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Omer Asadullah
10,415 PointsWe need more Practice Projects
I have completed How to make simple website, html and css deep dives, aesthetic foundations, making a responsive website with 2304 score. However, I don't remember much of css I learned. The reason is that there are not many projects dedicated to these deep dives. My suggestion is to dedicate atleast five practice projects to each deep dive, covering each and every aspect we learn. Also there should be mega projects covering two to three deep dives.
Another suggestion for practice is to create a code pen type (but more sophisticated) puzzle playground. In this puzzle game, pieces of images and some lorem dixum should be there and you join the pieces of that puzzle together through coding. Alongside that tips and suggestions must be given to improve the design. Searching the web for practice projects is time consuming and boring. Also we aren't sure we will cover the content we learned from those projects.
11 Answers
Pirvan Marian
14,609 PointsI suggest done wordpress, for more fun and try do how many template your can, it's best practice!
Callum King
6,470 PointsI agree with this. I believe it would extremely helpful in allowing us to understand what our strengths and weakness are, so then we can go through again the areas we are weakest.
Daniel Martinez
17,682 PointsAGREE!
Stephen Whitfield
16,771 PointsHave you tried messing around with the extra credit from each section? Also, I try not to rush into these lessons. I spend quite a bit of time thoroughly going over everything. Do you take notes of the stuff you're learning? That helps a load!
Omer Asadullah
10,415 PointsTaking notes is a good idea. Yes I took notes till stage 4 of css. However, it became boring and I couldn't find an interesting (productive) way of practicing. What I am trying to say is that rewriting some selectors and properties in isolation is a different thing where as using those "elements" to create a project from scratch is something else. In a project you use the tools you learn in a proper context and you feel passion and confidence when you see the result of your work. This site is aimed at not only teaching how to be a web developer but also making the process fun. So what I am trying to say is "isolated" practice is not fun but boring drill. Where as project based practice is exciting and refreshing.
Stefan Buttigieg
10,065 PointsAre you keeping tabs on Forum Contests? There are some interesting projects to work on there :)
Secondly, start working on your 'Big Idea', I am sure that one of the main reasons which motivated you to join Treehouse is the fact that you had a dream to create something significant using technology. It's useful to start working on this ;)!
Otherwise thank you for your suggestion :) !
Omer Asadullah
10,415 PointsYes I have seen different contest alerts but they seem suitable for advanced students. I am not at that level yet. As far as "big idea" is concerned, for now "bread is my only idea". I am married, have a daughter and am jobless. So hunger motivates me to learn. I would like practice projects as a part of regular Team Treehouse teaching scheme. As far as contests are concerned,yes I am aware of them.
Erick Bongo
8,539 PointsI agree with your suggestions. The deep dives and projects could be tailored to flow better when going through tracks and there should be more practical projects to complete, it would greatly improve remembering what's being learnt.
And there should be contests which are tailored to beginners, I haven't seen all the contest so I could be wrong but the ones I have seen, seem to require you to have a fairly rounded skill set already.
Nick Pettit
Treehouse TeacherWe hear you loud and clear. Your post actually has impeccable timing. For the last several months, Treehouse teachers and staff have been exploring methods to help students practice more.
The forum contests are a great start, but we plan to do much more to help facilitate freeform practice outside the context of a normal lesson. We think Treehouse is great for learning new languages and techniques, as well as how to build specific types of projects. However, out in the real world, Treehouse won't be there to guide you with a neatly structured set of step-by-step instructions. We want to do a better job of teaching you how to solve problems on your own through practice exercises.
This is a very big challenge, so we appreciate your patience with us while we build solutions to this. It's still a little far out, which is why we haven't really discussed this anywhere else yet, but you can expect to see more about these efforts throughout 2014 and beyond. :)
Stefan Buttigieg
10,065 PointsHi Nick Pettit
That's amazing news! Keep up the good work!
The issue that you have brought up here is one of the main challenges that I have been facing in the last 3-4 months.
Looking forward!
Omer Asadullah
10,415 PointsHi Nick,
I agree to your points and am very happy that team treehouse is already working on providing practice projects. However, regarding your opinion about freeform practicing, I have a little difference of opinion. Since freeform practice is good and more realistic but before indulging in a real world scenario the students must be competent in what they learn. I would suggest to divide practice projects in two sections. The first section will cover all which have been taught in the deep dives and will probably be instruction based. The second section will be freeform and without step by step instructions. All the teachers have to do is tell us the requirements, limitations and restrictions like a client would do in the real world and after that it's up to us how we achieve those goals. Later on we submit those projects and the teachers review and give scores and badges so that we remain motivated towards more practical learning.
Nick Pettit
Treehouse TeacherThanks for your feedback. That's almost exactly what we're thinking, too. Building all of that is the hard part. :)
Adam Kelm
29,082 PointsI don't think anyone should worry about not remembering a lot from CSS, since it's such a huge topic, and CSS 3 is still pretty new. I'm sure many developers who have been working for years still refer to CSS cheat sheets, especially with the newest capabilities.
But I also agree it's easy to forget things when you move on to something else, and I wish there was more emphasis on using pieces of what you learned about a previous topic. Kind of how language learning programs bring in older vocabulary when you're probably starting to lose it. This is part of why I found the Responsive Website lesson disappointing. There was way too much "now I'll just copy and paste this block of code I've already written...and you're done!"
Nick Pettit
Treehouse TeacherTotally agree, Adam Kelm. For example, I could not tell you the syntax for a CSS gradient off the top of my head, at least not perfectly. I'd have to rewatch that part of CSS Foundations, because I haven't used gradients recently. And I've even made videos about that exact topic! There's just a ton to remember, and if you don't practice something regularly, it starts to fade. The good news is that it's far easier to pick it back up. I've used gradients quite a lot in the past, so if I were to look up the syntax now and code 2 or 3 gradients, I would probably be able to retain it for the next few months.
I also agree on the responsive design lesson. The copy-and-paste portions are confusing and were a strategic error on our part. We've been extra careful to avoid that in subsequent content we've produced. That particular lesson will be replaced with a newer course later this month called "How to Make a Website" which you can see detailed on our Content Roadmap.
Omer Asadullah
10,415 PointsI would like Team Treehouse to observe the way thinkful.com teach. Although I haven't attended their course yet (because it's expensive) however, they claim that they make students create projects from scratch and create a great portfolio. I would like TeamTreehouse.com to be enough for preparing us for entry level jobs in web and save us from investing $900 in three months in a thinkful course.
Pirvan Marian
14,609 PointsHow you can save 900$?
Omer Asadullah
10,415 Points@Pirvvan Marian
Visit thinkful.com and see their front end web development program which costs $300 per month and is a three month course. So $300 x 3 is equal to $900. If Teamtreehouse provides us what they are providing we can get it in $25 or $49 per month rather than $300.
Pirvan Marian
14,609 PointsIt;s a illustion, fact you won 900. Because i don't think you will done all library resource in a 3 moth...