Web Design Training
October 24, 2014
Hi,
I just handed in the last chapter to my new book ‘Web Design Start Here’ last week. I am told it should hit the stores in April. Yep, print is slow!!
Nonetheless, the principle work is done for me and it marks the first time in years that I am in print. Last time I wrote, was for Web Designer Magazine … I would say about 4-5 years ago! Time flies …
As we get closer to publication date, I will be releasing new video tutorials that are meant to support and accompany the book.
Thanks,
Stefan Mischook
KillerSites.com
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September 7, 2014
Hi!
Using video as the background for a webpage was once only a nerds dream – no more! Check out our new standalone video lesson on how to do this:
https://webmentor.org/lesson/fullscreen-background-video
In this video, you learn about HTML5 and cutting edge CSS techniques. As long as you know basic HTML and CSS, you should be good to watch this video lesson. And yes, all the modern web browsers support this.
… At the same time, check out our new training site: webmentor.org.
Thanks,
Stefan Mischook
KillerSites.com
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August 1, 2014
Many K12 teachers are now being asked to teach web design for the first time. This presents a challenge since few teachers have professional web design and development experience.
I was approached about two years ago by a couple of schools who needed a way to more easily teach web design. Luckily, I had been working on an application that would more than just help: Studioweb is an interactive web design and programming training system that automates the teaching process:
- automated quizzing
- automated scoring
- automated hinting
All based around a proven turnkey curriculum that I’ve been training people with for years.
The Key to Modern Web Design
Web design has evolved a lot over the last 20 years, the way websites are built today is nothing like the way we did it back in the early 1990’s. It is so different in fact, that web designers from that time would almost have to completely retrain themselves!
Today, web design is about:
- HTML 5 … NOT XHTML
- CSS and CSS3
- Responsive web design – Bootstrap
- WordPress
- JQuery
- JavaScript
You might have noticed that I did NOT mention Photoshop, Fireworks, Flash or even Dreamweaver. These tools are still used a lot but they are no longer central to web design. In fact, many web professionals never touch them!
The Recognition of the Importance of Code
One of the biggest changes in the last few years, is the world’s realising that code is now as important as reading, writing and math. When kids learn to code, you give them a practical skill set along with problem solving experience … all the while, you reinforce logical thinking.
Studioweb focuses on teaching real-world web design and programming techniques as well as the key fundamental concepts. Students come away with demonstrable skills that can be applied in the real world on real projects. The aforementioned cognitive benefits come as a bonus.
If you want to learn more or if you are interested in trying out Studioweb, feel free to contact me.
Stefan Mischook
Killersites.com
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July 6, 2014
Hi,
I recently got an email from someone who felt overwhelmed with all the apps they were trying to learn – learning Photoshop, Fireworks and Dreamweaver all at the same time can do that!
Do one thing at a time says I!
I’ve been there, where it seems there is so much to learn, that it becomes overwhelming. First, don’t make the mistake of believing the tools (Photoshop, Fireworks etc) are the goal – they are not. In fact, once you understand web design (development), you will likely being using 10% of Photoshop’s features … as an example.
That said, it is best to concentrate on one thing, get functional skills and then move on to the next. Jumping around and learning bits of this one day, and a bit of that another day, will just cost you time because you will be constantly shifting gears when moving from one subject/app to the other.
Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com
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May 18, 2014
Hi,
About once a year we run a deal with Fatcow hosting, where Fatcow will pay for 80% of your web programming training and slash 60% of your hosting cost!
Why?
They hope that you will renew next year.
Some details:
Basically, you have to cough-up $23.15 (one time) + $3.15/month (60% discount from their normal price) for the first year of hosting. You are not obliged to renew. This deal gets you the hosting package + the Complete Web Programmer package – this normally goes for $99.
If you want to learn web development, this is as good a deal as you can get!
Check out out:
http://www.killervideostore.com/killer-offers/
Thanks!
Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com
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April 24, 2014
Hi!
This blog post is for teachers teaching web design and programming … but if you are learning HTML and CSS (or any other language) many of these tips will be helpful to you too.
Let’s start with a teaser:
1. Start with an Easy Language:
Don’t use hard to understand languages like Java, C#, C++ to teach beginners programming or code! Stick to simpler languages like  HTML and CSS and then move to say PHP or JavaScript. Once your students have a grasp of basic coding and programming concepts, then you can move into the more complex languages … if you need to!
2. Don’t teach A to Z:
Teaching people to code has a lot more to do about leaving out the non essentially elements of a language. Don’t cover every nuanced aspect of the HTML link tag, don’t cover all the ways a method can be created in PHP … leave out the less often used aspects of a language and save it for later. Just expose your students to the key aspects of the language, just enough so they can move forward.
If you want the other 8 tips, follow this link.
Thanks,
Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com
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April 4, 2014
Hi,
After years of the same old design for our DVD’s, I’ve finally decided that we needed a fresh new look. I felt inspired, so instead of getting our designer (Ben) to take care it … I broke out my old designers cap and did it myself!
– See more at: http://www.killervideostore.com/blog/2014/new-dvd-design-for-dvd-video-courses/
Thanks for reading.
Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com
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March 28, 2014
I try to start with the point of the article whenever I can … so what is the best way to learn web design and web programming?
In a nutshell:
- You want to as quickly as possible, get past the basic concepts and basic code principles. Too many courses these days concentrate too much on too many details.
- Once you have that minimal knowledge, you should be building actual projects!
I’ve been teaching web design and programming for over a decade now and have been teaching for about 20yrs – give or take. And I can tell you that without a doubt, the best way to learn web design and programming is to build.
… With each site that you design, your skills will jump. With each dynamic database driven website that you build, your skills will jump.
Finishing the Job is Key
It is important that you complete projects. For some reason, leaving something half done, just doesn’t seem to have the same learning impact. That’s why smaller mini projects are great for learning because big projects take a long time to finish.
With that in mind, our Complete Web Designer training package follows these principles … which only makes sense since we created all the courses!
PS: If you want a DVD/USB hard copy sent you, we do that too.
Thanks,
Stefan Mischook
www.KillerSites.com
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March 9, 2014
Hi,
I built my first website in 1994 for my import/export business – I needed a cheap way to reach people in Europe and Asia. At the time, the Web was very new to most of the world … in fact, I had one of the first websites with photos!
Becoming a web designer and programmer:
By 1996 I was a full time web designer taking on web design contracts. In those days though, the Web was just really starting to heat up; I still remember having to go into meetings with prospective clients, having to explain to them what the Web was! A typical question I got:
“How is the Web thing going to help my business?”
Financial Freedom with Web Design:
Becoming a coder has had many major positive impacts in my life:
- Improved my ability to think logically.
- Taught me how to organize and create complex things.
- Opened my mind to abstract ideas – I could understand things that once totally confused me.
… In many ways, learning code and programming, is like doing pushups for the brain! That said, I have to admit that the #1 thing that learning to code brought to the table, was financial freedom and choice.
You see, when you get over that learning hump that can scare so many people away from programming, you will unlock earning power that you probably never imagined.
In a nutshell:
Learning web design and programming almost guarantees high paying jobs and lots of work.
Thanks for reading,
Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com
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February 21, 2014
Hi,
Let’s get to the point:
The days of only using web design programs like Dreamweaver (and not knowing any code) are pretty much over … if you want to be a professional web designer.
These days, web designers need to learn code and a few different coding languages, to be able to effectively build modern websites.
… The good news is that it isn’t that hard with the right training.
Which languages do you need to learn?
In the order of importance:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
This may seem like a lot but the good news is that you DON’T have to be an expert in everything … you just have to have working knowledge of these key languages and know how to work them together.
Studioweb makes learning code easy!
If you are serious about developing these skills, take a look at my interactive video training system Studioweb.
Used by public schools, career centers and community colleges to train their students, you can take advantage of this self-paced learning system that will gently guide you towards total nerd glory and domination!
🙂
… As an added bonus, you can get certified with the same certification used by schools!
If you have questions, feel free to contact me:
Stefan Mischook
KillerSites.com
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