During the month of June, MakerSquare will be offering a four-week, nights-and-weekends course for beginners interested in programming and web development. The course will be aimed at those with a familiarity with computers and the internet, who may (or may not) have tried to teach themselves some programming or built their own websites, but who have little or no formal technical training. Classroom time will be split between concept lectures, live-coding along with an instructor, and collaborative, project-based work with other beginner developers.

Throughout the class we will:

• Introduce tools such as a code editor, the browser console, and the terminal
• Create basic static websites using HTML and CSS
• Learn fundamental programming concepts by using JavaScript to solve coding challenges
• Use JS and jQuery in the browser environment to add dynamic behavior to our web pages
• Begin to understand the web ecosystem by exploring the browser environment and client/ server interaction.

By the end of the course, students should have a strong foundational understanding of programming, be able to create their own simple web sites and web applications, and be ready to apply to a programming school like MakerSquare if they wish to pursue a career as a web developer. If you are accepted into the MakerSquare program, 100% of the cost of this prep course will be put towards your MakerSquare tuition.

If you’ve ever wanted to take the plunge into programming, this is a great opportunity to join a community of friendly, motivated beginners in a fun and low-pressure environment. Please reach out to atx.events@makersquare.com for more information.

— Class Schedule — 


Week 1: 6/6-6/10

Week 2: 6/13-6/17

Week 3: 6/20-6/24

Week 4: 6/27-7/02

Each week, classes are held:

Monday – Thursday 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 1pm – 5pm


— Scholarship — 



In addition to offering this course at an introductory rate, we are providing a limited number of scholarships. Apply here!

Note: Educators are given priority to a number of the scholarships

FAQ

Am I at the right level for this class?

This class is designed to be accessible for everyday computer users with a strong interest, but little to no prior experience with programming. Individuals with more experience will find that core concepts are covered in depth to provide plenty of value.

For example, you may know some HTML, but do you know how the browser fetches that information from a web server, parses it, creates an in-memory model of the web page, and then renders it in a viewport for a user to see? If you take this class, you’ll find out!

Although it is not required, we highly recommend that you complete the Codecademy Javascript track. Finishing the HTML/CSS track would be useful, too.



Do I need to bring a laptop? What kind? 


In order to fully participate in the class, you will want to bring your own computer to code with. If you don’t have one, however, we will try to pair you with another student who does. For many reasons, an Apple Macbook laptop will make your life a lot easier (it is the industry standard), but those with Windows or Linux machines are still welcome, with the caveat that some installation and command line operations will be at times frustrating.

Will this help me get into MakerSquare Immersive?

This course covers core JavaScript concepts that all prospective MakerSquare students need to understand in order to succeed during our technical interview. That said, completing the course does not guarantee admission to MakerSquare’s full-time immersive program, and some students may find that further practice is necessary to be able to demonstrate sufficient proficiency with JavaScript to pass our technical interview.

Who will be teaching the course?

MakerPrep is taught by a MakerSquare Fellow, an exceptional graduate of MakerSquare’s 13-week immersive program. The instructor builds time during normal course hours for student questions and one-on-one help.

Will the course fee count toward tuition to MakerSquare’s immersive program?

Yes, 100% of your course fee ($750) for this part time class will go toward tuition to MakerSquare’s full-time immersive coding school. (Note: you will still need to interview and be accepted to MakerSquare in order to apply your course fee toward tuition.)

How many students will be in the class?

Each class is limited to 20 students.

I can’t make it this time. When will the next one be?

TBD. At this time, classes run on a monthly basis. 

Are there any options for remote attendance?

Unfortunately, no. MakerPrep is a highly interactive class and the structure requires in-person attendance and participation.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you cancel within three days before the first day of class we can issue you a refund. All other circumstances will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Where do I direct my other questions?

Please email atx.events@makersquare.com