Curriculum
Tēnā koutou, welcome to day one of Foundations.
This is where you work through the curriculum. Each sprint contains readings, primers, and challenges. Work through them in order — each one builds on the last.
Before you start
Make sure you have read the Course Overview. It explains how Foundations is structured and what to expect.
You will also need access to the Foundations GitHub Org. Access is granted at the start of your cohort once we have your GitHub username. If your cohort has started and you haven't received an invite, contact your facilitator on Discord or by email.
If you have questions, ask your facilitator or post in the #foundations Discord channel.
How to work with the curriculum
Work in order. Each page builds on the last. Don't skip ahead.
Required vs optional. Every task is marked with ⚑ Required or ◎ Optional. Do all required tasks. Optional tasks are there if you finish early or want to go deeper — never at the expense of required work.
Time estimates. Each page has a time estimate table. These are upper limits, not targets. If you finish faster, that is fine. If something is taking much longer, check in with your facilitator.
Reflections. Most tasks end with a Reflect section. You will set up a reflections file later in Sprint 1. Until then, write in a text document on your computer.
If you are stuck. Try for 20 minutes before asking for help. That effort is part of the learning. After 20 minutes, check in with your facilitator or cohort.
How tasks are structured
At the end of most tasks you will find a "How to know you've nailed it" table. It has three levels:
| Level | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| 🪨 | Intro Climb | Minimum completion — you did the thing |
| 🧗 | Core Ascent | Solid completion — you understand it |
| 🏔️ | Summit | Stretch — you went deeper or worked independently |
Intro Climb and Core Ascent are required. Summit is always optional. Use these to check your own progress before moving on.