I'm looking for resources(preferably free) that can teach me to use Adobe After Effects. I found that the "Classroom in a Book" that my school suggested didn't really explain any of the functions adequately.

www.videocopilot.net might be all you need!

Be sure to buy one of his DVDs to support him too...

Not free, but certainly worth every penny:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/332706-REG/CMP_Books_9781578202492_Book_Creating_Motion_Graphics.html

Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects: Volume 1: The Essentials by Trish Meyer, Chris Meyer

This is the book that classroom in a book wishes it were.

oh nice...thats a good start! Thanks!

The free tutorials of videocopilot are really super informative and explained in a great way. It's nice to learn a program by doing practical stuff, and that's exactly what they offer.

Really learned a lot in a short time, because of those.