Web Design for Beginners is a new series of practical workshops providing you with the skills and knowledge to understand how the web works, master the basics of HTML, CSS and Javascript as well as build a website from scratch or modify an existing site.
Open to all LSE students and staff, these workshops are ideal for anyone who wants to learn about website coding and create an online presence.
To find out more and to book a workshop, see our range of session topics below:
Pre-requisites: None
How the Web Works introduces students to the key technologies, languages, and protocols that make the Internet work through an interactive game and quiz. This course is ideal for anyone interested in understanding more about the internet, or who is interested in creating a new site or modifying an existing site with HTML, CSS and/or JavaScript.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Identify some of the key technologies of the Internet and how they interact, including major communication protocols, physical hardware required, and the major technologies involved
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Explain the purpose of the key web development languages, including HTML5,CSS, JavaScript
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Link the key technologies and languages used with common job roles/titles
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Pre-requisites: Web Design 1: How the Web Works
This a flipped course and students are expected to have watched the following short videos prior to attending:
We also recommend watching:
Students in this course will build a basic travel website by writing HTML and CSS code to achieve a specific effect. This will involve creating a page from scratch, as well as editing existing pages, and introduces students to the basic semantics of both HTML and CSS coding languages.
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By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Make informed decisions about how you structure your code, both within individual pages and within the site as a whole (eg. Use of internal/external style sheets, use of headings and links)
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Create a well-structured base HTML file which includes all the required tags
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Identify the semantic elements of HTML & CSS languages, such as tags, attributes, values, classes, etc
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Link HTML pages and add a style sheet
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Pre-requisites: Web Design 2: Mastering the Basics
Students will be introduced to key concepts and issues in web design, including writing for the web, designing for usability, and understanding copyright. Student will leave the session with a clear plan for the content of their site, a selected design, and a readiness checklist to ensure they are ready to build their site in the next session.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Create a mind map for your site’s content
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Select which template/functionality you want to use in your site and create a customised training plan for achieving your goals
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Identify what content you need to gather/create before attending future sessions
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Identify key issues in designing your site, such as copyright and writing and designing for usability
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Determine how and where you want to host your site
Book a workshop
Pre-requisites: Web Design 3: Planning Your Site
This hands-on workshop is where students will apply the skills and knowledge gained in the previous three sessions to build their own site, based on the templates provided by the W3Schools website. Students are encouraged to attend as many times as needed to develop their site.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Edit code examples to create different effects, such as changes to size, colour, position, or file
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Apply good practice principles, such as using staged files, regular testing on different browsers/devices, using appropriate cascading in style sheets
Book a workshop
Pre-requisites: Web Design 3: Planning Your Site
This hands-on workshop is where students will apply the skills and knowledge gained in the previous three sessions to modify an existing site (built by themselves or others), based on code snippets and tutorials provided by the W3Schools website. Students are encouraged to attend as many times as needed to develop their site.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Edit code examples to create different effects, such as changes to size, colour, position, or file
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Apply good practice principles, such as using staged files, regular testing on different browsers/devices, using appropriate cascading in style sheets
Book a workshop
Below are a selection of useful links to online resources to help you increase your web design skills:
Learn more about HTML, CSS, Javascript and How the Web Works
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Don't Fear the Internet - short videos covering how the web works, and how to code with HTML and CSS
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Marksheet - a free online tutorial in HTML and CSS, plus info on how the web works, plus their Web Design in 4 minutes interactive demonstration
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Learn online with W3 Schools' free templates, tutorials and code snippets for HTML, CSS, JavaScript and more
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CSS Zen Garden: The beauty of CSS Design shows how different stylesheets can radically transform the same content
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W3C Validator - check your code follows the latest standards
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Taking it further: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, a free MOOC from John Hopkins that will teach HTML, CSS, and Javascript from scratch and in great depth
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Free Developer Tools for Students, provided by GitHub
Information Architecture
Writing for the Web
Sourcing Images and Copyright
Web Hosting
Other Links
The Web Design for Beginners programme is sponsored by LSE LIFE and developed as part of their specialist curriculum. As the School's new centre for academic, personal and professional development, LSE LIFE provides students with a range of workshops, talks, drop-in sessions and access to learning experts to help them succeed in their studies and prepare for their future careers.
Please note: There are no restrictions on how many times students can take the Web Design programme of workshops.
If you have any questions about this new course, please speak with the IT Training Team.