There is a free 12-week Desktop GIS (ArcMAP) course offered via Pace University. It begins the week of January 17. During each week, the lessons are asynchronous; there is no common meeting time. I will be the instructor for this course. The syllabus may be viewed here: http://webpage.pace.edu/MMinnis/GISSyllabus
Badges (bronze, silver, gold) are awarded at milestones in the course. A certificate is earned by completing the essential assignments.
Enrollment is here:
http://OpenEducation.Blackboard.com/PaceUniversity
ArcMAP runs on a PC platform, but MAC users may install a program, such as Boot Camp, to run Windows programs.
How to get the software is explained in the first week, but users may install a free 60-day trial version of the program, buy the book (~$50 at Amazon.com) or buy a one-year ($100) full license for home use. Many schools and agencies already have a version running on their network. Any version 10 or above will be fine.
Peggy Minnis