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CSS

Posted by Kerry Smith
Kerry Smith
7,014 Points

Struggling with CSS Foundations

I'm brand new to Treehouse and have gone through what I thought was the correct order for learning. I went through the steps for the Smells Like Bakin website under Build A Simple Website without too much trouble. Then on to HTML without too awfully much trouble. THEN....I started CSS Foundations and have been frustrated beyond belief. I found the videos assumed that I'd been taught terms and steps that I'd never heard nor experienced before. Call me crazy, but did I miss some steps somewhere?? This CSS Foundations section has been extremely hard to understand and follow. There is a ton of info thrown at you in each video and I completely feel overwhelmed by it. Anyone else in this same boat?

Jordan Rich
Jordan Rich
5,482 Points

The best way to go about the learning I've found is to go through the learning adventures.

This rout is organized and builds on each other.

Chose either Web designer or developer.

Some of the content overlaps and thats actually good. To become a great you need to know both design and dev. .

Steven Schweibold
Steven Schweibold
7,742 Points

Hey Kerry,

I was recently recommend this book on the forums: http://www.amazon.com/HTML-CSS-Design-Build-Websites/dp/1118008189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371683068&sr=8-1&keywords=html+and+css. It's an EXCELLENT resource for everything HTML & CSS. It might be helpful for you to have a book handy at your desk to look up any information you might need.

8 Answers

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Kerry Smith - Your right, the first few badges in the current CSS Foundations have an unnecessarily steep learning curve.

Until the stages Guil Hernandez is re-making are completed I suggest everyone supplement the course with this very helpful beginner's guide to HTML & CSS.

If you need to check the name of a CSS property use this CSS syntax quick reference If you need more explanation of a concept check out HTML Dog

Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher
Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher

We're very happy with the way the re-shoots are going. I'm excited to get those out to you guys asap! In the meantime, I'll also be adding syntax quick reference links to the teacher notes.

Kerry Smith
Kerry Smith
7,014 Points

This is great to see! Thank you again for recognizing the needs and responding as quickly as possible. The feedback helps greatly.

Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher
Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher

You're very welcome, Kerry Smith. We truly value member feedback. Thank you for learning with Treehouse! :)

Guil

Matt Campbell
Matt Campbell
9,767 Points
Matt Campbell
Matt Campbell
9,767 Points

Can understand where you're coming from. Nick Pettit, can we bring back the old CSS videos as they are a really good introduction to CSS. I followed and complete both sets when I started and had a first look at CSS foundations yesterday.

They are a good jump up in advancement even for someone who is comfortable with CSS, been using it all day everyday for a few months now and did the original CSS vids.

I don't think they were out of date or anything and were awesome!

By the way Nick, when are you doing another course...I miss you!!!! :D

Morrice Pfeiffer
Morrice Pfeiffer
4,162 Points
Morrice Pfeiffer
Morrice Pfeiffer
4,162 Points

I had the same problem however what I did come to realize is that css is pretty flexible and you can do things many different ways and achieve the same results.

So focus on what you understand.

The rest will come to you.

M

Rick Rakin
Rick Rakin
6,531 Points
Rick Rakin
Rick Rakin
6,531 Points

There is definitely a jump in the learning curve going from Build a Simple Website to the newer CSS Foundations. Never saw the older CSS Foundations but I found that I had to change my learning approach considerably to adapt. Even then, towards then last CSS Foundation videos, I had to go back and take more thorough notes. The information kind of goes from water cooler spigot to fire hose. But I do believe that information needs to be learned.

Kerry Smith
Kerry Smith
7,014 Points
Kerry Smith
Kerry Smith
7,014 Points

Thank you for the responses and suggestions. "From water cooler spigot to fire hose" was an expression that I completely understood. I really felt like I'd taken a wrong path when I hit this section. I found myself wondering how I ended up in the Advanced Class for CSS. It's really discouraging to someone who is brand new to this field. Sounds like possibly bringing back or incorporating some of the old CSS videos might help some of us. For now, I'll try Jordan's suggestion to start out though the Learning Adventures. Fingers crossed!

Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher
Guil Hernandez
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher

Hi @Kerry Smith,

Sorry to hear that you're frustrated with CSS Foundations. I agree that the first stage is pretty fast-paced. Because of this, we're actually re-shooting the first few stages of CSS Foundations.

We just finished recording the first stage, "Intro to CSS." We've slowed down the pace, simplified the content, and we're adding slick new graphics to make things a lot more digestible.

We're also planning on making the same type of improvements to the "Selectors" videos, so look for those to be out soon!

In the meantime, feel free to send me a notification in the forum, or email me personally at guil@teamtreehouse(dot)com, if you have any questions regarding CSS Foundations.

All the best,
Guil

Elissa Collier
Elissa Collier
8,530 Points
Elissa Collier
Elissa Collier
8,530 Points

I also found it helpful that I saw Nicks videos before I started the new series (I just made it before it was taken down, luckily!). Would also vote for bringing them back ;)

Enrique Gutierrez
Enrique Gutierrez
3,643 Points
Enrique Gutierrez
Enrique Gutierrez
3,643 Points

I had the same issue, I had to change my approach and go a little slower take careful notes and sometimes revisit twice or more times the lessons, thought the later may be cause I'm not a native english speaker.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Guil Hernandez - I've noticed you often link to MDN in your teacher notes. While I find MDN amazing for the completeness of their resources they aren't exactly the most beginner friendly. When I need to look a CSS concept/property I check out (in order):

  • HTML Dog
  • Sitepoint Reference
  • MDN

I only go to MDN if the details I need aren't in the other 2 resources.