Hi trevellie and welcome to the forums.

It sounds like you've treated yourself to a DSLR or Santa Claus brought you one.

I guess that your goal is to take some good photographs with it. However, it would be fair to say that good photography isn't just about knowing what button to press. Knowing your equipment is one thing, knowing photography is another and acquiring skills in composition is yet another.

Don't discount the local SLR courses because a digital SLR is still an SLR and the same principles apply. Equally, you may not be interested in the darkroom elements but a) it's great fun and b) it gives you a good grounding for the digital processing of your images. For example, programs like Photoshop Elements that may be used to fine-tune your images use concepts like exposure, dodging and burning that are simply a replication of darkroom work so knowing a bit certainly won't do any harm.

Might I suggest you join a local camera club? Don't just try the nearest, try a few - they are all different but try to find one that is lively, with a good membership covering a range of work whereby you can ask questions. Above all, look at lots of photographs at the club and in magazines and then see what impresses you and ask 'now how do I do that?'