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Web technologies

Qualification dates
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The World Wide Web continues to provide a foundation for developing increasingly influential and strategic technologies, supporting applications and services in all sectors. This module gives an insight into technologies, architectures, standards, languages and frameworks and an understanding of approaches to more dynamic content. It also demonstrates how to analyse requirements, and plan, design, implement and test various applications. While this module considers a range of programming languages and their roles in developing web applications, it doesn’t teach programming – you must already have basic programming skills.

What you will study

Block 1: Web foundations
This block provides a grounding in web technologies, enabling you to appreciate what’s going on ‘behind the scenes’ when interacting with websites and web applications. It introduces the basic technologies on which the Web is founded, including the historical development of the Web, protocols, standards, responsive design and issues of accessibility and usability.

Block 2: Interactive web
The second block expands the view of the web to include the architectures, theories, and technical elements that underpin the modern, interactive web and web applications. It looks at the tools, libraries and frameworks used to build this interactive web, and broader aspects such as performance, resilience, and accessibility.

Block 3: Developing applications
The final block steps back from the details of application development to look at some of the broader issues of managing a web application through its life cycle. It explores how IT professionals plan, design and develop applications, examining project planning, design, testing, deployment and maintenance.

Project
At the end of the module, you’ll carry out a substantial project applying skills and techniques from each block.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.

At The Open University, we believe education should be open to all, so we provide high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

Even though there are no entry requirements, you’ll need an appropriate knowledge of IT obtained through any of the following:

  • OU level 1 study.
  • Equivalent work at another university.
  • Experience as an IT professional.

You must be familiar with basic programming concepts (conditionals, loops, functions, arrays, etc.) and writing small programs in a language such as Java, Python, PHP or JavaScript.

Preparatory work

We recommend you’ve completed:

If you have no programming experience, we strongly recommend completing the TM252 programming boot camp we run before the module.

What's included

You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • course-specific module materials
  • audio and video content
  • assignment details and submission section
  • online tutorial access.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

  • marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve
  • guiding you to additional learning resources
  • providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
  • facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying TM252 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

Future availability

Web technologies (TM252) starts once a year – in February.

This page describes the module that will start in February 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in February 2029.

Course work includes:

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment