March 26, 2010
The most important tip I can give you is to ask as many questions as you can and to ask them right away. Our Dreamweaver course will move along at a determined pace and each concept will build off of the previous concept. If a concept doesn't make sense and you don't ask any questions the next concept won't make sense either. Before you know it you'll be way behind and it will be more difficult for the instructor to bring you back up to speed. Don't be shy and don't assume that you're the only one who didn't understand the concept! When you speak up and ask a question you'll be doing the entire class a favor and the instructor will always be glad to answer your questions!
If you're uncomfortable speaking up when you have a question, don't hesitate to approach the instructor during a class break for some one-on-one assistance.
If you sit next to other students you can have the benefit of watching their screen up-close in addition to seeing what the instructor is doing on the big-screen. Sitting next to another student may allow you to quickly find your own mistakes and bounce questions off of your neighbor.
We've found that a common mistake some students commit is to focus more on doing what the instructor does but not necessarily understanding why. Some students will end up with a perfectly designed website but they'll have no idea how they made it because they were simply following along with the instructor but weren't really listening to the concepts being taught. Make sure you listen intently and if you feel like you're completing tasks only because you see the instructor doing it make sure you stop and ask questions!
Try putting your skills to use during breaks and at home so that you can come to class with confidence in your abilities or questions about them! Don't be afraid to try something that the instructor didn't explicitly cover and see if you can accomplish it.
A great way to solidify your own web design skills is to help other students resolve problems. One of the very best ways to learn a new skill is by teaching it to others. Consider sitting next to someone who isn't learning as quickly as you are. You'll learn more by watching their mistakes and helping correct them and they will appreciate your help too!
