Learn jQuery & JavaScript for Free(learn.appendto.com)
learn.appendto.com
Learn jQuery & JavaScript for Free
http://learn.appendto.com/lessons
32 comments
I have a hard time understanding how anyone really learns any technical topic without working with the technology and exploring the reference
I think you'd be surprised. I learned C and C++ and never looked at the reference (standard) for either until far after I was proficient (with C I learned it a fair bit before a standard existed). I learned by reading Stroustrup, K&R, Lippman, etc... I learned JS by reading Crockford -- and while I've spent a fair bit of time looking at the jQuery reference docs, I don't think I've ever looked at the JS reference docs.
I think a lot of people learn languages/frameworks/tools from reading blogs/books/webpages/videos and not the actual reference docs.
I think you'd be surprised. I learned C and C++ and never looked at the reference (standard) for either until far after I was proficient (with C I learned it a fair bit before a standard existed). I learned by reading Stroustrup, K&R, Lippman, etc... I learned JS by reading Crockford -- and while I've spent a fair bit of time looking at the jQuery reference docs, I don't think I've ever looked at the JS reference docs.
I think a lot of people learn languages/frameworks/tools from reading blogs/books/webpages/videos and not the actual reference docs.
You'd be right.
I didn't understand reference docs on Actionscript until well after I had consumed a couple excellent introductory tutorials and browsed tons of forum threads.
I didn't understand reference docs on Actionscript until well after I had consumed a couple excellent introductory tutorials and browsed tons of forum threads.
I've always been the same way - most screencasts move too slowly for my tastes and don't hold my attention (that's why I was impressed with the navigation system in these videos).
When I was approached to record a series of jQuery screencasts for TekPub, I almost passed because I didn't personally see the value of video tutorials. However, having done it and received voluminous amounts of positive feedback from people who finally groked concepts that had been eluding them, I've come to realize that different people simply learn best in different ways. The success of Kahn is another good example of this.
I don't think that makes a video-learner somehow inferior for having approached the topic in a different way. It just means that they best absorb content in a different way than you and me. Often, when I hear from people who watched my videos, they're asking for pointers to more advanced content on the same topic, so they can continue building on that foundation. I think it's inaccurate to cast them as being "spoon-fed" and assume they don't pursue deeper knowledge.
When I was approached to record a series of jQuery screencasts for TekPub, I almost passed because I didn't personally see the value of video tutorials. However, having done it and received voluminous amounts of positive feedback from people who finally groked concepts that had been eluding them, I've come to realize that different people simply learn best in different ways. The success of Kahn is another good example of this.
I don't think that makes a video-learner somehow inferior for having approached the topic in a different way. It just means that they best absorb content in a different way than you and me. Often, when I hear from people who watched my videos, they're asking for pointers to more advanced content on the same topic, so they can continue building on that foundation. I think it's inaccurate to cast them as being "spoon-fed" and assume they don't pursue deeper knowledge.
Honestly, I think my initial reaction was severely overstated. I know from personal experience that skilled engineers do learn differently than I do. It just continues to surprise me that they do :)
The other edge of the sword, though, is that I do see an ultimate limit to how much you can learn from tuorials, and I know several people who never acquired the skill of finding and learning from first sources, which saddens me.
The other edge of the sword, though, is that I do see an ultimate limit to how much you can learn from tuorials, and I know several people who never acquired the skill of finding and learning from first sources, which saddens me.
I enjoyed the TekPub series on jQuery.
The target for content like this is the developer who prefers to be walked through the content. They need to visualize the content, be talked through the examples and "spoon fed" the information.
One of the main features is the ability to track their progress on a public transcript page which people can link to to prove that they've gone through the material.
One of the main features is the ability to track their progress on a public transcript page which people can link to to prove that they've gone through the material.
I think it more in line with the enterprise developer that is thrown into a development world they don't fully understand and need to get up to speed quickly.
Out of curiosity, what is the excellent reference for Javascript.
When I was first learning it (4 years ago), I ran into a lot of trouble.
Python has Python.org and documentation in reams. C++ has cplusplus.com, C# has MSDN, PHP has php.net, and so on.
In comparison, W3 schools seems very poorly laid out and not very structured.
When I was first learning it (4 years ago), I ran into a lot of trouble.
Python has Python.org and documentation in reams. C++ has cplusplus.com, C# has MSDN, PHP has php.net, and so on.
In comparison, W3 schools seems very poorly laid out and not very structured.
> Out of curiosity, what is the excellent reference for Javascript.
I've always liked:
http://eloquentjavascript.net/
and
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference
I've always liked:
http://eloquentjavascript.net/
and
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference
http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecm...
Big PDF. It's a bit dense, but unambiguous. Nota most bene, though: not every browser implements everything you'll read in the standard. But, if a higher percentage of JS coders would read and grasp the standard, we'd have less confusion about how to use the langauge, IMO.
Big PDF. It's a bit dense, but unambiguous. Nota most bene, though: not every browser implements everything you'll read in the standard. But, if a higher percentage of JS coders would read and grasp the standard, we'd have less confusion about how to use the langauge, IMO.
It is indeed difficult to find good JavaScript references via Google. There's even a campaign to remedy this: http://promotejs.com
Don't trust W3 Schools. Despite its name, it is in no way affiliated with the W3C. Take a look at http://w3fools.com
Don't trust W3 Schools. Despite its name, it is in no way affiliated with the W3C. Take a look at http://w3fools.com
I hear what you're saying but I would give a "pass" to this particular try since it's reasonably well-done and the screencast approach probably works for a certain segment of the population. What I don't care for is when a company puts out something like this and it's obviously just a weak marketing tactic with very little value.
These first lessons are probably on the elementary side for a lot of us here, but be sure to check one of them out just to see how the navigation system in the player works.
I wish every online video tutorial worked like that. It goes a long way toward mitigating how unscannable video is for tutorial content.
I wish every online video tutorial worked like that. It goes a long way toward mitigating how unscannable video is for tutorial content.
I have to agree the course map is very slick.
Content aside, this looks really really good. I went looking for the pricing table before actually playing a video. (Well, I did watch the sites intro video ofcourse)
Love the map and fiddle integration. Can't wait to see what pops up down the line.
Love the map and fiddle integration. Can't wait to see what pops up down the line.
I saw this yesterday. Very high quality video lessons in short bites. I'd be curious to know what they have planned for future lessons?
We have several things planned. Follow us on twitter @appendto to be notified.
Will it just be jQuery lessons? Any plans for Dojo or mootools types of lessons? What about lessons for micro libraries like yepnope for example?
appendTo is a company founded by former members of the jQuery project. While we consider ourselves JavaScript experts, we are focused on jQuery.
We do expect to include micro libraries such as YepNope as we get to them.
We do expect to include micro libraries such as YepNope as we get to them.
This book is supposed to be good:
http://jqfundamentals.com/
http://jqfundamentals.com/
Good tutorial. I recommend checking out this version http://jqfundamentals.com/book/ which is basically a prettier version of the home page. Weird that it isn't linked to from the home page.
who is that guy with the silky voice, its mesmerizing, its like learning through osmosis.
I laughed so hard at this.
Beautiful site
This is awesome!
I know this is my own auto-didactic prejudice, but I see a lot of this screencast stuff and am set back by how much people seem to want to be spoon-fed skills, and by my own disbelief that skill can be acquired that way.