Learn Bench

Class Goals

• Learn how Ajax works.
• Learn to write cross-browser Ajax code.
• Learn to use Ajax to make a call to the server without a page refresh.
• Learn to modify content blocks on a page without refreshing the whole page.
• Learn to use server-side form validation with Ajax.
• Learn to move elements around the page with Dynamic HTML.
• Learn to show and hide elements.
• Learn to manipulate XML documents with JavaScript using the DOM.
• Learn to manipulate XML documents with JavaScript using XSLT.
• Learn to program in JavaScript using Object-Oriented techniques.
• Learn to work with various JavaScript/Ajax libraries, such as Prototype, Scriptaculous, and Sarissa.

Class Prerequisites

Experience in the following areas is required:

• HTML
• JavaScript
• CSS

Objectives

• This is a server-side agnostic Ajax training class.
• Examples in the manual are in JSP, but there are equivalent examples in the class files in PHP, ColdFusion, and Classic ASP.
• The focus is on the client-side aspects of Ajax (i.e, JavaScript), so, while it's helpful to understand the server-side, it's not required or assumed.
• Students learn to make calls to the server with JavaScript and to manipulate XML content returned from the server.
• Ajax opens the door to creating sophisticated web-based applications with much more of the logic (and therefore code) is handled on the client.
• While Ajax allows for more dynamic and responsive applications, it changes the traditional role of JavaScript dramatically and forces developers to rethink how they write and manage JavaScript code.
• After taking this Ajax training course, students will be able to create sophisticated Ajax-based applications in an efficient and modular way.