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Jen Haga
6,416 PointsWhat am I really supposed to know at this point?
So I'm on unit 2 of Front End Web Development and I'm unclear as to how much I'm really supposed to know at this point because there is so much that is still confusing and I know I wouldn't be able to do without guidance. I don't know whether it makes more sense to go back over the lessons I've taken or to keep going. I've been able to pass all the quizzes and code challenges but styling with css is still a lot of trial, error, and failure when I try to do it on my own. But then again, the course started with building a website when I had zero experience. I followed along and did it but there was much I didn't and still don't understand. I was pleasantly surprised to find the first independent project was much less daunting. I worked hard on it, spent a lot of time and ended up with a grade of "Exceeds". So that experience seems to indicate that, although a lot of information is presented, students are not expected to master it right away and that will come with time. I'm just hesitant to move on if I don't have as much of a handle on the material as I should. Any advice from experience?
4 Answers
stjarnan
Front End Web Development Techdegree Graduate 56,488 PointsHi Jen!
First off, congratulations on your exceeds grade, that's awesome!
On the 2 next projects you will reinforce what you have learned, and you're not meant to feel fluid with it yet if you're new to front end.
If you go back to your first project, do you understand what your code does? If the answer is yes you're not only doing ok, you're doing awesome!
If there is stuff that makes you feel "but what did I do to change that header?" Then that's ok, you're not necessarily supposed to understand everything yet. Give it some time :)
Steven Parker
231,275 Points
Moving on for now might be the best recourse.
From my own experience, I've seen where by pressing on I will often encounter material that overlaps with and reinforces concepts I had just learned. Sometimes I would just "go with the flow" and eventually reach a "critical mass" of knowledge where it would all begin to make sense. Without detailed scrutiny, I can't be sure your experience is the same, but I'd think it would be worth a shot.
Jen Haga
6,416 PointsThank you!
Andrew Lim
8,004 PointsIt's a learning experience. Everyone on this site has or will experience what you are going through. I feel the same way sometimes. I'd probably ask are you taking notes as you do the course or just using the workspace and code challenges. Although doing projects and doing your own experimentation is the best way to learn, I've found writing my notes (like if I was in a classroom) helps me to remember and slow things down. Also I can review my notes which is a lot quicker than going over hours and hours of video.
Hang in there!
Jen Haga
6,416 PointsThanks. That's reassuring!