I’ve decided to take a graduate-level web design course (online) at my local university. I’ve experienced a whirlwind of learning, creativity, and growth, feeling like an eagle learning to fly for the first time. Here’s a breakdown of my journey over the past month.
How Do I Actually Learn?
I quickly realized that understanding how I learn is just as important as the content itself. For me, it’s a blend of hands-on practice, visual learning, trial and error, and organization.
- Hands-On Practice: In this course, we are learning HTML and CSS. This isn’t my first attempt at coding, but it has been challenging nonetheless, especially since I’m not currently in the industry. However, coding along with tutorials and experimenting with small projects has been crucial. This approach helps solidify concepts in my mind.
- Visual Learning: Watching video tutorials in the lectures has been helpful. I also supplement the lectures with YouTube videos that dive deeper into the topics.
- Trial and Error: Embracing mistakes as part of the learning process is essential. Debugging code can be frustrating and time-consuming, but each error is an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Collaboration: I would love to see more collaboration in this course. However, the intense and fast-paced nature tends to limit this.
What Are the Requirements to Pass This Course?
Understanding the course requirements early on has been key to staying on track. Here are the main requirements:
- Assignments: Regular submission of coding assignments and design projects. Each task builds on the previous one, creating a cumulative learning experience.
- Participation: Active participation in class discussions and group work.
- Final Project: A comprehensive project that showcases our web design skills, creativity, and ability to integrate what we’ve learned throughout the course.
What Is My Plan of Study?
Here’s my strategy:
- Weekly Goals: Setting specific, achievable goals for each week. This keeps me focused and ensures steady progress.
- Study Schedule: Allocating dedicated study time each day, balancing between lectures, practice, and review.
- Resource Utilization: Making the most of available resources, such as online tutorials, forums, and office hours with instructors.
- Self-Assessment: Regularly evaluating my understanding through self-quizzes and practice problems. This helps identify areas that need more attention.
What I Have Learned So Far
In just one month, here’s what I have learned:
- HTML & CSS: I’ve learned how to structure content with HTML and style it with CSS to create visually appealing web pages. This is a work in progress, and it’s interesting to see my work come to life on the page.
- Design Principles: Fundamental principles like color theory, typography, and layout that guide effective web design.
Skills/Tools I Have Learned
In addition to the theoretical knowledge, I’ve also gained hands-on experience with several essential tools:
- Adobe Dreamweaver: I’m using this tool to write HTML and CSS for websites. It provides a user-friendly interface and powerful features that streamline the coding process.
- Adobe Photoshop: This has been crucial for editing photos and creating graphics. Learning to manipulate images enhances the visual appeal of my web designs.
- Microsoft Azure: I’m using this as a student hosting platform for a local site. It’s been a great way to understand cloud services and deploy my projects online.
- FileZilla: This tool helps me manage file transfers to and from the server, making it easier to update and maintain my website.
Takeaways
Reflecting on this first month, several key takeaways stand out:
- Patience and Persistence: Learning web design is a journey that requires patience. Progress can seem slow at times, given the course’s fast pace, but persistence pays off.
- Embrace Challenges: Each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Debugging and problem-solving are integral parts of the process.
- Stay Curious: Continuously exploring new tools, techniques, and trends keeps the learning process dynamic and engaging.
I will continue to work through the course and share my insights here. This is a brief overview and introduction; I hope to dive into the actual details of the learning and design process in the future.
-Nysa