Introduction to HTML5

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/html

Introduction

# Course Review: Introduction to HTML5 on Coursera In today's digital age, the ability to create and understand websites is an invaluable skill. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur looking to establish your online presence or an inquisitive individual wanting to demystify how webpages are constructed, the Coursera course "Introduction to HTML5" is a fantastic choice for beginners. ## Course Overview The course is designed for those new to web development, providing a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical coding skills. While many resources exist for learning web design, they often require prior experience. This course levels the playing field by catering to novices who are eager to understand the intricacies of web creation. ### What You'll Learn The course is structured over three weeks, each focusing on critical aspects of web development: #### Week One: Learning About the Web This initial week unravels the complexities of the Internet. You will learn about what happens behind the scenes when a URL is typed into a browser and gain insights into what HTML5 is, as well as the evolution of HTML through its earlier versions. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for practical coding in the weeks to follow. #### Week Two: Structure of a Web Page Diving into the hands-on part of the course, this week emphasizes the importance of coding practice. You will be introduced to various HTML tags and attributes, essential for building web pages. The course encourages experimentation and learning through trial and error, reinforcing the idea that failing is a part of learning. By the end of this week, you will have practiced creating content with text, links, images, tables, and even embedding multimedia such as audio and video! #### Week Three: Hosting and Accessibility The final week focuses on what to do after you’ve created a webpage. You will learn critical concepts such as validation and accessibility, essential for ensuring that your web pages are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Moreover, you will be introduced to various hosting options, enabling you to take your work from the development phase to live on the Internet. ## Pros of the Course 1. **Beginner-Friendly**: The course starts with the basics, making it accessible to those with no prior coding experience. 2. **Hands-On Practice**: It emphasizes practical learning through coding exercises, ensuring that you not only learn the theory but also apply it effectively. 3. **Comprehensive Coverage**: The course covers a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of HTML5 to essential concepts like accessibility, which is often overlooked in other courses. 4. **Helpful Resources**: It utilizes Shay Howe's online textbook as a reference, providing solid additional material for review and reinforcement of concepts. ## Cons of the Course 1. **Fast-Paced**: For absolute beginners, the transition from theory to coding might feel rapid. Participants are encouraged to learn and practice independently, which could be overwhelming for some. 2. **Limited Depth on Advanced Topics**: As an introductory course, it touches briefly on many subjects without delving deeply into more advanced web development concepts. ## Who Should Take This Course? This course is highly recommended for individuals who are new to web development and seek to understand HTML5. Whether you're a student, a professional pivoting careers, or an entrepreneur wanting to create a personal website, this course is a stepping stone into the world of web design and coding. ## Conclusion and Recommendation Overall, "Introduction to HTML5" is an excellent course that successfully breaks down barriers for beginners entering the web development space. Its practical approach, thorough content, and supportive resources make it an invaluable asset for learners at the start of their coding journey. If you're looking to build a solid foundation in web development and gain confidence in your coding abilities, this course on Coursera should absolutely be on your radar! Happy coding!

Syllabus

Week One: Learning About the Web

This week we will uncover the "mystery" behind the Internet. What happens when you type a URL into your browser so that a webpage magically appears? What is HTML5 and what happened to HTML 1 - 4? We will also cover some practical concepts that you need to master before you begin coding your own pages.

This week you will need to take a deep breath and jump into coding. I will cover a large number of HTML tags, but it is important that you do more than just listen to these video and read the text book material. You need to practice (and fail!) in order to learn. Believe it or not, once you master the basic idea of using tags and attributes you will know everything you need to use any HTML5 tag. The page may not look the way you want it to look yet, but you will be able to use text, links, images, tables, and even music and videos! If you want to refer to a textbook this week for reinforcement of concepts, we will be using the Shay Howe online textbook as a reference. I will include links after the lectures, but some students prefer to read before the videos. (My preferred approach is to read/watch/read again.)

Okay, you created a file...what now? This week we will begin by covering the important but often overlooked concepts of validation and accessibility. Did you follow the DOM structure when you created your page? Did you use semantic tags to make sure that page viewers can access all of the information, even if they have physical or cognitive disabilities? This is knowledge you can use if you would like to pursue a career as a web accessibility specialist. Finally I will briefly cover the steps needed to post your site to the web if you decide to use something other than Replit. There are many free and paid services that you can use to get your work off your computer and on to the Internet.