Skillcrush

The Pros are learning new skills to bet a better career. The program accommodates to do different ways people learn with visuals -Video and documents to read. The program also provides resources to strengthen your skill set. Cons - I wish there was more... Read More one on one feed back via video for support.

I am enjoying the Web Designer Blueprint very much. I am a print designer looking to move into the digital world. This course is the perfect answer for obtaining these new skills, build onto my portfolio and add to my resume. The course has a light, easy,... Read More breezy approach – but you walk away with a ton. The industry standard resources are one of my favorite. Cheat sheets, web link go to's are just the beginning. My attention is never lost while tackling a lesson because they are quick and to the point. I think the instructors are great teachers and the community is very supportive. I am so pleased I just purchased the Visual Designer course as well!

Love that it's online & easily accessible when I want. I can work ahead as needed / interested or take a day off if I'm too busy. The info is broken down into the smallest trainable units which is the best way to learn new stuff. It's approachable & well... Read More thought out. The only thing I'd like is links to all of the resources in one, easy to find location.

I was enrolled in the Front End Developer Blue Print, the very first time they offered it. The classed inside the Blue Print were:
HTML & CSS
Responsive Web Development
Git, Github, and the Command Line
JavaScript & jQuery
The only real complaint I had was... Read More that there needed to be more of a bridge between HTML & CSS and Responsive Web Development. However, as soon as that opinion was voiced a few times the teachers and the administration quickly opened a space for our feedback so they could improve the class going forward. I was very impressed by this as it shows a real commitment to their students!
I found the layout of the class and the interactive MightyBell circle to be engaging and helpful, it was nice to feel connected to fellow students and teachers alike. I also enjoyed the short videos in each lesson, they were engaging and accessible, and short enough to keep your attention and give you information in small chunks. I also found the short quizzes and interactive projects within the lesson very helpful!
I don't know that Skillcrush would be the right fit for you if you already have coding experience, but for a complete newbie like myself it was great! I especially enjoyed the blog posts packed with helpful info, the master classes taught by visiting experts, and little tidbits of career advice tossed in! I felt that the people who run and teach at Skillcrush really cared for their students and genuinely wanted them to succeed. I enjoyed this class so much I signed up for two more, to really build my skill set!

This review is for skillcrush's Freelance Developer Blueprint. I am currently taking this blueprint and have about a month left in the course. Taking this course has been one of the best decisions I have made.

I have over 15 years of experience in Java,... Read More C, C++ programming. I wanted to learn web development and self hosted wordpress development. I was not only looking to learn but also be part of an active, supportive community. And that's exactly what skillcrush offers.

The blueprint is split into different modules and some of the modules were a refresher for me and I liked that I got to relearn and absorb the concepts even more thoroughly. It was when something broke while doing a project that I realized that even though I had learnt those concepts, there were things I had to relearn in order to fix the issues. I'm a big fan of breaking code now to see how to solve it.

My favorite module in this blueprint is the one I am completing which is 203 and is challenging with intermediate to advanced concepts. This course was worth its weight in gold for just that module. I have been supplementing my web development and wordpress learning with other free and paid resources and realized the combination of theory with practical knowledge would not have been achieved as fast if I had not taken this course. I wish they had one more month of module similar to 203. I would pay extra for that.

What makes skillcrush unique for me is their office hours and how fast the instructors respond to questions on the mightybell forum. I like how organized the forums are for each lesson of the day. I learnt a lot during the office hours and also got to interact with students and the instructors. That's the part I don't like about online courses where the forums posts can get overwhelming or there is very little interaction. Having that group interaction during office hours made learning fun.

I could have asked for a refund or given up when I found the first month easy and I am so glad I did not. What I know now about wordpress compared to 2 months ago is exponential. I know I keep repeating module 203, but that module brought it all together for me.

You get what you put into anything in life and that includes learning. It took me a while to become active on the mightybell platform. And once I did, I realized that by asking questions or helping other students, I was learning a lot too. I also loved the fact that each day, there is a separate post on the mightybell forum for the lesson and project of the day where students and instructors interact. So if I am behind or if I want to go back to that lesson weeks later, I don't have to search for specific keywords, I just go to the lesson page. Mightybell platform did take some getting used to and I am told they might be transitioning to another platform.

I also love the fact that each day's lesson is manageable and there is a video portion to the lesson in addition to the written portion. And there are downloadable cheatsheets for most of the concepts learnt. Being a visual learner, this is really helpful. I can't wait to take another course with them. I do wish they had more advanced course offerings. If I was just looking to learn a specific topic deeply, I could go elsewhere but the combination of learning and amazing instructors who respond so quickly to questions is what will keep me with skillcrush.

And finally, it is a women friendly environment. I am not sure if women learn differently but I never felt more at home taking an online course than with skillcrush.

Skillcrush has been a game changer for me. I'm learning so much each day! Not only do they make it fun, they have a good mix of practical application and reading exercises that make sure you are able to learn whatever your learning style may be. I don't... Read More realize how much I'm retaining until there is a review and I surprise myself by how easily the answers come to me. Their methods work!

I will caution you not to get too far behind. That is me right now and I am feeling the pressure to catch up. The lessons are easily done each day if you can make it a priority. Some days are light and others feel pretty heavy. They have breaks between different parts of the classes that are helpful for catching up if you are behind. The cost might seem a little steep but compared to other programs is actually not to bad.

There are hundreds of places to learn how to code online, but none of them take the time to help you learn. Yes, everyone has resources, but isn't it nice to talk to someone who understands. They have all been there before and are willing to tell you... Read More exactly how it is without all the fluff. Their positivity is infectious. Skillcrush support and teachers have all earned their A+

I am currently taking the Front End Developer Blueprint and plan on taking their newest blueprint, Visual Designer. I have been learning how to code for the past few months and Skillcrush has made it very easy and interesting to learn. It also helps to... Read More have a curriculum with a schedule and feedback on coursework. I have taken other courses for Front End and this has been the most concise for me. You can definitely get a new career with these courses!

For those that want the bottom line: I just completed the Web Designer Blueprint and was EXTREMELY SATISFIED with my experience. Plan on taking additional Blueprints.

For those that appreciate more details: I researched (and took) a few different programming... Read More courses over the years. Skillcrush is “head and shoulders” above any that I have come across. Granted, different schools are suited for different individuals, but I found that the overall experience with Skillcrush fits me best.

If you are looking for a learning experience in which everyone is friendly and responsive (Skillcrush is), helpful and knowledgable (Skillcrush is), genuine and fun (Skillcrush is)…then I encourage you to give this online school a chance.

As I mentioned, my first Blueprint was a Web Designer course. Although I have some experience in coding, this Blueprint provided valuable training/input on the overall design process (which is what I needed to learn). This allows me to process things a little more holistically when working on a project.

The daily classes are concise enough such that you are able to go through them while still having time to practice the material without feeling overwhelmed. Adda’s daily course videos are so personable that you think she is sitting across your desk…she does an amazing job adding levity to the material while also being very informative.

The Skillcrush team has always been responsive whenever I needed feedback and/or was stuck on a problem. They also promote a friendly, collaborative atmosphere that allow you to work with others in your class (great way to start your networking!)

Feeling stuck and/or dealing with an unexpected life event? Skillcrush will work with you on that. I needed to move during the middle of a Blueprint course and was able to pause the class for a month.

Some other items that cannot be understated; the blogs and reading material provided are *amazing and helpful* resources, the master class videos provide more in-depth details on various topics, and Skillcrush has “webinar summits” with key people in the industry that provide their own experiences.

That said, time to prepare for my next Blueprint :)

Skillcrush is all "pro!" In 2005 I was looking at going back to school because I wanted to update some of my artistic skills and follow a new career. At that time I did not know a lot about coding but I had a love for good design and typography in print... Read More and on the web. I went the traditional route to an art and design school and graduated early with a degree and some design experience but not enough that made me feel confident in coding sites. Then at the same time I graduated there was the crash in 2008 and I did not have enough skills to get a job since I was competing with so many people who had more skills than I. I ended up helping start a fine art production company and as the administrator at the company I had to create all of the online social media and marketing materials and put that art/design degree to good use. Fast forward to 2015, after successfully launching that art company, I always wanted to go back into web design/development and really give coding a shot. The Blueprints at Skill Crush have helped me re-familiarize myself with current UX and UI trends and best practices as well as a better and more in depth explanation of basic coding languages. It is more fun and less intimidating than I thought it would be. I also really appreciated that it is very empowering to women and I could learn at my own pace. The instructors and the staff are always very helpful, up to date, and knowledgeable and answered any of my concerns or questions very quickly.

My only con" would be that I wish there was more emphasis on one on one job coaching/counseling. There is a section of very informative articles and blog tips that you can search for on job stuff on their website. Also articles are sent regularly to your inbox or posted on Facebook and there is a chat person from the school you can talk to at anytime on their site. This "job help" educational area is always a tough one for any online school and even for onsite schools. My own onsite school was dismal at this job help stuff. Recently I found out that Skillcrush is working on this area for job help and is continually expanding and updating their efforts and reviewing their courses to address this need.

I have had such a good experience with Skillcrush over all. The best advice I ever got out of any schooling was, "You get out of it what you put into it." Happily I can say with Skillcrush I have gotten so much out of it and am very grateful for choosing to learn with Skillcrush. I plan on continuing to attend more Blueprints to expand my tech career. I can't wait to see where I land with all the new skills I have earned and learned!!