So you've registered for a web design course and you have NO IDEA what you're doing. Sounds like a good plan! If I could offer any advice, it would be twofold. One, allow yourself time (preferably in the daylight hours) to experiment. Using programs like Photoshop or GIMP take time to understand and allowing yourself to get to know them is essential. The same goes for coding language. Understanding the various elements that go into even the simplest of web pages that can be built on complex code, can be time consuming. Get intimate with the lexicon.
Second, find yourself a quick-guide that suits your level and need. If you're the type of person who finds a book in front of you helpful, Jon Duckett's HTML&CSS: Design and Build Websites has helpful breakdowns of HTML and CSS that are accompanied by visuals to help you through the process. There are also a number of websites you can reference. On each page of this site, you'll find a few quick links on the right-hand side that complement the theme of the page.
Designing a website can be like jumping down the rabbit hole. Once you hop in, you can find yourself bleary eyed at 2 a.m. designing the next Facebook. Good luck!
