Synopsis:
This is a very nice introduction to JavaScript. It starts out by explaining what JavaScript is, and what versions there are, etc. I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s for those with no programming experience at all, but it is for someone with no JavaScript experience. It carries some very nice discussions on the different aspects of coding in JavaScript, and shows some nice code examples of each on along with full explanations.
The training itself is split into 4 parts on a single DVD that cover everything from the extreme basics of the constructs, to working with the windows and document objects. The last part covers a couple special projects that walk you through some real world coding situations that will come in very handy. I’ve learned that I learn much better through video, and this is one of the better training series I’ve seen. It doesn’t have the same production quality that AppDev videos have, but it’s definitely good enough for the purpose. If I had any complaints it would be with the player chosen for the videos themselves. It has navigation buttons, but it won’t go from one topic to the next on its own. I usually prefer to work on something and watch the videos in the background, or concentrate on the topics being presented, and having to play each topic manually is annoying. It also doesn’t have any bookmarking functionality either, so if you have to leave the course, you have to pretty much remember where you left off. There’s also no volume control in the player which again is just a minor annoyance. The sound in the course is very loud. I had my system sound turned down as far as I could and the course still blared into my headphones. That’s why I was looking for a volume control in the player itself, but I was disappointed. Still, it’s better to have the course slightly too loud than to not be able to hear it at all. For what it is though, the production quality is good enough for what you need this course for.
The instructor explained things in a way that I actually understood. I’ve read a couple JavaScript books and I can say I honestly didn’t get it. It’s always been so difficult to me, but when he explained the same concepts here, something just clicked, and I still can’t figure out why the books didn’t just say that.
This course won’t take you to master level, but it’ll definitely give you a firm foundation in the basics (and even a little beyond) and you can pick it up from there. You can’t help but learn JavaScript with this course.
Who Should Get This Series?
I would say this course would be best for someone who already has some experience coding in anything else… VBScript, C, VB, Java, it’s all good. As long as you know what variables are and have some concept of how to use looping constructs, and other very basic language elements. It’s not that an absolute beginner couldn’t get anything out of this, it’s just that it doesn’t bother going into much detail with the basic elements of programming. So, have a little experience with something else, and you’ll go far.
Presentation Style
The presenter is very comfortable with explaining the topic. It’s very easy to see that he’s experienced coding JavaScript as well as working in the tools he uses in the course. He has a comfortable and relaxed way of speaking and knows how to get his point across. His inflections keep you interested as he talks more like he’s teaching you directly and not speaking into a microphone on a computer. He has a lesson plan and he sticks to it without being stuffy about it. The course itself keeps a good pace and it’s divided up in such a way that it would be easy enough to go back and use it as a reference as I have done a couple times already.
Table of Contents
I ordinarily go into detail about here, but it’s just not necessary. The table of contents is fully available on the website and he does such a good job my comments wouldn’t add anything to the mix.