Teaching the basics

cluelessPHP

So recently one of my friends asked me to teach them some code. I suggested they look at a few sites I thought would be helpful, however they have said they want me to sit with them and personally show them. What would be a good foundation level to build from? I was thinking HTML and CSS, sound about right?

NogDog

Depends on what they want to learn.

Anyone who wants to make web pages needs to know some HTML basics, and should know CSS if they want their sites to be more than just plain text.

However, if they want to learn programming, they still won't have learned anything even if they've mastered HTML/CSS ... so I guess I'd start by answering my initial question. 🙂

cluelessPHP

I was thinking if I started with HTML and CSS, I could get them used to indentation and how to target classes, then move onto JavaScript/Jquery and PHP maybe bootstrap as well

sneakyimp

I think the key to getting anyone to learn code is to find something they'll get excited about, something they really want to do. If they want to make a web page, HTML/CSS sounds great. If they aren't interested in layout or markup, some other approach might help.

Derokorian

I've spent too much time getting people started just to have them flake out. I point them to online learning things like codemy or udacity, if they can get some things done and learned that way, I will then help them however they want. If they aren't motivated enough to do anything on their own, why would I spend my limited free time trying?

cluelessPHP

I'm still trying to push udacity on her but she's adamant only I'm the only one who can teach her, so starting next week I will sit down with them and go over how to do everything. Might be a nice change between going over database theory and JQM stuff it might be a fun change

dalecosp

cluelessPHP;11062091 wrote:
she's adamant only I'm the only one who can teach her

Do you have a girlfriend? 😉 😉 😉

cluelessPHP

dalecosp;11062107 wrote:
Do you have a girlfriend? 😉 😉 😉

Um not anymore, but I've know her for ages she knew about my EX. You're reading into it too much :glare:

dalecosp

cluelessPHP;11062109 wrote:
Um not anymore, but I've know her for ages she knew about my EX. You're reading into it too much :glare:

Fair enough, although your moniker does say you're clueless. I just hoped you weren't clueless about THAT ;-) (And to tell truth, you actually seem like one of the smarter "new cookies" we've had in a long time....)

Women who say that one guy is the "only one who can" $do_something MIGHT be telling the truth, but it's often a clue that something else is up .... Just an observation.

NogDog

On the plus side, trying to teach someone else is a good way to find out which things you know well (easier to explain) versus those you need to learn better yourself (difficult to explain). 🙂

cluelessPHP

dalecosp;11062111 wrote:
Fair enough, although your moniker does say you're clueless.

lol I'm sure you're looking into it too much. I just hoped you weren't clueless about THAT ;-)

dalecosp;11062111 wrote:
(And to tell truth, you actually seem like one of the smarter "new cookies" we've had in a long time....)

As much as I criticise where I study at times, they did do a fairly good job, I'd say the most important thing they taught me was learn what to ignore and I had a helping hand from here and someone else

dalecosp;11062111 wrote:
Women who say that one guy is the "only one who can" $do_something MIGHT be telling the truth, but it's often a clue that something else is up .... Just an observation.

She's Chinese(yes I seem to have acquired a few over the years), so "only I" can teach her as I was told is something about face, at least that's how I understood it