FREE3 Weeks

FOUNDATION

A Free Introduction to the Web and JavaScript

What you can do at the end

You understand how the web works, can build a responsive web page, add logic to it with JavaScript, and put it online with Git and GitHub.

How this course ends

A friendly session with a mentor. You show what you built, explain how it works, and talk about one problem you solved along the way.

Overview

Foundation is a free introduction to programming. It is for anyone who wants to find out whether coding is right for them before they commit, especially if you come from a non-IT or non-computer background. You learn how the web works, build your first web pages, write your first JavaScript, and put your first project online. It is self-paced over about three weeks, with video lessons and group mentoring. Foundation is optional: if you are already sure, you can join Core directly.

Modules and topics covered

1Week 1: How the Web Works, and Your Toolchain

Every bug you will ever debug starts with knowing what happens between a click and a response.

The Client-Server Model
HTTP Requests & Responses
The Browser Rendering Pipeline
VS Code Setup
Git: Staging vs Committing
Semantic, Accessible HTML

2Week 2: Layout You Can Control

Layout problems are the most common early frustration. Learning to fix them yourself builds real confidence.

The Box Model
The Cascade & Specificity
Flexbox
CSS Grid
Responsive Layout Design

3Week 3: Making a Static Page Think

This is the first time your code decides something. It is the root of all programming logic.

Variables & Scope
Truthy/Falsy & Type Coercion
Conditionals & Loops
Functions & the Call Stack
The DOM API
Event Handling & Bubbling

4Week 4: Put It Online, and Meet the AI Tools

You finish a complete project and put it online for anyone to use.

Building Your First Project
Git Branching & Pull Requests
Resolving Merge Conflicts
AI-Assisted Coding
Deploying to GitHub Pages

Technologies covered

HTML5CSS3JavaScriptThe DOMGitGitHubGitHub PagesChrome DevToolsVS CodeChatGPT / Gemini / Claude