I just lost everything because I forgot that
Ctrl+Backspace
on the AlphaSmart 3000 deletes everything after the cursor (instead
of performing a Windows-like delete, like on a Mac), so I will have
to recall the basic ideas of what I originally wanted to say...
Chapter 8 has a lot of information to look at and become familiar with, but not to memorize. In the real world, you would be looking up references if making a web site in bare HTML and CSS and with a static site generator for others who want a hassle free experience.
This is literally the second shortest code writing chapter. I would expect most people to finish this chapter (as in the exercises) between 30 minutes to 1 hour, if not even quicker.
Oh yes, try to make your tables accessible -- even if it is a bit tedious for the website author. It helps a bit.
There are these CSS structural pseudoclasses in tables. You can use these to make really fancy tables (specific rules for the first row, the last row, or odd/even rows). If you enjoyed partial differential equations, then conceptually you will like the rules here. It is almost like mathematical or high-level abstract mathematics, but the book never dwells on this for too long or reaches that. It is probably just to help the IT students along in most intended classrooms so that they can get COMPTIA+ certified or something.
This is also where parent and child elements are discussed (as in, it is somewhat important conceptually, while earlier it could be somewhat ignored without any loss of understanding) - it is supposed to reinforce the same concept when you administer actual OSes, such as remote Linux servers, which need parent and child processes to be watched or monitored - something among those lines.
This chapter on HTML tables is pretty straightforward. Don't sweat thing!
If you've made it to Chapter 8, then you'll make it to the end of this course just fine.
The JavaJam assignment could be done within 30 minutes.
Just be careful when constructing the table. Drawing the table out and sketching out an HTML skeleton outline by hand will help with your accuracy of writing the table.
Otherwise, the hardest part will be putting in the accessibility tags into the table.