Calling all web developers and website owners!

We're bringing you the opportunity to upgrade your web design and search engine optimization skills. Learn PHP and MySQL to add functionality and interactivity to your websites, or start learning the popular web authoring tool, Dreamweaver CS5. Website owners, learn how you can improve your site ranking and bring in more traffic with Wordtracker for SEO. All courses run for a duration of one month. See below for course descriptions.

Courses Supplies

Students are required to purchase textbooks ahead of time for PHP and MySQL. Students enrolled in Dreamweaver and Wordtracker for SEO will be provided with full versions of the software for temporary use during each course. There are no textbooks required for Dreamweaver or for Wordtracker for SEO.

For those signing-up for Dreamweaver CS5 and Wordtracker -- to ensure you have the correct version of software, please ensure you wait to receive instructions for installing the necessary programs directly from your instructor. Alternatively, if you wish to purchase a version of Adobe Creative Suite 5 yourself, please give us plenty of advance notice. We can assist you in getting this software at a reasonable cost.

IBDE Advanced Courses Schedule - Summer 2010

How to Apply

If you are an IBDE Web Essentials graduate from previous years, if you are currently enrolled in the IBDE Web Essentials program, or if you are an established web designer or website owner, please use this form to apply.

Note: We will also assess your skill level and any previous training in web design to ensure you meet the required prerequisite level for our advanced courses.

Note: At any time, please feel free to contact Mary Alton, our student coordinator, at 1-888-9-ASPIRE (888-927-7473) or by completing this web contact form: Contact Us.

Advanced Courses - Course Descriptions:

Introduction to PHP Programming (Part 1 of 2)

120 hours (June)

This course will give you a solid introduction to programming in PHP5.2.6. You will acquire the skills needed for practical programming applications, and you will learn how to put these skills to use in real world scenarios, such as calculating payment amounts for shopping carts, randomizing web page contents, automating date calculations, etc. Best of all, the basic programming principles that you learn here will be valuable in future when you learn other programming languages.

• Understanding the role of scripting in web development
• Understanding PHP and web servers configurations
• Creating basic PHP scripts
• PHP data types and operators
• Functions and control structures
• Manipulating strings
• Working with files and directories
• Manipulating arrays

Advanced PHP and MySQL (Part 2 of 2)

120 hours (July)

This course will give you a solid introduction to using MySQL database with PHP programming language to build database driven websites. You will learn the SQL language and master database design principles. You will acquire the basic skills to create three-tiered data applications such as websites that require user login/authentication, websites with automated web content, interactive websites, simple shopping carts, and a whole lot more.

• Installing MySQL
• Introduction to MySQL database
• Manipulating MySQL database with PHP
• Using phpMyAdmin - 2.0.X
• Managing state information
• Content Management Systems (CMSs)

Wordtracker for SEO

120 hours (August)

This course focuses partly on the use of the Wordtracker program to help you gain ground on your heaviest competition. You will learn all about organic ranking and how to improve the ranking your site receives from the search engines without any focus on PPC (pay-per-click) advertising or any other kind of paid marketing. This is much more than a META tag introduction. You will learn how search engines operate; their relationships to one another; how they share information; their strengths and weaknesses; key SEO page elements; competitive analysis and link popularity; the main focus for Bing, Yahoo!, and Google; and how to impress those top three engines for improved indexing and ranking of your own website.

• Defining SEO
• On-page vs. off-page characteristics
• Search engine relationships
• Knowing your market
• Search engine friendly design
• Optimizing your on-page text
• Utilizing your inbound links
• Analyzing link popularity
• How to improve your Google PageRank
• Using Wordtracker to understand keyword research
• Applying Wordtracker results effectively

Dreamweaver CS5 Standards Compliant Website

120 hours (September)

This course is an excellent introduction to the #1 industry-standard web authoring tool used by developers worldwide. Learn all the basics of authoring in Dreamweaver but with a complete focus to XHTML standards. Gain a clear understanding of XHTML and CSS, and learn how to apply semantics to your markup for improvements in compliancy as well as usability. In other words, you will learn how to take a very proactive approach to designing for the future and for all users. This certification will be an excellent addition to your professional portfolio.

• Introduction to web standards
• Understanding XHTML and semantics
• Constructing the document (XHTML, page elements, heading, and main navigation)
• Understanding CSS and how to apply it to page layout and navigation
• Employing simple templating for ease of editing large sites
• Creating design prototypes and the fundamentals of DIV behavior and containers
• Employing background graphics, style classes, and navigation rollovers
• Focusing on accessible and XHTML-compliant design