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Fehl Writes Textbooks on Computer Applications, Plays Music

Alec Fehl, Business Computer Technologies instructor, has authored textbooks on computer applications.

Alec Fehl, Business Computer Technologies instructor, has authored five books and co-authored two on computer applications for Labyrinth Learning, co-authored one for EMC Paradigm and contributed to three books published by McGraw-Hill.

Fehl started writing in 2003 when his weekly Ask A Geek column was published in the Asheville Citizen-Times. When he came to teach at A-B Tech as a part-time instructor, he didn't like the books available for the courses he taught, so he began writing his own. He had been turned down by other publishers, but Labyrinth Learning liked what they read. His first book was PowerPoint 2007, which has been split into three levels, three fast-start levels and the original full version, for a total of seven separate titles.

"The technical textbook lifespan is two to five years because the technology changes so fast. I have to keep up with that pace. It (authoring) makes me a better teacher and more knowledgeable," Fehl said. "It makes me think about topics from the point of view of a student, and how to make technical concepts accessible to a varying range of readers."

One of Fehl's books, "Web Page Design with XHTML/CSS," is used for the WEB 115 class, Web Markup and Scripting. "It's very nice to see my name in print. It makes my parents very proud," he said.

Fehl is also a guitarist who plays with a blues band in the area. When he was at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he studied Music Production and Engineering, with a minor in Guitar Performance.

Fehl worked at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles doing whatever needed to be done. "I vacuumed. I bought Gene Simmons (of KISS) gum and parked his car," he said. "I discovered I didn't like the studio, I would rather play guitar."

Fehl even had an audition with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the early 1990s when they were searching for a guitarist. They went with Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction instead of Fehl. "It's tough to be a rock star when you go to bed at 9:00," he said.

Business Computer Technologies Programs

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