New Coursera Specialization – Web Applications For Everybody

Now that we are well into the rollout of the Python 3.0 version of Python for Everybody. It is a good time to let you know about our next big thing beyond PY4E.

We are preparing a new specialization called “Web Applications for Everybody” (WA4E) that covers HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript and JQuery to develop web applications. WA4E assumes that you have a basic understanding of programming at least through Chapter 10 of Python for Everybody (Course #1 and #2 in the Specialization).

We teach both back end and front-end Web Application development. There are extensive auto-graders just like in PY4E and all of the course material is freely reusable under Creative Commons so you can use the material to teach your own classes if you like. There is a preview web site at www.wa4e.com where you can get a sense of what will be contained in the specialization.

We expect that the specialization will be available for registration in a few weeks and the first session should be starting by October 1 (subject to change).

If you have completed Python For Everybody and want to prepare for the new Web Applications for Everybody (WA4E) specialization, I highly recommend that you take Colleen van Lent’s Web Design for Everybody (WD4E).

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/web-design

Colleen and I have been planning a coordinated track of three specializations that can take you from knowing no programming at all through being ready to work as an entry level web developer. It has taken us two years to cover this this multi-specialization curriculum for beginning developers:

Internet History, Technology, and Security (IHTS)
Python for Everybody (PY4E)
Web Design for Everybody (WD4E)
– Web Applications for Everybody (WA4E)

Colleen and I are both personally committed to making technology education available to anyone who wants to put in the time and effort.

I will do a quick review/summary of HTML and CSS at the beginning of the WA4E specialization but I highly recommend taking Colleen’s WD4E specialization since she covers essential front-end skills like UI layout, responsive design and accessibility. If you want to valuable as a professional web developer, you should be able to build solid front-end (Colleen’s WD4E) code and solid back-end (WA4E) code.

I need to thank all of the people who have helped make this new specialization possible. Building the new specialization has been very much a team effort including the staff at the University of Michigan, the current mentors in Python for Everybody, and the staff at Coursera. It is an honor to work with such a talented and dedicated team.

Stay tuned for further announcements and I hope to see you online.