Layout Tables vs. Style Sheets

 
Hello Everyone,
 
I am currently teaching a web design and management course
that initially covers (X)HTML and style sheets without the use of a
WYSIWYG.  This week we are learning
about table markup and how it is good practice to design with style sheets vs. layout
tables (the text describes how nested tables of the past are now discouraged
due to both accessibility issues and not being semantically sound). I had a
question come in from a student who took a course in Dreamweaver last semester
where they were given an Adobe Developer Connection tutorial
(http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/first_website_pt2_04.html) in
creating a page layout with tables for text, graphics, and Flash assets.  The student asked, “is this was now
considered ‘old school’ in three months time?”  I am also curious as I have been in web design for 10 years now and am
unsure of when then the recommendation took place. 
 
I was wondering if anyone could share their insight with
regard to layout tables and accessibility, as well as when the switch occurred
from layout tables to CSS (i.e., how many years this has been a recommended
practice).  Any thoughts are greatly
appreciated, as they will be added to our class discussion board with proper credit
given as “guest speakers.”
 
Kind Regards,
Patti Burke-Lund
Colorado State Universitypblund@colostate.edu