Web applications: design, development and management
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| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This twelve-week course is the first of six that together make up the Certificate in Web Applications Development. It explores questions and issues surrounding technical choice: from the performance of the client-server architecture of the World Wide Web, to the various technical standards and recommendations for the creation and distribution of information. The course also covers issues related to usability and accessibility, navigation, site structure, and information architecture. By the end of the course, you should be a confident user of XHTML and CSS. There will be an online forum where you can ask for help and advice.
Course content
The course starts with an exploration of core protocols that underpin the basic client-server model of the World Wide Web, leading to consideration of the various technical standards and recommendations that determine the tools and techniques employed for the creation and deployment of digital information. The course provides a thorough grounding in the use of XHTML elements and attributes for the creation of static content and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) style rules to control presentation. The course also examines the technical requirements for usability and accessibility and explores how different presentational structures have evolved to meet the requirements of specific applications.
Using a combination of course website, a book, electronic guides and course forums, you will study a range of techniques for creating static web pages comprising text, images, image maps, hyperlinks, tables, frames, and forms. This will provide the knowledge and skills essential for the other Certificate courses. You will be supported by an intensively moderated online forum where you can ask for help and advice on any aspect of the course and share your experiences with other students.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- relate the history of the internet and the WWW and its impact on the deployment of distributed applications.
- explain the client/server model of the WWW and the associated protocols.
- discuss the growth of the internet and examine its impact on personal communication and information resources.
- evaluate a range of web applications in terms of their accessibility, usability and structure.
- create a plan for a website demonstrating:
design, structure and navigation
the development of usable and accessible content
the use of a variety of XHTML tags and CSS style rules to create static web pages.
- combine the above concepts and skills to create a multi-page website incorporating multi-level text, images, and links.
Please note that the teaching material and assignments for this course are available from the course website three weeks before you need to use them. Therefore, if your circumstances do not allow you to study over the whole 12 weeks please think closely before registering for this course.
Entry
The course will appeal to a wide variety of people, for example:
- those who have already taken the plunge into computing and have some experience of the internet and email
- those who would like to learn more about the broad issues associated with the development of a web application.
You need to be a fairly confident computer user, able to install software, use ‘Office’ software, browse the internet and produce simple web pages. If you don’t feel comfortable with this, you may want to take an introductory computing course first.
This is a Level 2 course and as such places certain academic requirements on its students. For example you need to be able to complete a 3000-word report at the end of the course with little help or advice; if you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. We strongly advise against studying two or more courses at the same time.
Visit the dedicated website to learn more about the details of the Certificate in Web Applications Development.
Qualifications
TT280 is a compulsory course in our
The Certificate in Web Applications Development comprises of six courses. If you wish to complete all six courses in order to obtain the Certificate, you should be aware that this Programme is coming to an end and you should plan to include these courses in your study plan in the near future. See the qualification description for details.
TT280 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change. You should think carefully about fitting 10 points into a degree that consists mostly of 30-point and 60-point courses.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course requires extensive use of a computer and the internet and electronic communications. If you use special hardware or software you must, well before the course begins, find out whether it will work with the course software. Many of the course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Access to the course website; Web Certificate DVD-ROM containing specialist software and multiple web browsers; Online Applications CD-ROM which includes FirstClass email and conferencing which will allow you to take part in a single/national online forum; a book: Principles of Web Design. By Joel Sklar.
You will need
You should be prepared to spend significant amounts of time online (at least three hours a week). This may mean extra charges to your telephone bill unless you have a package which provides unlimited access to the internet.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
The course is presented entirely online. You will not have an individual tutor, but you can use the forums to ask for help and advice about any aspect of the course. The forums will be moderated by experienced tutors.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your computer-marked assignments (CMAs). The written end-of-course assessment (ECA) must also be submitted electronically.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
We expect this course to be available twice a year, in February and October.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT.
Study explained
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- Level
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- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I can recommend this course for anyone in a similar situation to myself, namely someone with a background in computing ...
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I took this course to help me understand web work for a foundation I was working with at the time. ...
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