Get Your Learn On

The field of Internet Publishing and Web Design has exploded in the last decade and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Software Developers and Graphic Designers are in high demand due to the explosion in technology and the demand for applications that provide consumers with everything from video streams in their homes to games for their tablets and phones.

And because the market is moving so fast and people are in such high demand, people working in the industry have found that more is being expected of them. No longer is a graphic designer JUST working with images all day long; they may be expected to be able to publish them to the web using html or platforms such as WordPress or Joomla.

The good news is that you don’t need to go back to school and rack up huge student loan debt that will haunt you well into your autumn years. There are plenty of resources on the internet that you can use. Some of them are completely free to use, and others carry with them a nominal fee.  All it takes is a little ambition and some free time.

w3schools.comW3 Schools

W3 Schools is a online web developer information site that has a wide array of reference guides as well as learning programs and quizzes. Courses include everything a budding developer needs from HTML and CSS (and CSS3) as well as javascript, PHP, SQL and JQuery.

W3 Schools has tutorials for both the beginner and the expert, making them an ideal place to learn no matter what stage of your career you find yourself in. If you’re stuck, a simple Google search of the particular function you are having problems with will likely yield a W3 Schools result at the top of your search results page. Each of the W3 reference pages will show the code, variations of the code, and the final product of using that code. Very handy when you’re tearing your hair out!. Best of all, it’s free to use and you can work at your own pace.

Lynda.com

lynda-logoLynda.com is a fantastic resource for all kinds of things, including software, coding, SEO theory, photography, video and a whole host of other topics.  Maybe you just got a DSLR camera that you’d like to learn how to use.  Maybe you’d like to be better organized or get some tips on improving your executive performance as a small business owner.

There are hundreds of different courses ranging from novice to expert on almost any popular software. Tutorials are arranged in small bite sized chunks, meaning that you can easily break your lessons up around your hectic schedule. The lessons come in a progressive syllabus of videos, each hosted by a knowledgeable narrator who explains and demonstrates the topic. There may be 30-40 videos that cover one topic, but by the end, you should have a comfortable grasp on what it is you are trying to learn.

Lynda.com does have a cost. They have both monthly and yearly rates. However, I feel the 250/yr that they charge to gain access to all their lessons is totally worth it.  It’s much cheaper than any college course and very informative. You can’t put a pricetag on self improvement!

codeacademyCode Academy

Code Academy is a great place to get your feet wet with code and programming. Best of all, it’s free to use! They have beginner tutorials on everything from HTML and CSS to Javascript, PHP and JQuery. The lessons are arranged in a way where you actually perform the coding necessary, and it also allows you to be flexible so that you can code something you can relate to. The projects are simple, but repetitive enough that you will absorb the knowledge at the completion of it. You can work at your own pace, of course, and there are extra “score keeping” measures as well, so that you can form a group of friends and all compete and keep track of each others’ progress.

 

 

If you’re a self motivated person like I am, you’ll want to take advantage of these sites and sharpen your skills. With the world of web development exploding, it’s becoming more and more difficult to stay relevant in today’s workforce without constant adding skills and knowledge.

Meet Launch Digital Marketing

Launch Digital Marketing is a Chicago based digital marketing agency specializing in helping businesses grow their online and web presence.