Under construction
唔要做傷腦筋的事啦!
James T. Koo (A40)
jtkoo@hotmail.com
After accepting to be the Webmaster, I decided to take a course covering HTML, CSS, PHP, Java and MySQL. If you never heard these arcane alphabet soups before, you are not alone, I did not know their existences before either. This is a three months, 3 hours per week course with no homework assignments, and no exams. If you attend 75% of the classes, they would issue you a “網頁設計師證書.” At least for me, learn all these programs in three months time, is like drinking from a fire-hose; if not careful, one can get drowned.
The classes were taught in a very regimented way. Each of us has a computer in front of us. The instructor had the control of all the computers, and our screens would either show what he was doing on his computer or would allow us to type in and run our own programs. He started each class by passing out some notes, went through a sample program or two line by line, then showed the results on his computer. After that he would ask us to type in the programs from the notes, and run on our own computer. Class would go on or end whether we succeeded or not.
For the entire course, I was almost the only one ever asked any questions. Afraid being the dummy in the class, I peered over the shoulders to my left, to my right, and in front of me; I noticed most of the classmates either have similar problems or even more problems than I did. But none of them ever asked any questions. Actually a few would eventually ask me for help. Hearing my questions (of what-ifs), one time the instructor suggested one should try the “what-ifs” oneself instead of asking. Another time he commented that questions would impede the progress of the class or his control of time in the class. Since he taught classes immediately before and after our class, there was no opportunity for anybody to ask questions after the class.
At the end of the last class, I went to shake his hands and thanked him. He then offered me some friendly (though in his 60's, the term “fatherly” may not be appropriate here) advice, “From your questions, I noticed your thinking is not as flexible as others. At your age, you should try to learn painting, calligraphy, or play with your grandchildren instead of learning computer programming. 唔要做傷腦筋的事啦!” Since there is no homework to turn in, no exams, and as long as you attend 75% of the classes, you would get a “網頁設計師證書” (for applying a new job?) with no questions asked, surmised only the dummies would expose their ignorance or stupidity asking any questions. Can you imaging what Tony Kwok would think should he call up the instructor for my reference to see if I am qualified?
Recently, I got two books, “Dreamweaver* CS3 for Dummies,” and “PHP & MySQL for Dummies.” May be I am reading to many books for dummies and have joint their ranks. I also found out plunging into the website design without really understanding the subtleties, I committed many dumb acts. This is a perfect example of the more you learn, the dumber you have become.
* Dreamweaver is a website design program.
go to the top
