CIT 230 - Web Design

Fall 2008 Syllabus

Description
Materials
Objectives
Assignments
Grading
Labs
Schedule
Policies

Course Description

This 3 semester credit hour course prepares students through a study of basic web page design, layout and development following usability principles, XHTML markup and Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) language. In addition, creation, manipulation and optimization of web-compliant graphics, and flash animations are studied. The course will be taught following the concepts of the BYU-Idaho Learning Model. Please be sure to read and understand the expectations within this model.

Materials:

Lloyd, Ian. (2006). Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS. Collingwood, Australia: SitePoint. (ISBN 0-9752402-9-3). Required Book
Krug, Steve. (2006). Don't Make Me Think, 2nd Edition. Berkeley, CA: New Riders (ISBN 0-321-34475-8). Required Book
Adobe CS3 Web Premium suite (available to use in Smith 476 or for purchase at the BYUI bookstore)
Active BYU-Idaho student email account (check it daily!)

Objectives:

Students will demonstrate both knowledge and application skills for:

Choosing a web hosting service and purchasing a domain name for a personal web site.
Developing web pages that validate against current standards: XHTML-Strict, CSS 2.1 and WCAG 1.0 level A.
Designing web pages and sites that meet Human-Computer Interface (HCI) and usability guidelines including planning, prototyping and testing.
Building and assessing web pages that implement visual design and web communications development concepts;
Using a variety of tools to develop web pages including: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Flash and PDF writer.

Assignments:

All assignments are submitted by being posted to the student's web site by the due date and as web pages unless otherwise specified.

Site Hosting

Students will be responsible for acquiring their own linux-based web hosting and domain name. I recommend goDaddy.com and signing up for their $1.99 domain name special at the time hosting is purchased. Hosting must be maintained for the duration of the course.

Once the hosting is operational, you must email me your web address (URL) and I will create a common directory for the class to allow members of the class to visit one another's sites.

Tool Proofs

Use of development tools such as Flash and Photoshop to build web supplements will be introduces via a series of tutorials. Upon completion of the tutorials each student will develop a flash animation for her or his web site that is particular to his or her web site (not a part of the tutorial). In addition, each student will develop a photo gallery (5 images minimum) using Photoshop to enhance the images and make them web optimized that pertain to his or her own web site. Each proof is to be posted to the student's web site and clearly labeled on the "Assignments" page.

Chapter Proofs

Each chapter in the text that is assigned to be read will be "proofed" and posted to the student's web site. The proof will consist of a demonstration designed and implemented by the student to demonstrate his or her ability to understand and implement the skills and concepts covered in the chapter. Each posting must have a clear title and accessible from the "Assignments" page. Proofs are due on Saturday of the week the reading was due.

The exception to this is for the proofs of the Don't Make Me Think text*. Proofs for this text must be added as an "Colophon" page link in the footer of all web pages of the student's web site. This page must articulate how, being very specific, the site implements the concepts discussed in the text. [* The Usability proofs will be graded as part of the student web site - see the assignment description below.]

Students may substitute chapter proofs by preparing a script and producing a podcast (audio, enhanced or video) of the skills and concepts covered in the chapter. The script should provide an outline of key concepts covered in the podcast as they apply to the chapter being presented. The script should have a link to the podcast file. Podcasts should not be longer than 5 minutes. Podcasts can be produced using Audacity (PC), Audacity (Mac) or Garage Band (Mac).

Alertbox (AB) & Web Accessibility (WAR) Reports and Presentation

Over the course of the semester each student will read, analyze and write a total of 10 summary reports; five covering design concepts and five covering accessibility guidelines.

Alertbox (AB) Reports

To complete the design concept reports, each student will subscribe to the Alertbox newsletter from the Nielsen-Norman group. From a current newsletter or archive the student will prepare a weekly Alertbox (AB) report (1 page in length, due each Saturday as described in the class schedule). The summary report will include the following elements: a) the title of the newsletter, b) a link to the original newsletter, c) a summary of the newsletter and d) an implementation statement indicating how the student will implement the topic in their own web development. Of the five reports, four are mandatory and one is the student's choice. The four mandatory articles are:

Web Accessibility (WAR) Reports

The accessibility guidelines are found in the WCAG 1.0 guidelines. Based upon the research the student will prepare a web accessibility report (WAR) (1 page in length, due each Saturday as described in the class schedule). The WAR report should include the following elements: a) the standard being reported (including subsection), b) a link to the original source, c) a summary of the standard, d) an overview of how the standard would be implemented within a web page and e) a link to a web site of your own choice with an analysis of how the web site either meets or fails with the particular standard (Be sure to identify the site by name and make the name the link to the site).

In addition to the written reports, each student will develop and present a maximum 5 minute presentation on a topic from one of their AB or WAR summaries. Presentations done before midterm will come from AB reports, those done after midterms will be from WAR reports. All reports and the student's presentation must be accessible from the student web site assignment page. The presentation must be developed using powerpoint, flash or another graphical type tool.

Web Site Assessment

In order to critically examine professionally built websites each student will conduct an assessment of a web site of his or her own choice using the form found at terrymorris.net. Then, write an accompanying paper that consists of two sections. Section one should outline how the web site. meets usability guidelines as outlined in the Krug text and section two should identify how those items scoring below a 3 on the assessment could be fixed. The paper should clearly identify the site being assessed by including the same information as listed on the Terry Morris form.

Student Web Site

Each student will plan, build and maintain an XHTML-strict 1.0 compliant web site which meets the objectives outlined in the syllabus. Web sites will be formally presented at the end of the semester.

Exams

Students will take several exams (mid-term and final) during the course to assess their understanding and mastery of objectives covered in the course of study. The mid-term will be traditional while the final is entirely production.

Late Work Policy

All work is due by midnight (unless otherwise indicated) on the dates specified by the professor and/or the schedule listed below. Assignments submitted after the deadline are penalized 50%. Be prompt and on time with all assignments.

Grading:

94 - 100%	A
90 - 94	A-
87 - 89	B+
80 - 86	B
77 - 79	C+
70 - 76	C
67 - 69	D+
60 - 66	D
<59.9	F

Lab Facilities

The Smith 476 computer lab is available for your use to complete assignments. Not all labs on campus will have all software used in the course. You should not enter any classroom while classes are in session. The lab operating hours are posted outside the door.

Tentative Schedule

Remember: All assignments are submitted by being posted to your web site by Saturday at midnight unless otherwise specified. The schedule below is subject to change, please refer to the online version, rather than on printed versions, for the most up-to-date information.

Download all of the CIT 230 assignments to your calendar program. This link allows you to download an .ics file. Once the file is downloaded, if you are using a Mac, just double-click the file icon and it will import the course assignments to iCal. If you are using a PC, open your calendar program and import the file.

Textbook Guide: Site = Building your web site the right way...; Think = Don't make me think...;

Week 1 — Sept. 8 - 13: Intro to course; Alertbox subscription; Web Hosting & Domain; Intro. to XHTML [Read Site, Ch. 1 and 8]; Homework Due: Site hosting & Domain Name purchased and activated; Email sent; Basic page posted;
Week 2 — Sept. 15 - 20: Basic Development Guides [Guideline Readings]; Links and Lists [Site, Ch. 2]; Homework Due: Alertbox 1; Site 2 proof;
Week 3 — Sept. 22 - 27: Design - Guiding principles [Read Design Principles]; Homework Due: Alertbox 2; Site plan;
Week 4 — Sept. 29 - Oct. 4: Usability [Read Think text]; Prototyping [View 122.DVD at McKay Library]; Page Design [Read Site, Ch. 3]; Homework due: Alertbox 3; Site 3 proof;
Week 5 — Oct. 6 - 11: Modularization and PHP Includes; Homework due: Alertbox 4; Modularize all common page elements across personal site;
Week 6 — Oct. 13 - 18: CSS and Layout [Read Site Ch. 4]; Homeword due: Alertbox 5; Site 4 proof;
Week 7 — Oct. 20 - 25: CSS and Layout (continued) [Read Site Ch. 6]; Homework due: Site 6 proof;
Week 8 — Oct. 27 - Nov. 1: Review and Mid-term Exam; Accessibility Basics; Homework due: WAR 1;
Week 9 — Nov. 3 - 8: Web Graphics [Read Site Ch. 5]; Homework due: Web Site Assessment; WAR 2; Site 5 proof;
Week 10 — Nov. 10 - 15: Photoshop Manipulation and Implementation; Homework due: Photoshop proof; WAR 3;
Week 11 — Nov. 17 - 22: Flash Animations; Homework due: Flash proof; WAR 4
Week 12 — Nov. 24 - 29: No Classes — Thanksgiving Break; Homework due: None
Week 13 — Dec. 1 - 6: Student Web Site Presentations; Homework due: Student Web Site & Think text proof; WAR 5; All late work due today!
Week 14 — Dec. 8 - 12: Receive Final; Grade Final Exam; Course Evalation; Homework due: Final Exam & Course Evaluation;