The first group of students are rolling along in week three of the newly rewritten Level 2 XHTML/CSS class at LVS Online. We are starting them off in the Transtional DTD and taking everything in baby steps.
It is quite an experience to watch those new to coding start out at square one with XHTML and CSS instead of HTML4.01 with those good old <font> tags and twisted hacks we all cut our teeth on.
This class completed the first run of debbieT's Level One last term and I have them in Intermediate as we speak. Happy to report that the majority of them are taking to it like ducks to water. Issues and problems seem fewer and farther between than they were at this stage in the old HTML 4.01 style classes with hacks and deprecated codes included. That makes *the instuctor* happy and leading the class a much more pleasant experience.
And what's even more fun is seeing the interest in basic accessibility information.
In working with data tables this week I introduced a little tool that I had not seen in the piles of goodies hidden at WAI/W3C until I was researching the lesson. The WAI Tablin tool:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Tablin/form
I thought there might be groans but they are looking and experimenting with ways to make the content of data tables read in a more logical, linear fashion. Treating it like a fun, new toy, not just another drudgy checkpoint. Woo Hoo!
Wouldn't it be fun if we could influence even a few of the next generation of coders and designers to use standardized coding, CSS and accessibility features without even thinking hard about it. Have it become as natural as breathing. One can hope and work toward that goal in their own little corner of the world. *smile*
I wish I had been shown some of these things on day one. Just think of all the deeply ingrained bad habits I could have avoided. Coulda, Shoulda, Didn't. lol
That's all for now from our 17" view of cyberspace....
Farron and That _^..^_
Posted by farron at March 30, 2004 10:11 AMWell, frankly my dear... back at the Dawn of Time (when you were learning) they didn't have CSS nor XHTML nor Accessibility Standards. hehehehe. "-)
You do have a good point though about teaching new coders the right way from the start. If nothing else it will put them in a better position for the next set of standards.
Hey, neat tool! Thanks. :-)
Wow.. an entire post on standards that didn't take a pot shot at my Flash & Swish classes (that would be at www.lvsonline.com - snert). hehehe
Cheers!
How cool is all that? Heh heh heh
I'm seeing a marketing tool here -- teaching PROPER coding to those who have been coding for years yet have not seen the light of [X]HTML or CSS.
Purraze XHTML and CSS!!!! Hmmm, how to spread the word? Maybe a newsletter?
Oh, yeah, right, that would be me. When is summer break? snert
Posted by: Butzi at March 30, 2004 12:58 PMHello all! Yay, Farron. I was just on your message board, checking out all the fabulous assignments. Such a great feeling that they are loving it, huh? I have been saying all along, that learning xhtml and css is soo much easier than the old ways of html 3 and 4. And much easier to sort through and trouble shoot! Now if they could just come up with a decent reference book on the subject!
:)dT
Debbie,
There is a new reference book on CSS2 upcoming from Eric Meyer:
Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/css2/
due next month ... should be good!
More info:
http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/200403.html#d08
and sample chapter 2:
http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/books/css-tdg/
Dunno about XHTML books ...
Posted by: Britta at March 30, 2004 10:52 PMHey Britta,
Eric Meyer's 2nd Edition is out. And wouldn't you know, I just ordered it! *grin*
Can't stand not to have the new one. Now where is that big brown truck??!!
Farron
Posted by: Farron at March 31, 2004 12:13 AM