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Week 1: Course Overview, Intro to Web Development
In this lesson we'll learn what this course is about and how you'll
be evaluated, and briefly discuss how it fits into the rest of your
program. Then we'll learn about web development: The client-server
model, how we develop web applications, the structure of a typical
web site/application, and how we use progressive enhancement to
design and develop sites/applications that are accessible and
usable on different devices.
Note
It's totally normal at this level to encounter words and technical
terms that you're unfamiliar with. Don't skip these! Part of your
learning process at the college is to broaden your vocabulary, not
limit yourself only to words you already know. Use resources to
look up the meanings of words you're not familiar with and write down the
definitions in your own words so that you won't forget. Discuss the
meanings with your classmates. You can even ask your teacher for help
defining words and terminology, and the smaller details (or nuances)
of their meanings.
TechTerms.com
Techopedia: Technology Dictionary
Merriam-Webster Dictionay is my
favourite online dictionary because they also have a thesaurus and fun word
games and puzzles.
Of course, you can also just go to Google and type "define: " in the search
bar followed by the word you want to understand!
Prerequisites
It is assumed that you are already familiar with the concept
of files and folders/directories, and that you know how to manage
your files and organize them into folders/directories (including
creating directories, copying/moving files, etc). If you are
unfamiliar with these things or need a refresher, watch the following
videos:
Course Overview
Notes
- Class Plan
- Everything you
need to know about the course is here - the calendar, all
of the course and classroom policies, how you are evaluated,
any tools/software you need, etc. Read everything. If
you have any questions about any of that material, ASK ME.
- HTML vs. CSS Demo -
this will be used for an in-class demonstration.
Intro to Web Development
Notes
References
Homework
- Complete this week's worksheet. Note that worksheets can
be completed during class or after class. They can be completed
using your own lecture notes or from the provided
materials. Worksheets are not directly graded, but the questions
might appear on exams and other evaluations. Ask the professor
if you would like feedback on your worksheet (you must make an
attempt on the worksheet in order to receive feedback).
- Watch What is the Internet?,
The Internet: Packets, Routing, and
Reliability
- Watch How the Web Works
- Watch The Web is Not the Net
- Watch Lecture 1: Hardware -
Understanding
Computers and the Internet (the first of a series of
excellent lectures about how computers work)
- Answer the following questions where you take your
class notes (form your answers using YOUR OWN WORDS; you might have
to search for answers in the resources above).
Feel free to DISCUSS the answers with your classmates online.
- What is a computing device? What is a computer language?
What types of computer languages are there?
- How do you organize your files on your computer?
What is a file? What is a directory? What is a folder?
- What is font-end and back-end development?
What is programming? What is development?
- How does the Internet work? Where is the Internet?
- What is the Client/Server model?
- Why do we need to communicate effectively with both computing
devices and human users?
- What are standards? Why are they important?
- What is an IDE, what is it used for?