Learning HTML? The benefits of starting right now.
A friend of mine and I are trying to delve into the deeper workings of HTML. We're going to apply this new knowledge to compose our creativity onto our weblogs, and perhaps our own web pages as well. Just as many other people have, we've mastered the basics. But we have realized that there is much more to master.It's disappointing that most people master the basics of HTML so well that they believe themselves masters of HTML. Well, that's not true my friends.
Everyone has a creative side. Even if you create something very simple, it's still your own creation. You can call it simply creative! But if you don't afford the effort to move forward and learn more than just the basics, you are subject to the limits of someone else's creativity.
Although many weblog templates are outstanding in their design (see Beccary templates), they are still the works of those who designed them, not your own. And if you're citing the source for your weblog template appropriately, the designer is getting the credit for it (and for good reason). If you're not citing the source for your template, (unless it's a basic template from your server) you're assuming credit for something that you did not create, which is worse!
There's amazing potential in learning more; unlocking your creative abilities and dissolving your limitations piece by piece. Some people may believe that it would be too overwhelming, thinking you have to learn everything about HTML to be able to use your creativity, but that's simply not true.
When you start learning HTML, you could potentially master one or more new things every day! Even though it may only be one small thing (like adding a poll question to your blog), or two small things (like adding a pop-up, and having that pop-up link directly to another of your own blogs), you've mastered them, and you can begin applying them to your current weblog (or web page) right then and there!
My friend and I both plan to start school next semester, and HTML is a potential class in which we may enroll. So I'll just anticipate all the new things that I can learn in that class, and by the end of the semester I should be able to create a pretty stellar weblog, right? Wrong!!
Why wait to learn HTML in a class-setting, where you'll be paying for the knowledge, when you can start learning it right now? Sure, the class will be very benefitial to my knowledge of HTML, and the credentials will come with it. But there are so many free sources of HTML training in so many places; the most easily accessible source being the Internet. (Search Google: html)
If you're planning on taking a class on HTML, that's fantastic. But you don't have to wait until the class starts to begin learning it. Here are some benefits to starting right now:
- You won't have to wait until the end of next semester to have the ability to create your own beginners-level web page, you can set a goal to know that much by Christmas.
- By learning ahead of time, not only will it be so much easier to review information you already know as well as learn new things, you are sure to lock-in fantastic grades for that class, helping to bring your grade-point average up before the class starts!
- Instead of learning at the pace of the class, you can learn at your own pace. This is important, because many people find it easier to learn when they can review information as many times as necessary without the pressure of trying to learn the next thing before you have something else learned.
- You're teaching yourself, and learning something in the best way I believe possible: hands-on! The best part is, each time you learn something new, you'll be able to practice and apply this knowledge to your own weblogs, making it a fun process, and motivating you to learn more!
"I really want to design my own...and I kind of have an idea of the direction I want to go." says my friend, AJ, in a discussion about weblog templates. "The trick will be...working it."
AJ and I have set our own personal goals to learn and achieve a high standard of knowledge on HTML. It might seem like a tough and painstaking task, but it will be a fun and exciting process that we can look forward to. You can look forward to the same thing. Persistence will pay! I encourage you to set a similar goal of learning HTML.
Don't rely so much on WYSIWYG* software programs. Copy and paste has never been a virtuous practice, and no one will ever commend you for it. Be your own creative self, and take advantage of the benefits of learning right now!
What are you capable of?
*What you see is what you get.
posted by Smith @ 10/21/2005 07:49:00 AM
1 Comments:
this was very enlightening...kudos.
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