Third level web training

sticker

Hey all,

I understand there's been a slew of threads here concentrating on web training, so I hope I'm not duplicate posting...

I've been doing a little nixer web design / maintenance work for a little over three years now and wish to do some formal training full-time with a means to built an impressive portfolio... My full time job is closing after 12 years employment and I'm receiving a redundancy payment. My hope is to polish areas I'm familiar with and start training in areas of modern practice that would make me employable.

I'm pretty much self-tought, but as I've stated I've gaps where I'm not up to speed with a current professional designer. That said, I've a good collection of the latest total training / lynda.com DVD courses, but I'm in a position where a good all-round course might suit me better...

What full time courses are available? - Dublin area - a beginner level course would be a waste - an intermediate level would suit me better...

Option #2 would be a few one-on-one training classses - I find I'll be working on something and suddenly be a little out of my depth - probably indicitive of self-training anyway! Anyone offer 'grinds' - ?

ron_darrell

There's nothing wrong with being self taught but as you said there are times where suddenly you're a little out of your depth. Is there a particular field of web that you wish to specialise in (e.g. front-end/graphic design, backend/databases, scripting/e-commerce, networking/os/servers) or do you wish to offer your future clients an all inclusive package?

A course may help but then again it may just instruct you in area you are already accomplished in. If you're looking to focus on graphic design then a art/graphic design course would be of most benefit, backend/db/server/scripting then you'd probably need to look into an IT/computer science course. Many of these course you'll find however are generalised hoping to cover as wide a spectrum as possible in their niche and may not focus on those areas you are interested in. That aside they will give you a formal introduction to the basic concepts and give you a recognised qualification.

I hope that's been of some help. Personally, I received a BSc in Computer Systems but much of what I've learned about web technologies has been, as in your case, self taught. That said the grounding in programming and design concepts I received from my degree definitely reduced the learning curve and helped me to be good at what I've learned on my own.

In teaching myself I found that a project is the best way to show you what areas you're weak in and what things you need to learn. Keep an eye on the job hunter sites to see exactly what the industry is looking for, what rates are being charged and what technologies are becoming standard. .Net without a doubt is hot at the moment but many companies are still looking for people experienced in Java or even C++.

If I can be of any help feel free to PM.

-RD

sticker

ron_darrell wrote:

There's nothing wrong with being self taught but as you said there are times where suddenly you're a little out of your depth. Is there a particular field of web that you wish to specialise in (e.g. front-end/graphic design, backend/databases, scripting/e-commerce, networking/os/servers) or do you wish to offer your future clients an all inclusive package?

A course may help but then again it may just instruct you in area you are already accomplished in. If you're looking to focus on graphic design then a art/graphic design course would be of most benefit, backend/db/server/scripting then you'd probably need to look into an IT/computer science course. Many of these course you'll find however are generalised hoping to cover as wide a spectrum as possible in their niche and may not focus on those areas you are interested in. That aside they will give you a formal introduction to the basic concepts and give you a recognised qualification.

I hope that's been of some help. Personally, I received a BSc in Computer Systems but much of what I've learned about web technologies has been, as in your case, self taught. That said the grounding in programming and design concepts I received from my degree definitely reduced the learning curve and helped me to be good at what I've learned on my own.

In teaching myself I found that a project is the best way to show you what areas you're weak in and what things you need to learn. Keep an eye on the job hunter sites to see exactly what the industry is looking for, what rates are being charged and what technologies are becoming standard. .Net without a doubt is hot at the moment but many companies are still looking for people experienced in Java or even C++.

If I can be of any help feel free to PM.

-RD

Some good advice - thanks...

I'd agree that the self-taught route may possible suit me better... I have at my disposal a great archive of training modules that I can tackle in my own time...

Forums like this and others are a great resource, but sometimes it helps to have someone beside you... I may investage the possibility of some design help in a one-on-one basis. I've a handful of quick fire problems that even a few sessions might solve...

Thanks again for your help... much appreciated!

googlehead

Hi Guys,
Sorry for butting in on your chat, but i have just started learning Web Design i am using http://www.w3schools.com/ to learn Html and XHtml i have just finished reading both and i am going to start testing my Html skills then hope to learn CSS and then Dreamweaver and Photoshop. I work in IT but the hardware side of it. I have National Certificate in computer hardware.I really want to teach myself this, and can also get DVDs, lynda.com etc. I have just set myself out a schedule of learning for 1.5 hours each night.Is it possible to then to get work part time at this and make money? My brother has finished a masters degree in computer science last year so i think he can help me out a bit when i get stuck.(hopefully I'm totally new to this and would appreciate any advice at all on this, I would really like to learn web design with the view of doing work in my spare time and build it up and bit and go from there is it is possible?

Seachmall

There are quite a few people who design sites in their spare time and work full time. I imagine it would stretch the process time wise as you would only be doing it for a few hours a day but it would definetly bring in some extra cash.

Good luck with it.

googlehead

Seachmall wrote:

There are quite a few people who design sites in their spare time and work full time. I imagine it would stretch the process time wise as you would only be doing it for a few hours a day but it would definetly bring in some extra cash.

Good luck with it.

Hi Mate,
sounds great, thats what im trying to do it for, to make some extra cash. and could maybe lead to something else, but very early days yet, still need to put in the effort to learn it all and do a few sites first.

alienhead

iact's web diploma course, there's 2 levels, intermediate and advanced.

http://www.iact.ie/

not cheap though, 4k.