---
title: "Build a data-driven page"
course: "BE101 · What runs behind a website"
unit: "Connecting to data"
lesson: 35 of 39
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/what-runs-behind-a-website/build-a-data-driven-page
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Build a data-driven page

Lesson 35 of 39 in **What runs behind a website** (BE101), unit "Connecting to data". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Build a web page where a user types a search term, clicks a button, and sees matching results from an API displayed as a list.
- Organize the project into separate HTML, CSS, and JS files, and style it minimally.

## Teaching notes
Course capstone: a search page (input + button → fetch → render a list), organized into separate HTML, CSS, and JS files, using the Open Library Search API and async/await.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 35 complete: Build a data-driven page."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Wrap-up project pt 1: design a country info card" (lesson 36 of 39), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/what-runs-behind-a-website/wrap-up-project-pt-1-design-a-country-info-card.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Rendering API data on the page
Next lesson: Wrap-up project pt 1: design a country info card