I’m using Twitter a lot ( see Tina Clarke ) with TweetDeck which enables me to use a number of keyword searches which are sorted into columns. One of which is Web Design. Some of the tweets are about web design at the university level On a blog post at Alistapart.
University? Are you kidding? The first place web design is taught is where it needs to change BEFORE it gets to the University level. My local college ran a ‘web design’ course. Trust me it was painful particularly the frames section. I thought it was just my local college that was not one not two but three or four years behind. From what I’ve read online it seems the problem is more widespread.
- The people that hire the people that teach the courses, should do their homework on what is expected in that subject that SHOULD be taught.
- This needs to start before the university level too.
The article supports getting active with the local community if you are able to do that to help the teachers. However, in order to teach standards it really does not require that much in the way of resources. There really is no excuse when it comes to common or garden web design that such stomach crunching methods as frames are still taught.
However this is blog is focused on Expression Web, so how does Expression Web fit into all this?
Many colleges are STILL teaching FrontPage, not only FP but the older versions, not only the fp and the folder versions but, Horrors! THE BOTS, Shared borders, themes and more. WHY? The people teaching either are not web designers or are pimping themselves. You cannot pretend to be THAT far behind and have a passion for the product. ( Previously FrontPage which has evolved into Expression Web ).
Sometime last year I joined a Newsgroup where some teachers were asking for feedback on their new curriculum based on Expression Web. Needless to say once again it involved absolute positioning and advocating continuing use of some bots.
If your going to teach Web Design do it The Right Way.
Aloha Tina, Just received your reply @ Twitter and have downloaded both the ebooks. I used EXWeb2 and the class used ver. 1. I am now following you on Twitter.Thanks for the link. The website I submitted is on the U of H server. As you can tell it was a project with I picked out of the book EW by Julie Riley. The book had a few flaws and things didn’t set up properly, so I had purchased several books to enhance my knowledge of EW 2. Especially with Asp pages and using php. Again, Thanks for the link. Wishing you the very best in the coming New Year. Following you on Twitter.
Daryl Mau
I love Twitter and it’s always interesting to see how others use it. Thank you.
Teaching a web design isn’t easy. Even if the student is determine to learn, the topic itself is not friendly. I have experienced this before. But the moment I understand, I continuously learned it.
“If your going to teach Web Design do it The Right Way.”
Having tried to finish a course about web design in a university makes me realize that most of my professors doesn’t even know what they are talking about. Most of the time they can’t even answer a simple question. I want to take a similar course again but this time I would like to have someone who really knows the subject matter.
Katie Smith
It’s so hard to understand web designing specially when you don’t have any background on computer. The basics of web designing needs to be studied for one course.
Anne’s blog: Anne Cole Swimsuits
HI !
Most books on Web design focus on the appearance of the finished product and pay little attention to the ideas and processes involved in intelligent interactive design.I amour Twitter and it’s always interesting to use it .Teaching a web design and even learning is not an easy deal. I have experienced this before
Thanxs !
Kate Jonston
My blog: Bolle Sunglass
Hi . i agree with u kate .Teaching a web design and even learning is not an easy deal
You’re absolutely right! Many web design courses are just plain prehistoric… As you mention already, sources like twitter and several great blogs are the best way to learn and stay up to date about the evolution in web design and standards.
I agree, I think that I have personally learnt more from online sources such as twitter. I also find blogs such as this one a great help as everyone actually has experience to share