As I traverse to phase 2 as part of my curriculum, I want to take a moment to share some insights into the key aspects of Phase 1, the challenges faced, and the invaluable learning experiences gained.
Understanding Phase 1:
This beginner-friendly Phase, (as some might call it, unless you're a newbie like me who found it quite challenging)...primarily focuses on building proficiency in programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS. An introductory phase where students learn the basics of programming and web development. This phase not only sets the foundation for the rest of the course but it ensures that students have a solid understanding of key concepts before moving on to more challenging topics.
During phase 1 you learn about variables, data types, control structures (such as conditionals and loops), functions, and basic algorithms as well as learning to debug and error handling.
Labs that Define the Journey:
One of the highlights of this Phase consisted of various labs to test and enhance our coding skills. Each lab contributed to a comprehensive understanding and lets not forget, some confusion along the way. Let me guide you through this process that we gathered from GitHub:
First things first people fork and clone, fork and clone..got it?
Moving on next, you had to make sure to run "npm install" on VSC and then pass "npm test". Seems fairly easy right? But what do you do when all the tests are failing, that's the tricky part. I've got you covered. You want to make sure you read the directions, sometime the labs provide you with the setup, how nice! Whatever you do make sure you have your index.html, index.js folder that's where you'll be testing your skills and making sure it all passes. When in doubt, always make sure to use console.log to check your work. Once you got all the checkmarks feel free to submit your lab to codegrade, and bamm you just completed your first lab!
Challenges faced:
The journey wasn't always easy though when you're faced with challenges. When you're stuck looking at your coding wondering where did i go wrong? That's when you put your problem-solving skills to the test. How do I define the function? What is a callback? Does it need to receive a return? One notable challenge was mastering Javascript, which I knew was crucial. Keep in mind when you learn more about console log, this will be your bestfriend throughout this journey and through all the phases.
Insights gained:
When it seemed like it was getting more complex, there were days where I felt like giving up. It was a constant reminder to myself to never give up, always keep going. I started to believe in myself more and took advantage of the free tools Flatiron offered such as study session reviews, 1-on-1's with your instructor and Discord. If I ever felt stuck there were also technical coaches on standby. I had all the resources to succeed, so why give up now?
Conclusion:
As previously mentioned, Phase 1 of the Flatiron School curriculum is a transformative journey that guides students to new levels in their coding abilities. Through challenging labs, collaborative learning, and a deeper understanding of programming languages, students embrace the basic principles of software engineering.
Looking back, I am grateful for the challenges and obstacles that shaped my growth and the knowledge gained that paves the way for what's to come. Once it's all said and done the final product should look something like this:
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