W3Schools is SO frustrating!

GamesBomb.co.uk · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 04:50 PM

I've been trying to learn HTML and CSS but I just can't grasp it. To me it's not in any order I can remember it by, just gives you random bits of information to remember.

I'm 14 and trying to create a website so i'm learning html and css for my own good. I'm prone to giving up but I will persevere and try to learn this, I'm just wondering Lisa, how did you grasp HTML and CSS? You reccomend W3Schools alot and I think it's a great site I just can't figure out any order to learn it in.

I hope ou know what I mean,

Thanks. Joe.

P.S

Are there any good video tutorials of learning CSS and HTML?

jaressloo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 06:55 PM

Hi. It's funny that you ask this question because I actually JUST finished two very good VIDEO tutorials on my website specifically for learning HTML and CSS.

Admins - this is not self promotion - It literally just happens that I created two video tutorials in the last few days regarding JUST this issue. Pure coincidence.

Anyway, the link is in my sig (below this post). Click on Development at the top and then you should find the videos you're looking for!

Let me know if that helps. I'm going to be making more and more of these tutorials. Subscribe to my RSS feed and you'll get all my updates.

I built the entire site by myself FROM SCRATCH - by hand. So...I like to think I know what I'm doing!

DotComBot · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 09:39 PM

Hey Joe,

Give this one a shot: http://htmldog.com/

It'll walk you through everything in a natural way.

jay144 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 10:16 PM

You can also try a CMS like Drupal or Joomla to get you started and then learn html and css as well. That is what I am doing. But I mastered Drupal and now I am trying to learn more html and css.

lisa · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 10:58 PM

HTMLDog.com is much more learning-friendly than W3Schools, in my opinion. I know it's not the best way to learn, but I learned CSS by downloading templates from free websites like freecsstemplates.org and changed things up until I figured out what caused what. But it's always best to start with the basics. Hopefully HTMLDog.com will be better for ya.

webman · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

HTMLDog.com is much more learning-friendly than W3Schools, in my opinion. I know it's not the best way to learn, but I learned CSS by downloading templates from free websites like freecsstemplates.org and changed things up until I figured out what caused what. But it's always best to start with the basics. Hopefully HTMLDog.com will be better for ya.

I bet you've had your fair share of poorly-built templates that leave you in frustration like what I'm dealing with on eblogtemplates(great layouts but very poorly coded)

@gamesbomb Have you tried that book w3schools avidly promotes. That manual will smoothly glid you through the process(though I've only read the free sample and clearly sold)!

Pretzel · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 12:10 AM

I had about the same problems using w3schools. Loved their html walk through but when it came to css, got completely lost...

I then used htmldog (thanks to this forum!!!) to learn some more. And it helped me understand it better. Although not completely yet...

Now I just use both. When I need to do something I'm not sure about I just go to one see what they say on the topic, go to the other one (which says practically the same thing but in a different way) and then try it myself.

As you learn, if you don't have a web software, use notepad and a web browser as you go, to visualise what everything does. Don't be too much in a hurry, you'll start to understand it all sooner than you think.

GamesBomb.co.uk · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 04:31 AM

Thanks for all your help!

I'm going to try learning with htmldog

sequencehosting · #9 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GamesBomb.co.uk

I've been trying to learn HTML and CSS but I just can't grasp it. To me it's not in any order I can remember it by, just gives you random bits of information to remember.

I'm 14 and trying to create a website so i'm learning html and css for my own good. I'm prone to giving up but I will persevere and try to learn this, I'm just wondering Lisa, how did you grasp HTML and CSS? You reccomend W3Schools alot and I think it's a great site I just can't figure out any order to learn it in.

I hope ou know what I mean,

Thanks. Joe.

P.S

Are there any good video tutorials of learning CSS and HTML?

Keep at it buddy, you will understand it soon!

It's good because you’re learning at a young age. In a few months I’m certain you will understand enough to confidently create a browser friendly site. It will certainly be worth it

I never read any website when I was learning. I simply downloaded a free template online and experimented with the code to see what it did. When I run into a problem I would post for help on these forums.

1) Certainly download Lisa's free template and watch her video because she makes it easy to understand.

2) Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQMnpUsj8I You don't even have to do anything. Watch the full 20 minutes and after HTML/CSS won't seem so scary. I wish I found this video while I was learning.

3) Don't give up! It is certainly well worth learning. I am still learning today but 3 months ago I knew enough to fix someone’s website. He ended up paying me $50 and it only took me an hour!

Keep at it and let us know if you have any questions and we will try our best to explain.

Jack

vipdistinct · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 01:11 AM

I started by trial and error back in 1996-1998, there was no w3schools back then. Just good old free hosting and there were some free domain name providers back then - can you believe it

Pretzel · #11 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

HTMLDog.com is much more learning-friendly than W3Schools, in my opinion. I know it's not the best way to learn, but I learned CSS by downloading templates from free websites like freecsstemplates.org and changed things up until I figured out what caused what. But it's always best to start with the basics. Hopefully HTMLDog.com will be better for ya.

Thanks Lisa. Hadn't tried downloading free templates before. I guess I thought I wouldn't understand enough to play around with them. But I did! And it is a very nice way to learn.

Quote:

2) Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQMnpUsj8I You don't even have to do anything. Watch the full 20 minutes and after HTML/CSS won't seem so scary. I wish I found this video while I was learning.

I had watch this video before and it did help at the time, but I didn't quite grasp everything he was saying. Actually it's kind of I understood when I watched but then forgot everything once I had to do it myself. Watched it again today, and it felt like everything he said in there was pretty clear! Yeaaah! I think it definitely means I've been learning loooots

GamesBomb you definitely must persevere! Jack is right, the younger you are the easier it is to grasp it all. Hang in there!!!

James · #12 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Jack is right, the younger you are the easier it is to grasp it all.

As long as you are aware that mental age has nothing to do with physical age. I suspect that I am older in years than any of you young whipper snappers on here and there's not one of you who could keep up my pace!

Well, not too many anyway.

Pretzel · #13 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

As long as you are aware that mental age has nothing to do with physical age. I suspect that I am older in years than any of you young whipper snappers on here and there's not one of you who could keep up my pace!

Well, not too many anyway.

I'm sure I couldn't! I'm too lazy.......

But I do agree, you are always as old as you feel you are!

vlad11 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 11:09 AM

I really recommend a good book on html/CSS. In books, the learning process is structured and pre-thougt for the reader. From there, you can improove your basic skills from W3Schools or just googleing. Cheers!

jay144 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 12:33 PM

It takes a little time you have to be patient. It will be well worth it in the end. You might want to also find other learning material like an ebook on html and css. But be careful some ebooks aren't very helpful.

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