, Build 2 and Build 3 etc and have enjoyed every single one.
I took many of these courses to improve my skills in hobby activities but the web related ones have helped enormously with the creation of my websites. There are still several classes I would like to enrol in so I am sure I will be wandering the halls of LVS for some time yet.
I would heartily recommend anyone to take any of these classes both for personal and professional interests.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Enrolled in Basic photography — thoroughly enjoyed it and recommending it widely — I look at things differenly now and take my camera everywhere!
~Paul
October 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Hi
I am currently taking the Photography Basics course - I loved it - This is the first LVS class I have taken and I can promise you I am hooked for life - I enrolled in the understanding child development for the upcoming session and in January I will take the Photography Basics II .
LVS is awesome and I have recommended this website to all of my friends - because it is the greatest thing since slice bread - lol
October 10th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Whooohooo!
I have just completed the Vue6 Into - Photoshop Intermediate and Digital Scrapbook Components.. So well All I can say it that I have had a great time doing these courses,(Sitting here quite chuffed with herself
)and hope to see all in the next level…
Well hope you all the best!!
October 10th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Just finished CorelDraw and Corel Painter classes. Enjoyed both very much.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I just finished the Astrological Card Reading class and enjoyed my introduction to an area I had never explored before. It was a lot of fun and now that I’ve found LVS I’ll check out some future classes.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I also could not leave a post on The English Comp., Piano and Skills blogs.
However, I have found several courses that sound very inviting, and will most likely sign up for at least one of them.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Hi Stuart,
The English, Piano, and Skills for Learning blogs have been changed to allow comments without “logging in”.
Kat
October 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Hi LaDonna,
The English, Piano, and Skills for Learning blogs have been changed to allow comments without “logging in”.
Glad to hear you found some courses that sound inviting! We are happy to have you
Kat