About this Course

This page provides a snapshot of the course's purpose, learning goals & structure.

🧭 Purpose

📢NOTE! This course is available with instructors and feedback on your work during the summer, but it can also be taken as a self-paced course whenever you like!

It is a great option if you feel you would benefit from some background knowledge about computer science and coding. You can select the topics that are most relevant to you, and complete the exercises and tutorials at your own pace.

The course breaks down common concepts and components with relatable, straightforward, step-by-step explanations. It’s perfect for digging into details that are often glossed over or not fully explained in the world of computer science. It's designed to give you a broad overview of coding, computers, and the web, helping you see how everything fits together and giving you a solid foundation to dive into the details. The course offers an accessible overview and understanding of the topics, avoiding overly technical language. You can choose topics based on your interest and complete exercises at your own pace. For those taking the course during the summer, instructor support and feedback are available.

🎯 Learning Goals & Main Topics

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand fundamental computer science concepts including the history of computing, why computers operate in binary and how that binary code shapes computer operation and hardware vs. software,
• Gain practical skills - learn how to use the terminal, work in an IDE, manage files & folders using a CLI (command-line-interface), and utilize version control & Git.
• Learn coding basics, including variables, logic, conditionals, comparisons and code structure.
• Explore web development fundamentals and understand how networking supports web functionalities, learn the role of a server, understand the client-server model & learn what front-end and back-end programming is.

📋 Course Structure

The course is divided into weekly modules, each focusing on specific areas of computer science and programming. The course is structured to provide a comprehensive introduction to these topics with a mix of theoretical content and practical exercises. Each week builds on the previous one, preparing you for more advanced concepts in the future.