Web Development for Homeschoolers

275:` Web Development for Homeschoolers In this episode, host Meryl van der Merwe interviews Robert Walsh, an experienced web developer and educator from Excalibur Solutions Stem Academy. They dive into the fundamentals of web development, discussing HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the advantages of learning to code websites over using drag-and-drop builders. Robert shares insights on […]

The post Web Development for Homeschoolers appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

275:` Web Development for Homeschoolers

In this episode, host Meryl van der Merwe interviews Robert Walsh, an experienced web developer and educator from Excalibur Solutions Stem Academy. They dive into the fundamentals of web development, discussing HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the advantages of learning to code websites over using drag-and-drop builders. Robert shares insights on the ideal age for kids to start learning web development, free online resources, and the benefits of taking a structured web development course.

Robert Walsh was also a guest on Episode 266 where he talked about teaching students to use Tinkercad.

Creating content that displays inside a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Building dynamic and interactive web pages with coding
Requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

HTML = Structure
CSS = Appearance
JavaScript = Interactivity and behavior

Why Learn Web Development Instead of Using Drag-and-Drop Tools?

Drag-and-drop tools have limitations and may not give the desired result
Learning HTML, CSS allows customization beyond drag-and-drop capabilities
Adding custom JavaScript enables complex behaviors not possible with drag-and-drop

Age to Start Learning Web Development:

Middle school age (6th or 7th grade) can conceptually grasp the basics
Need to be comfortable with a computer keyboard
Ability to differentiate syntax between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Free Resources for Learning:

W3Schools (https://www.w3schools.com/)
Mozilla Developer Network (MDN Web Docs) (https://developer.mozilla.org/)
YouTube tutorials and online resources (search for “web development tutorials”)

Benefits of Taking a Web Development Course:

Get feedback and assistance from experienced instructors
Learn best practices and coding conventions
Structured curriculum and guidance

Robert’s Web Development Course Offerings

Half-credit high school course, but open to middle schoolers from show sponsor FundaFunda Academy – Intro to Web Development
Robert’s Excalibur Solutions STEM Academy (subscription model) provides access to  web development along with other STEM courses

Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.

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The post Web Development for Homeschoolers appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.