Carlos Rymer, carlos.rymer@gmail.com Samuel Clavijo, sclavijo@ucboe.us
The goal of this course is to expose students to the fundamentals of web development. This is a continuation of the Fall 2020 course that focused on HTML and CSS. In this course, students are introduced to Javascript, a building block of modern web development. The course is also geared towards providing an introduction into the discipline of software engineering, with a particular focus on leveraging industry best practices and working standards. By the end of this course, students will be able to build simple, static web applications and have a broad understanding about the impact software has had on the world and the opportunities that lie ahead from a career perspective.
As part of each lesson, we will recommend reading materials, videos, and other resources useful to maximizing learning as part of the program. For further advanced reading, we recommend the following texts:
- HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites, by Jon Duckett
- CSS In Depth, by Keith J. Grant
- You Don’t Know JS: The Series, by Kyle Simpson
- Learn web development, by Mozilla
- Linux-based computer with internet connection (DSL, LAN, or cable connection desirable) and terminal sudo access
- Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, or similar software program
- Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser
This is a hands-on course comprising lectures and workshops. Lectures will be held in the first half of each 3-hour class and will focus on core concepts. They will be recorded for future reference. The second half of the class will comprise hands-on workshops where students will put to practice key concepts learned during the lectures. Each class will be accompanied with light assignments to be completed in anticipation of the following class. All course activities and resources will be shared via Google Classroom. As part of the course, students will also be expected to work in groups of five to build a product in collaboration with a local organization. Products will be demoed during the last week of the course.
Important Note: This syllabus, along with course assignments and due dates, is subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check our weekly email updates and announcements for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be clearly noted in course announcements.
Important Note: Refer to the course calendar that will be provided for specific meeting dates and times. Activity and assignment details will be explained in detail within each week's corresponding learning module. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor.
| Week | Topic | Required Readings | Class Date |
| 1 | Intro to JavaScript | What is JavaScript? A first splash into JavaScript | Jan. 10 |
| 2 | Variables & Types | Storing the information you need | Jan. 17 |
| 3 | Control Flow | Making decisions in your code Looping code | Jan. 24 |
| 4 | Functions | Functions - reusable blocks of code Function return values Introduction to events | Jan. 31 |
| 5 | Classes & Inheritance | Inheritance in JavaScript | Feb. 7 |
| MID-WINTER RECESS | MID-WINTER RECESS | MID-WINTER RECESS | MID-WINTER RECESS |
| 6 | DOM Manipulation & Interactions | Manipulating documents | Feb. 21 |
| 7 | Intro to Node.js | Server-Side Rendering | Feb. 28 |
| 8 | Node.js APIs | Getting Started with Next.js | Mar. 7 |
| 9 | Scaffolding an Application | Asynchronous JavaScript | Mar. 14 |
| 10 | JavaScript Advanced Topics: Asynchronous Programming Part 2 | Fetch API | Mar. 21 |
| SPRING RECESS | SPRING RECESS | SPRING RECESS | SPRING RECESS |
| 11 | JavaScript Advanced Topics: React Basics | Intro to React | Apr. 11 |
| 12 | JavaScript Advanced Topics: React Routing | Getting started with React Router | Apr. 18 |
| 13 | JavaScript Advanced Topics: React Components | Components and Props | Apr. 25 |
| 14 | Project Support | May 2 | |
| 15 | Project Support | May 8 | |
| 16 | Project Demos | May 15 |
Student grades will be allocated according to overall performance and engagement with the course. The following table summarizes how grades will be allocated for the course.
| Allocation | Description | Points |
| Attendance | Attendance to all lectures and workshops. | 20 |
| Exercises | Completion and submission of exercises, including those completed in groups. | 30 |
| Pop Quizzes | A total of six (6) pop quizzes will be held throughout the course at random. The lowest scoring quiz will be dropped. | 10 |
| Final Project | The project to be built in groups for your chosen local organization. | 40 |
Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—there will be no make up assignments or quizzes, or late work accepted without a serious and compelling reason and instructor approval.
Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows:
| Letter Grade | Percentage | Performance |
| A | 90-100% | Excellent Work |
| B | 80-89% | Good Work |
| C | 70-79% | Average Work |
| D | 60-69% | Poor Work |
| F | 0-59% | Failing Work |
Students are expected to attend all lectures and workshop sessions. They are also expected to be highly engaged by asking questions when they’re unclear about something or are curious about something they’re interested in. If students miss to attend sessions for more than two weeks without an acceptable reason, they will be automatically dropped from the course.
If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that we can help you find a solution.
All assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via personal GitHub accounts to be set up separately following instructor instructions unless otherwise instructed. Assignments must be submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from the instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances.
If you have a disability and would like to request accommodations, please contact the instructor during the first week of the semester so that your accommodations may be provided in a timely manner.