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Learning Programming

It was with much trepidation that I began my basic programming class this semester.  To my pleasant surprise, I've really enjoyed it so far.  It's such a useful skill and one I'm glad to have a least a basic knowledge of.

The resource I've been using to learn is w3schools.com.  They're web-based tutorials that lead you through the basics of various programming types.  The two I've been focusing on are HTML and CSS.

What I like about the resource
I really enjoy the straightforward, no-nonsense style as it makes the concepts very accessible.  There's also a quick reference of the codes learned which has become very useful as I'm now trying to apply what I've learned to create a website.

What I wish were different
One thing I haven't loved is the setup of their practice sessions.  Instead of having me attempt to create the code myself, the example is already there for you.  It's nice in a way, but I definitely don't retain as much from just changing the color of the text in an example as I would from having to create the example myself and getting feedback on why it did or didn't work.  I also wish they'd show examples of real websites where the codes they just taught were used so it's easier to know when and where to use them.

Overall
I'd still recommend it as a great resource to anyone learning how to program from scratch.
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