I’ve Cracked The Code, Please Call Tech Support- Episode 6, Return of the JavaScript
I’m still putting the final touches on my first class Checkpoint (a website for a barbershop), but I’m feeling pretty good about it. It’s been fun to work on a whole site and have a bit of freedom with the content aspect. I’ve also learned how to take better care of my hair, so that’s nice.
- How has this course changed your outlook on learning? What’s changed? Why?
When I was in college, I was still under the impression that if it wasn’t an “A” it was a failure. Not a healthy mentality, obviously, but that’s where I was. So, naturally, I was a bit on edge starting this course, worried that I’d fall down that hill again.
I’m not going to say that I haven’t done that a bit (ok, more than a bit), but I’ve really appreciated the fact that we have more freedom in what the “right” answer is. “Does it do what we wanted it to do? Cool, let’s move on.”
One of the things that as stuck with me the most is the idea of “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good”, which was referenced in a couple of our lessons. This has really helped loosen me up to my projects, but spend hours upon hours making every pixel as perfect as I can, only to have it blow up in my face when the screen is resized. Sometimes the most important thing you can learn is when to let go.
2. When frustration comes up, how do you deal with it? What’s your course of action?
With this class, frustration is normal to a degree. It’s a whole new language, and you don’t know what you don’t know, you know?
My course of action has been to research the problem from multiple sources. If I’m in class, I can ask the professor and my classmates. If not, or if we are still working on the problem, I Google and look at as many pages I can. By doing this I get information told to me in a variety of ways. This helps me find one that sticks, since we all learn differently.
3. Why should we teach to the whole person rather than to just a skill set? What benefits are there to this method?
When you teach to the whole person, rather than just trying to impart a particular set of skills, you make them more effective in all aspects of their lives.
The best example I can give is the standardized tests we were made to study for when I was in high school. There was a very particular set of material that we were made to more-or-less memorize in order to pass the test. I passed, but I didn’t feel in any way passionate about the material. I honestly resented quite a lot of it because the only reason I was given to care was “You have to pass the test on it”. This is not a great way to learn.
But, if you couple the skill based education with emotional intelligence, social education, etc., you are setting that person up for far greater success. They can think for themselves, and are much better learners than someone who can only pass a test.
4. How do you feel about your upcoming project? What do you anticipate while working with a classmate?
I feel pretty good about the upcoming portfolio project. We’ve already had a trial run with all aspects of the site, and now I have a much greater idea of how everything can work. It’s just down to putting everything together.
As far as working with a classmate, without knowing exactly what the parameters will be it’s hard to judge. However, this class has been very communicative, and open with the sharing of ideas and information.
5. What benefits will there be to work with someone else?
Having someone there to bounce ideas off of is always helpful. Sometimes your running down the wrong track, and it’s good to have someone else to steer you back on course. Also, if there is an issue with the code, having two people working to solve the problem can be helpful.
6. What challenges could come with this partnership?
With 2020 being the beast it is, coordinating work might be a little frustrating. That said, Zoom has worked for class so far, so I believe it will be sufficient here as well.
As with any partnership, it comes down to everyone pitching in. Did I do enough to help on this aspect, did they complete their part of the task? Mostly it comes down to communication, and everyone having the same goal.
