On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:18:32 pm James Jeffery wrote: > Good Morning! > > Here is my problem. Im at college this year, preparing for University > (Hopefully Birmingham) to > study Software Engineering. At college we have a class on a Thursday called > "Web Development" > and the guy thats teaching the class in an absolute joke, no seriously, he > is. > > He is teaching students how to create web pages using Dreamweaver in > "Design" view, and then > telling students if they can do this, they are Web Designers. > > I was angry, i instantly replied and questioned his knowledge on HTML and > asked the age old question: > "What are tables in HTML used for?", he replied "To lay out web pages and > for tabled data", i replied with > "wrong", he laughed and told me he knows what he is talking about. > > I seriously want to raise a huge issue at the college, but im not sure how > to do it. This guy is on 22k+ > a year, and cannot even teach people correctly, he may have been a pro back > in the days when tables > were acceptable to lay out web pages, but in todays world he is a fool. > > Its half term now, we have an assignment to complete using Dreamweaver, and > he said i have to use > tables, its not a problem, i will do as the assignment requests. I will > walk the extra mile and create the > same page without tables, with semantics, with accessibility in mind and > without the bloated mark-up, > and then write a essay comparing the both. > > What power do i have (if any) to try and get the college to understand they > cannot use a cowboy to > teach tomorrows computer experts. Should i use my essay and examples and > take it to the head of > the college? I really don't know how to go about this, but its definatly a > problem. > > I really am angry and annoyed, you pay money to be taught the correct > methods. People who don't > understand are fine, they will believe him, and thats the shocking part > about it all. > > I await some advice.
Hi, It may not be the tutor's or colege's "fault". Curriculum is written at a higher level and then "pushed" down to educators. This process involves "industry experts" and takes a number of years. Often this curriculum is tied to government funding and as such can't be changed. The subject may actually be "design a web site using industry standard web design software" which currently the "industry standard" is Dreamweaver. However, some educators take the easy way out and only teach what they know. The subject could simply be "create a web site" and they only know Dreamweaver based templates or "starter pages". They haven't been taught any other way. I have seen this first hand, I have taught web design and other IT courses for eight years, always meeting learning outcomes, and often pointing out that "industry attitudes" have changed. Creating sites the "old way" and the "new way" is useful for students who may have to manage old sites that can't be upgraded "overnight" for many reasons. Recognising the weaknesses and strengths with CSS layout and tabular layout makes students better designers, and hopefully a better Internet for all. Telling a teacher they are "wrong" in front of many students often offends them, especially when they don't keep up to date with current trends. However, most teachers who adapt and learn the new technologies do so in their own time, unpaid and often unrecognised. Do your site both ways and demonstrate the advantages of CSS layout using accessibility tools and ratings. And just think how far in front of the other students when applying for jobs saying that you can support old and new sites. -- Regards, Steve Bathurst Computer Solutions URL: www.bathurstcomputers.com.au e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mobile: 0407 224 251 .... _ ... (0)> ... / / \ .. / / . ) .. V_/_ Linux Powered! Registered Linux User #355382 ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************
