The CIT Training Program's fall term of free computer classes is now available for registration. The term spans October 2003 through January 2004 and will incorporate new topics as well as continue many popular subjects. With well over 120 different topics, more than 30 of them new, there should be something for everyone who uses computing in their NIH work.

With recent worms and viruses, more people understand the need to keep their computer systems secure. Along with many returning titles, there are two new security classes. "Basic Security - Protect Your PC with Available Tools" is for any NIH staff member who sometimes uses a home computer for work. Many tools available at NIH are available for home computers, and this class will look at which to use and how to use them most effectively. "Snort Lightweight Intrusion Detection System (IDS)" is intended for IT professionals who are interested in this host-based intrusion detection system that provides real-time alerts of possible security attacks.

Computers can do fantastic things to help in our work, but we all sometimes wish for more help in the tasks for which we use them. "Write to Point for IT Professionals" is a workshop to help technical people improve their writing skills. "Improve Your Public Speaking When Using PowerPoint" looks at the skills involved in putting together a presentation and delivering it. "Introduction to Telework" adds to the existing remote access class to look at the non-IT items that can lead to a successful telework experience.

Web developers have a variety of new options. A two-part JavaScript course offers the basics for new programmers in that language. Microsoft is also bringing two courses: "Introduction to Microsoft XML Web Services" and "VB6 to VB.NET Migration."

In the area of enterprise systems, Data Warehouse is adding to its extensive list of courses with "Data Warehouse: Budget & Finance Enhancements Supporting NBS." For account sponsors, there is "Web Sponsor - New Features," which will help participants take advantage of all the new items available.

For others looking ahead to where their systems are moving, there are two other new classes. Microsoft is bringing "New Advances with the Microsoft Office 2003 System" to look at what changes have been made and what will be available. For grants staff working with the ECB, there is "New Features of Council Administration Module Version 5."

There have been courses on relational databases and SQL in the training program for many years. Now, by popular demand, there is also an "Advanced SQL" class. This is appropriate for people who want to take the entire series or who have taken the previous classes and want to come back for more information.

As usual, there are many new courses for scientists. "EMBOSS and GCG: All the Sequence Analysis Tools You Need" will demonstrate these two large sequence-analysis programs available to NIH staff. Some tools developed within NIH will be taught in "Visualization in MIPAV," which looks at some new functions available in this platform-independent image processing and visualization program, and "Hands-On MatchMiner and GoMiner: Software Resources for Analysis of Microarray Data." Other science courses include "Understanding Promoter Analysis," "Evaluation Methods in Biomedical Informatics," and "Data Mining with STATISTICA."

For full course information or to register for classes, visit http://training.cit.nih.gov. You can also call 594-6248 if you wish to discuss course registration, teaching a class or other training issues.