Not only are the classes useful on a number of levels, but just coming to the Lab is inspirational. "I'm always awestruck when I come up here and see these buildings," Mooney said. "I remember hearing about the cyclotron when I was just a kid in New Jersey."

Mooney participated in a two-day session last summer, and returned on Feb. 14 for a one-day class in Linux security. The class was part of an ongoing effort by ITSD staff to work with local teachers to help them develop curricula, train students through internships and provide up-to-date information.

"This is just golden. You feel validated," she said, adding that community college teachers don't get the professional respect of their colleagues at four-year schools, nor the appreciation of middle school teachers in inner city schools.

"These classes, which are taught at our level, say, 'Because you teach in a community college, you're important, you're worth training'," she said.

And it's training worth taking, according to other participants in the February 14 class.

Francis Yakin, a first year instructor at Ohlone College in Fremont, said he had already learned material to improve his class in Linux Network Security, and the session was only half over. "I learned quite a lot today," he said.

Solano College instructor John Urrutia and two technicians braved the morning commute from Fairfield to attend the class and also felt the class was a productive use of their time. And since the college was closed for a holiday that day, it really was their own time.

"Security is a growing issue, so the more we know about it, the better," Urrutia said.

In addition to the content, Mooney said she also likes to watch others teach technical classes. She looks for hints and tips to improve her own teaching in terms of pacing, visuals, humor and reviewing material. "It's very inspiring."