Web Developer Program

Tips for Success

So you want to become a web designer. Are you wondering where to begin? Moraine Park Technical College offers a comprehensive Web Development Program that will give you a great start in the right direction. Here are some helpful tips to be a success before you register and after you have gotten started with your courses.

 

Before you register:

• Meet with a Moraine Park Web Developer Program advisor to discuss your goals, the time you have available to put towards your studies, course options such as online or classroom and to plan your curriculum.
• Register early as classes fill up quickly.
• Make sure that you read the course descriptions for all of the courses that you are planning to take. They contain valuable information regarding pre-requisites, required software, a course explanation and required books.
• If there is a computer skill that you are lacking in, Moraine Park offers basic computer courses to help you get prepared. 
• Moraine Park has available to prospective and current students a Career Center that offers career assessments and workshops, visual resources, current printed materials, computer programs and Career Net.
• Thinking of taking courses online?
  1. Visit the �Online Course?link found on Moraine Park�s home page on the website. It has links to valuable resources specifically for online students.
  2. Review the online check list. This is a tool that will help you assist you in determining your readiness for taking an online course.
  3. Does your computer have the technical requirements necessary to take a course online?  You can also check this out by clicking on the �System Requirements?on this page. 

 

After you register:

• Acquire all of the required material before the course begins, especially if you are taking a course online. It is important to be ready to start when classes begin and is always hard to catch up once you have fallen behind.

 

After classes have started:

• Set aside a certain amount of time each day for course work.
• Develop good study habits.
• Ask questions if there is something that you don�t understand. It is always better to clarify what work is expected with a particular assignment rather than complete it incorrectly and then have to start from scratch.
• Get to know your classmates and your instructor as they can be your best source for advice and resources.
• Moraine Tech has many valuable resources available to students:
  1. Moraine Park web site http://www.morainepark.edu/current/
  2. Moraine Park Library   http://www.morainepark.edu/services/library/
  3. Career Center   http://www.morainepark.edu/services/student/career.shtml

 

Online Coursework - Online course work has advantages for many students but also comes with its own set of challenges.

• Put a shortcut to the online login page on your desktop or in a place convenient for you. It will save you time when going online to do course work. You must login every time you visit.
• Remember your login and password. Write it down in a safe place where you will remember its location.
• Check your email every day. It is the communication tool of choice for many instructors and classmates.
• Read the syllabus for each course that you are taking online and ask your instructor if there is anything that is not clear to you.
• Visit each courses page daily. There are often announcements regarding the coursework from your instructor.
• Do all the activities that are outlined for you. They may seem time consuming but will help you with your assessments.
• Read and follow all requirements on the scoring guide for each assessment. It is easy to miss out on points if you miss a requirement that is listed.
• Participate in discussions even if they are not required. You may find helpful information there from your classmates and it is a way to get to know them. You are not in a traditional classroom setting.
• Save and backup all of your work. A portfolio is required for graduation from this program. You never know when you will need to go back and review previous work from an earlier class taken.
• Devote a certain amount of time to each course each week, depending on your schedule. Because you are not in a traditional classroom setting, it is easy to become distant and distracted from the coursework.  You may easily fall behind.
• There are team projects in many of the courses. It is important to become a great communicator as you will be working with individuals that may not be in close proximity to your location.
• Each course builds on another course. Keep your past textbooks even though you may be tempted to have the bookstore purchase them back. They will help you with current studies and may be a valuable resource to you once you graduate and have that �dream job?
• There may be times when you become frustrated with a particular course or assignment. You are never really alone in this. There are many resources available to you even though you are not on campus.

 

Miscellaneous Tips

• Surf the web for ideas and to keep up to date on current web trends. You are embarking on a career that is ever changing and evolving. It will prepare you for when you finish the program
• Web development encompasses more than just design. For those of you who are more design-focused, the technical courses may be a little harder for you to comprehend. Don�t give up on them. They are important to the full aspect of web development.
• Most importantly, keep a sense of humor. Have fun with the course work.

 

The handbook is here to inform you about policies and procedures of Moraine Park Technical College. It also has general and information about the college along with student services information. For a hard copy of the handbook they may be located in Moraine Park bookstores or in a Student Services Office.