What you will study
Over the last few years the internet and the World Wide Web have provided the basis for the development of a range of strategic business solutions.
As web technologies have entered the mainstream of IT development, a wide range of applications in sectors such as marketing, selling, purchasing, banking and publishing have been deployed, positioning the Web in the relationship between providers and users.
This module starts with a focus on the foundations of web applications, including protocols, standards and content handling. It builds on these by exploring application architectures, components and alternative application designs before considering how applications and content can be made more dynamic and mobile.
The module is made up of four blocks and a project.
Block 1 Foundations of web technology
The first block covers the basic technologies on which the Web is founded. Aspects covered include: historic development of the Web; ‘architecture’ and basic client server architecture; protocols such as HTTP; content markup (HTML, CSS, XML) and issues of accessibility and usability; standards and standardisation organisations (W3C, Internet working group); and security (firewalls, HTTPS, certificates).
This block of the module covers all of the basic foundations on which the remainder of the module builds.
Block 2 Web architectures
After examining the different approaches to web application architecture, Block 2 focuses on how the components of the client-server architecture can deliver dynamic content to web pages.
This block covers web application architectures, including cloud technology; server and client side components (web browsers, databases) and programming languages (JavaScript, PHP and SQL).
While this block considers a range of programming languages and their roles in developing applications, it does not teach programming and you are expected to have already acquired these skills.
This block includes both JavaScript and PHP programming activities. All the code required to produce a simple web application is provided and explained, but you should be prepared to utilise and adapt the examples in simple ways.
Block 3 Mobile content
Block 3 examines the trend toward more portable content and content customisation and also explores mobile content and applications. It considers aspects such as Web 2, content manipulation and approaches to delivering content to mobile devices. You will also undertake the development of a simple mobile application.
Block 4 Developing applications
The final block explores how applications are planned, designed and developed by IT professionals, examining project planning, application design, development environments and tools as well as application deployment and maintenance.
Project
At the end of the module, you will carry out a substantial project applying the skills and techniques from each block.
Vocational relevance
The module helps develop important skills which are particularly relevant to the workplace, such as written communication skills, information literacy, independent learning and critical analysis.
In an IT context the module will provide practitioners with relevant experience, skills and insight into a range of important aspects, such as the source and appropriate use of standards, appreciation of the application life cycle from design to decommissioning, and the range of current approaches to web application design and implementation.