Module 14: What's Next
Now that you've handled the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, what's next? Well, first of all, congratulate yourself! If you've made it this far, then you've already learned some critical web development fundamentals, and you've set yourself up for success.
However, don't get too comfortable. Your journey is only just beginning. As you will soon discover, part of what makes being a web developer so exciting and rewarding is the endless opportunity to learn.
Module 14 Deliverable
This module does not have a deliverable that you will place in your prework folder. It is, however, important that you keep coding up until the boot camp starts. Read below to find out the next steps you should take on your journey to become a developer.
What to Do Next
The most important thing for you to do now is to simply continue coding. You have come a long way by completing this prework, but the longer you go without coding, the harder it will be to get back into the habit. Don't let your knowledge wilt on the vine.
Becoming a successful developer is going to require a good deal of discipline and independent motivation. Begin looking for opportunities to expand your horizons. See a cool website? Inspect the source code! Have a problem in your everyday life? Try to figure out a way to solve it using logic and code. The most successful developers never cease learning or finding ways to improve.
Here are some resources that you can use to reinforce and to expand on the knowledge you've gained so far.
Code School is one of the single best websites for beginners. When you complete all of the prework modules, we strongly encourage you to review as many of Code School's lessons on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery as you can. Doing so will greatly help you during the first few weeks of class.
Codecademy is another excellent site that offers free courses on languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Each course is broken up into a number of step-by-step lessons that guide you through the fundamentals and simple projects.
Complete lessons to gain certifications and gradually build a portfolio. When you finish all of your certifications, you can get real-world experience by building projects for nonprofits.
This great (and free) textbook will give you a solid foundation in JavaScript basics and vocabulary.
More Resources
Read
- Learning How to Learn: One of the most important skills you will learn in this program is how to independently learn. This course grounds you in this methodology.
Watch
- LevelUpTuts: Great (free) resources for taking your web development skills to the next level. Both novices and advanced developers will find plenty to learn from here.
- LearnCode.academy: Another great resource, particularly for advanced topics in JavaScript, jQuery, and Angular.js.
Learn from Others
- Livecoding.tv: Watch (and chat with) developers live as they code projects. This is a great resource for gaining insight into the thought process of other developers. It's also fun to watch them struggle with bugs.