Re: FLASH: OT: Your Professional opinion...

[Marc Hoffman]

At 04:22 PM 2/9/99 -0700, you wrote:

>First Bob....

>...

>       DROP OUTTA SCHOOL!!!

><SNIP>

>If anyone has stories that contradict

>this post em now, but that's my experience.

>


Well, I would disagree, although I would say classes alone will hardly gain

you employment success in this field.


I actually got quite a lot out of a nine-month certificate program in

multimedia.  I was already computer literate but not in web stuff.  I was

able to quit my job while in school, so every day I practiced what was

being taught. It was a great way to get hands-on experience with the main

tools of the trade.  I also was able to get BIG student discounts on

software. We had lots of instruction in Photoshop, Director, and HTML.  A

bit of Flash, Illustrator, and Premiere. Some other odds and ends. Some

good teaching about web stuff like the web-safe palette,  interface design,

and bandwidth issues. There was lots of frustration with occasional

mediocre instructors and even more so with equipment failures.  But in the

end I got what I went for, including some good industry contacts (through

teachers and other students in the program) and a portfolio piece.


To the basic web design "programs" others have already mentioned, I'd add

the obvious: learn HTML, even if just the basics.  Do hand-coding in a

simple text editor like NotePad until you are comfortable with it and can

find HTML errors just by looking at the code.


I also find it extremely worthwhile to help others learn.  I did this in

school and I continue doing it every day (being on this list is part of

that for me).


Everyone has his or her own learning style, but I wouldn't rule out school.

 It's just one of many ways.



Marc Hoffman

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

marcdartfrogmedia [dot] com (mailto:marcdartfrogmedia [dot] com)

View my Flash3 work: <http://www.jps.net/dartfrog/sampler>.

Play a virtual marimba: <www.dartfrogmedia.com/dartfrog>.

Read about Flash: <http://www.jps.net/dartfrog/sampler/flashinf>


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