Learning web design, HTML, CSS, etc...

[KennyZ]

When I first started SEO, I came from a sales position. Sales is not my strong suit. Im much more of a technical type of person. So we thought that I would do well in this type of work. However, the only thing I ever knew about the internet was how to surf it.

Now I learn pretty quick and I think Im more naturally skilled for technical stuff, I just need to learn.

What is the best way to learn web design, HTML, CSS, XHTML, etc... anything, EVERYTHING I need? Should I take college courses? Or are the online tutorials enough for someone to master these things? Or should I just do both??

Did you guys all go to school to learn this stuff??

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[boxxertrumps]

I write valid xhtml and this is what ive done.

I started out reading "HTML for idiots" from the school library. it was written in '96 so it wa kindof outdated... got me started though....
then the tutorials at www.w3schools.com

ive looked around here, disecting peoples documents and examining them.

just go to a bookstore and find a bunch of web design books to read.

[Twey]

Learn by doing. Read a tutorial, set yourself a few projects, get started (using the tutorial as reference), and solve the problems you find along the way.I write valid xhtmlYou say this like it's a good thing :)

[GhettoT]

If you have a local junior college, I would suggest looking into taking a web design class. Usually costs for these are minimal (maybe $50 + materials fees), and at most JC's the college has deal with different software companies so you get free SW just for taking the class.

-GT

[chechu]

When I was working in a hotel during the night, I had all the time to surf. I started by copying codes, see what effect they have online, and try to addapt them to my wishes. In the meantime I read forums without posting things.

Look, learn, copy, adapt, try. And if it doesn't work after that, then ask in a forum. Certainly depends in what time you wish to be good. If you want this to be your profession: go to school, surf, read.

[codeexploiter]

start with some small site projects (even dummy projects will do) and then learn various tools/technologies available in the web world.

Set some small aims and achieve them behind your set period.

As Twey mentioned you can't have experience without doing something

All the very best for your learning process

[Twey]

I started by copying codes, see what effect they have online, and try to addapt them to my wishes.I don't think this is a good idea. Editing a script and writing one from scratch are two very different tasks, even in the same language, and just because one can do one doesn't mean one can do the other (for example, I'm a lot less proficient at modifying other people's code than writing my own, so I tend to stay away from the "help me modify this script" threads unless I intend to rewrite the whole script).In the meantime I read forums without posting things.Forums, newsgroups, and IRC channels are all good learning resources too.

[codeexploiter]

Forums, newsgroups, and IRC channels are all good learning resources too.

Can you provide some good ones? so that everybody can use those kind of resources i think.

thanks in advance

[Twey]

Forums: well, duh :p
Newsgroups: I'm not particularly into these myself, although I read them occasionally. Mike recommends comp.lang.javascript. www.authoring.* are handy too.
IRC channels: ##javascript, #html, #css, #web.

[dog]

I would suggest looking into taking a web design class. Usually costs for these are minimal (maybe $50 + materials fees), and at most JC's the college has deal with different software companies so you get free SW just for taking the class.

I'm not sure if $50 for some free software is necessarily a good deal. There's lots of freesoftware that doesn't cost anything. I did learn some webdesign things at school but I learnt a lot more outside of school.

I think the best thing about going to school is that you dedicate time to learning and you have people setting objectives for you. Especially when it comes to webdesign, you can do these things outside of school too.



I started by copying codes, see what effect they have online, and try to adapt them to my wishes.
I don't think this is a good idea. Editing a script and writing one from scratch are two very different tasks,
Personally I learnt a lot from looking at scripts online and trying to understand them. I don't think there's a front-end-webdesigner out the who doesn't "View Source". However, I would also agree that to really understand what you're doing you have to be able to reproduce the script from scratch.

A lot of my intial 'small aims' came from seeing something online and saying, "How has that been done? ...i'm going to learn how to do that."

Mike recommends comp.lang.javascript. www.authoring.* are handy too.
IRC channels: ##javascript, #html, #css, #web.
Personally I don't understand any of that :o
What are IRC channels and that's the rest of the crazy jazz above about?

[Twey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsgroup
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRC

You know the Internet's in a sorry state you have to explain what IRC and newsgroups are :rolleyes:

[mwinter]

Mike recommends comp.lang.javascript. www.authoring.* are handy too.

That's comp.infosystems.www.authoring.* :)

Mike

[johhny.ace]

The best way to learn HTML CSS and etc is in W3C it is the best place cause they are the one who moderates the HTML codes and set trends for future codings.. After that its all practice, practice and practice...

[jscheuer1]

W3c is really poorly written from the standpoint of a didactic aid. They do publish the standards, no arguing with that. I learn mostly by doing. There is almost always a resource a Google away if you need it. The problem comes in that much of the material out there is outdated or poorly thought out. But, if you are willing to keep an open mind, you can continually improve your methods.

I usually like mwinter's and Twey's ideas in these areas, this is no exception.

You can also learn a great deal right here in these forums though, much of it will not be strictly to spec.

[Twey]

W3c is really poorly written from the standpoint of a didactic aid.Unsurprisingly. The standards are technical documents, not learning resources. If you can follow one well enough to learn from it, certainly memorising the standards is probably the best way forward here; however, I doubt many people will be able to make head or tail of a standard, especially when first starting.Mike recommends comp.lang.javascript. www.authoring.* are handy too.
That's comp.infosystems.www.authoring.* :)Oops! Pardon me.

[GypsyOwl]

then the tutorials at www.w3schools.com


Thank You. Just what I have been ready to find. :)
Looks great!
The best part... the code tutorials and the validator right on one site.

:D

[boxxertrumps]

actually, W3 is a different organization from W3schools.
if you want css demos/explanations... http://meyerweb.com/ is where to go.
nifty effects that are achieved.

[jscheuer1]

Just poking around now, I found these tutorials on the w3.org site starting with (for HTML):

http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Guide/

Main tutorial index:

http://www.w3.org/2002/03/tutorials

that look pretty decent so, I take back what I said about the w3c being unsuited as a learning site but, I still say that their main material, the published standards, is poorly organized and dense to all but readers already acquainted with the standards.