Dash is a fun and free online course that teaches you the basics of web development through projects you can do in your browser.
Dash is the free course offered by General Assembly to introduce anyone to coding. Users create projects while learning. Choices are: Buikding a Personal Website, Build a Responsive Blog, Build a Small Business Website, Build a CSS Robot, or Build a Madlib.
NOTE: Must sign up to participate.
Type of Material:
Tutorial, interactive learning platform
Recommended Uses:
It can be useful for self-paced learning or discussions in tutorials.
Technical Requirements:
A Web browser like the Google Chrome, Firefox or Explorer is required.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Upon completion of this tutorial, learners should be able to:
1. Describe the features of HTML, CSS and Javascript
2. Write a Webpage using HTML, CSS and Javascript
3. Design a Website with dynamic features.
Target Student Population:
College and undergraduate students
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Apparently, there is no requirement on the pre-requisite knowledge. However, for a better understanding, the learner should have some general understanding of computer programming and basic concepts involved in Web application development.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The tutorial is comprehensive. It covers most of the essential topics in writing Web pages, which are integrated with CSS and Javascript. The information is sufficient for learners to learn the basic knowledge and skill in designing a Website.
Through various example of practical Web applications like building a personal website, the process of learning to code in HTML, CSS and JavaScript can be fun !
Concerns:
Besides the step-by-step instructions provided in each set of PowerPoint slides, it will be more effective for learners if an overview or overall structure of essential concepts together with some basic description of such concepts can be provided in the beginning of each set of PowerPoint slides. Also, if more interactive videos can be included, the material will look more attractive and interesting to the learner.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The tutorials are like project-based tutorials. Each tutorial aims at creating Webpages containing certain features in HTML, CSS or Javascript. It is effective and the learning goals of each tutorial are clear.
It can be very effective in being used as the case studies for discussions during tutorials or practical exercises for students to gain more hands-on experience during lab sessions.
Concerns:
The online material will be more effective for learners if an overview of key concepts together with some basic description of such concepts can be provided in the beginning of each set of PowerPoint slides so that the learner may understand more easily about the overall framework or structure of involved concepts / skills.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The tutorials are interactive. Learners can practise the coding within the platform. So it is very effective. The design is also visually appealing.
The usability is high as each set of PowerPoint slides is facilitated by some practical and step-by-step exercises requiring each learner to try out some HTML/CSS/JavaScript statements on the Dash platform running on a Web browser so as to build some practical Web applications.
Concerns:
The usability can be enhanced if the aim or learning objective of each small step in such practical exercises can be more clearly explained. That is, after each step is performed, there can be some pop-up window to try to clearly explain about the meaning/objective of the step / statement being executed.
Creative Commons:
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