Module Specification

Web App Development

London school of INNOVATION

Module Specification

Web App Development



In this module, students will learn about the user journey, information architecture, navigation, and visual rhetoric relevant to web technologies and design. On the practical side, it teaches how to hard-code a website on the client side by using HTML5, CSS3 and some interactive features. In the practical component, students will learn how to apply major web technologies to create functional web designs based on User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Information Architecture (AI). Besides HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, students will also learn about other web technologies that are a part of modern web design, as well as the complex ecosystem of multiple browsers and platforms. There is a strong focus on web technologies that make websites more responsive, discoverable, redistributable, cross-compatible, and accessible.


Code Number of Credits ECTS Credits Framework HECoS code
WD51 30 15 FHEQ - L5 software engineering (100374)

Learning outcomes

There are no module learning outcomes to display.

Assessment Patterns

Weighting Format Outcomes assessed
60% Technical Analysis and Solution Assessment
This assessment requires students to develop a solution to a complex problem within a simulated domain, followed by a detailed analysis and reflection on their design and its theoretical underpinnings. The aim is to assess students' abilities to design practical solutions, critically analyse their work, and articulate their understanding of the technical and theoretical aspects of the module.
40% Invigilated Exam
This is a time-limited and closed-book exam with a mix of multiple-choice and analytical written questions that students undertake during the summative assessment period as scheduled under the School’s remote invigilation conditions to ensure quality and academic integrity.

The exam enables the students to demonstrate their successful attainment of the module learning outcomes, primarily related to knowledge and understanding, and secondarily related to Professional/Transferable Skills.

The analytical written questions will consist of problem questions representing issues and dilemmas students are likely to encounter in professional life and students have to synthesise and apply what they have learnt on the module in order to produce sound and reasoned judgements with respect to the problem.

To enable the students to practice and prepare, various formative assessment activies, including quizzes and a AI-augmented assignments and mock exams are built into the module. Additionally, throughout the course, students will regularly receive feedback on their knowledge and assignments from AI as well as peers and staff to indicate how to improve future work and how to give constructive feedback to others.

Student workload

Activity Total hours
Introductory lecture 1.50
Concept learning (knowledge graph) 36.00
AI formative assessment 18.00
Workshop/Lab Sessions 27.00
Independent reading, exploration and practice 153.50
Summative assessment 64.00
300.00

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

  • Prerequisite: Object Oriented Design

Content Structure

Week Chapter Name Chapter Description
Week 1 Introduction 1. Introduction
Week 2 INTERconnected NETwork: INTERNET 2.1. Internet: The Giant WAN
2.2. Communicating over the Internet
2.3. Accessing the Internet
2.4. Internet Organizations
2.5. Cyber Ethics
Week 3 Internet Applications 3.1. Internet Services
3.2. Electronic Mail (E-mail)
3.3. File Transfer
3.4. Real-time User Communication
3.5. Remote Login
3.6. Usenet
3.7. World Wide Web
Week 4 The World Wide Web 4.1. The Web
4.2. The Working of Web
4.3. Web Terminology
4.3.1. Web page
4.4. Web Architecture
4.5. World Wide Web Challenges
Week 5 HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol 5.1. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
5.2. HTTP Version
5.3. HTTP Connections
5.4. HTTP Communication
5.5. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
5.6. HTTP State Retention: Cookies
5.7. HTTP Cache
Week 6 Evolution of Web 6.1. The Generations of Web
6.2. Web 1.0
6.3. Web 2.0
6.4. Web 3.0
6.5. Big Data: A Special Discussion
Week 7 Web IR: Information Retrieval on the Web 7.1. Web Information Retrieval (Web IR)
7.2. Web IR Tools
7.3. Web IR Architecture (Search Engine Architecture)
7.4. Web IR Performance Metrics
7.5. Web IR Models
7.6. Google’s PageRank TM
Week 8 Web Development Basics 8.1. Elements of Web Development
8.2. Client Side and Server-side scripting
8.3. Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architecture
Week 9 Client-side Technologies 9.1. HTML
9.2. CSS
9.3. JavaScript
9.4. Bootstrap Framework
9.5. AngularJS Framework
Week 10 Server-side Technologies 10.1. Server-side Scripting
10.2. PHP
10.3. Node.js: Server-side JavaScript
Week 11 Web Application Frameworks 11.1. DJango
11.2. Ruby on Rails (RoR)
Week 12 Web Databases 12.1. Web Database
12.2. SQL: Relational Databases
12.3. NoSQL Databases: Non-Relational & Distributed Data
12.4. Understanding Popular Databases
Week 13 Research Trends in Web 13.1. Contextual Information Retrieval
13.2. Web Mining
Week 14 Cases 14.1. HTML Examples
14.2. A Recipe Website project using Django and Neo4j: Kitchen Ninja

Module References

Type Description
Book Jackson, J. C. (2011). Web Technologies A Computer Science Perspective, Pearson.
Book Kumar, A. (2018). Web technology: theory and practice. Chapman and Hall/CRC (Taylor & Francis).

Methods of teaching/learning


Introductory lecture (1.50 hours)

This is the first weekly session, dedicated to providing a comprehensive introduction to the module. The module leader will present an overview of the subject, elucidating its importance within various digital engineering professions and its interrelation with other modules. Students will need no preparation ahead of attending this session.

The module leader will provide a structured breakdown of the content to be covered in the subsequent 9 sessions. Students will also receive an outline of the essential reference materials, alongside suggestions for supplementary reading. The format and criteria for the summative assessment will be delineated, followed by a dedicated period for questions and answers.

A recording of the session will be available to facilitate async engagement for any other student who missed the class, also offering an opportunity to review the content again.


Concept learning (knowledge graph) (36.00 hours)

Our institution's approach to teaching is primarily based on flipped learning. Ahead of each weekly session (Workshop/Lab), students will be required to study the essential concepts that are used in the coming session so they are familiar with the theories and ideas related to that session. The study material will be in the form of written content, illustrations, pre-recorded lectures and tutorials, and other forms of content provided through the AGS.

This content is self-navigated by the students, accommodating different learning styles and schedules, allowing students to watch or listen to them at their own pace and review them as needed.


AI formative assessment (18.00 hours)

Once each concept of the theory is studied, students will be prompted to engage in formative assessment with instant AI feedback. They include multiple-choice questions, socratic questions and answers, written questions, role-play and other AI-assisted practice scenarios.

The purpose of this automated formative assessment is to provide students with immediate feedback on their understanding of module material and highlight any areas that need support or further study. They are also used to track student progress, boost motivation and promote accountability.


Workshop/Lab Sessions (27.00 hours)

The 9 weekly sessions following the introduction (weeks 2 to 10) will be dedicated to teaching the contents of the module during interactive workshops. These sessions will complement the theory with practice, experience or analysis. Their purpose is to advance the student's cognition from 'knowledge' to 'understand' and 'apply'.

Depending on the nature of the content, challenges and learning activities will be pre-designed to apply flipped learning, and may include hands-on project work, group discussions or debates, roleplay, simulation, case study or other presentation, and other learning activities and opportunities. These workshops present an opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also encourage collaboration and foster a sense of community among students. There will be an opportunity also for Q&A in every session.


Independent reading, exploration and practice (153.50 hours)

This activity challenges students to engage with the reference material and independently explore and analyse academic literature related to the course topic. Students are expected to select relevant sources, practice critical reading skills, and where applicable technical skills, and synthesise information from multiple references. This is an opportunity to enhance research abilities, critical thinking, and self-directed learning skills while broadening and deepening subject knowledge.


Summative assessment (64.00 hours)

Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning at the end of a module. These assessments can take many forms, including exams, papers, or presentations. Instructors can use summative assessments to measure whether students have achieved the learning outcomes for the module and provide them with a sense of their overall progress. Summative assessments can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching methods used in the module.

Programmes this module appears on

Programme Term Type
1 BSc Computer Science 4 Optional
2 BSc Software Engineering 4 Optional
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
Module Spec: Web App Development (WD51)