Recommendations for programming/javascript courses

[genintoronto]

Hi,

This is addressed mostly to the web developers/programmers in the room.

I'm starting to hit a wall learning Javascript on my own, and I'm thinking that I could probably benefit from taking a course or two on programming fundamentals and javascript. I've started to look around, and Humber College seems to offer some interesting course in their Continuing Education programs, but I'd like to hear suggestions/recommendations if anyone cares to chime in.

Thank you.

 

[genintoronto]

Thanks for chiming in NorthPole.

What you say - finding it boring before it gets interesting/useful - is exactly what I'm a little worry about. A lot of the course descriptions I read seem to cover a lot of stuff I don't need to be taught, and only the very basics of javascript/programming.

Most of the javascript I've done is with jQuery, and all I've learned so far is through books and online tutorials/documentation, and I think I'm doing OK so far. But I'm starting to find it hard to learn it all on my own - with no one to ask questions to when I get stucked somewhere.

I'll check the books you recommend though. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[mightymouse007]

Well, I'm not a pro at programming or javascript. I'm in the networking/server field.
However, I did take a few programming courses when I was still in school.
Ajax and PHP is becoming very popular as well. As we can see terb uses php.

Not sure what your level is in it? If you have Java and C++ experience, javascript would be alot easier to learn.
A good way to start would be this site:
http://www.w3schools.com/

You can also try out this site for some video training:
http://www.cbtnuggets.com/?gclid=CKv7vNz18rECFcZQKwodx1oAlw

Some of the videos do have a subscription where you have to pay, but it would be alot cheaper than paying for a course at a local college or training center.

Glad to see some gals interesting in this field. There just not enough girls in the IT field.

 

[rex_baner]

I tutored students who attended humber college and I really wouldn't recommend that school for its night / continuing education programs. Mainly because their night programs are shorter and not as difficult as their day courses - You wont learn as much as you should or be challenged.

When you say you hit a wall is this wall from the more harder concepts ? The reason why I ask is because their " programming fundamentals course " Never goes beyond the tip of the iceberg. Granted I only helped the students who were learning C / C++ ( not js or php) but they never go high level. So if you are having trouble with the introductory issues, then yeah its always faster /better to learn from a course since your put your money into it, but if its the high level issues, you may want to avoid humber.

-- Not saying humber college is a bad school, but their night classes that I had to help students on are diluted versions of the day courses.

 

[genintoronto]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

@ rex_baner: I sent you a PM.

 

[trod]

Go here and start learning:

http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp

 

[Toronto_IT_Guy]

The school stuff - I think - you will find boring for a long while until they lay the foundation, if you've done any javascripting.

If you're just trying to get over a bit of a hump in the learning curve but otherwise don't have issues I'd recommend Learning Tree. They have a lot of content in a very short period of time. They tend to be best bang for the buck if you're trying to learn something quickly rather than spending months slowly absorbing material a tiny bit at a time.

 

[Anynym]

Or, you could continue on your own and post something here on TERB when you get stuck. (Or, google is your friend.)

You're welcome to message me, too, but it may take a few days for me to get back to you some times.

 

[TDOTESCORTS]

Not sure about continuing education, alternatively, try to challenge yourself to code a "sliding tiles game"
http://www.ipass.net/jdennis/slider.html
was quite a pain to code something like that.

And learn to code HTML forms validation and javascript events, you click a button and it shows a message, or more complex, ...
and then there's AJAX, but stick to basic javascript for now
alert('hello world');

 

[genintoronto]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

As I've explained in more detailed to a few people over PMs, I'm looking for a course mostly because I think it would be beneficial for me to learn from an expert. I can do the learning on my own through books and online tutorials and research, and I can usually find the answer I'm looking for when I'm running into a specific problem (I know how to use google, or to search/post on relevant online forums). Basically, I just think that there are things that you can learn much faster and more efficiently by learning them from an expert rather than gathering the knowledge on your own from here and there.

Anyways - thanks everyone for your feedback. I appreciate it.

 

[Anynym]

Just because someone is giving a course don't be misled by the degree of their expertise. They're likely to be highly competent in the language, but their main expertise may be in another language or in more general aspects of web design or some such.

 

[andrikaa]

Can javaScript create rich interactivity? Can JavaScript create a rich interactive site like animations that when rolled over play out, or an interactive object that can be drug around the screen like a type of video game of sorts? or is Javascript limited to just hover buttons and photo gallery's thing like that?
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