CIT 230 - Web Design

Winter 2010 Syllabus

Course Description

This 3 semester credit hour course prepares students for work in web design and development. Included is a study of basic web page design, layout and development following modern web standards including Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) language. In addition, usability principles and the creation, manipulation and optimization of web-compliant graphics 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:

• Krug, Steve. (2006). Don't Make Me Think (2nd Ed). Berkeley, CA: New Riders (ISBN 0-321-34475-8). Required Book
• Lloyd, Ian. (2008), Build your Own Web Site the Right Way Using HTML & CSS (2nd Ed). Sydney, Australia: Sitepoint (ISBN 978-0-9804552-7-4). Recommended Book
• A domain name and web site hosting for the duration of the semester
• Java JRE or SDK installed (if not already present on your computer)
• Netbeans IDE (PHP version) development tool.
• FileZilla or another FTP client.
• A laptop computer is recommended with the lab providing only 4 work stations for student use.

Learning Goals: [What you should remember in 5 years]

1. How to follow the planning process including: Plan, Prototype, Test, Develop and Test again to be cost effective and meet client needs.
2. How to use modularization in the development process to ease maintainability while enhancing performance.
3. How to use web standards to obtain a better Return on Investment (ROI).
4. How to identify, influence and adapt to change to remain viable in the industry.
5. How to manage content and aesthetics in web design and development.

Learning Objectives: [What you should accomplish by semester's end]

You will demonstrate both the knowledge and skills to:

1. Plan and document the planning process for a web site;
2. Develop a style guide for a web site and follow it during development;
3. Plan, document and implement modularization into a web site;
4. Design and develop web pages that validate to current W3C standards including: XHTML-Transitional and CSS 2.1. Learn about and experiment with emerging web standards including HTML 5 and CSS 3;
5. Design and develop web sites that are usable and findable;
6. Develop a colophon page that describes how you have constructed your web site(s) to meet standards, be usable, to increase search engine optimization (SEO) and to maximize return on investment (ROI);
7. Construct and implement a site-wide, valid CSS stylesheet for a screen user-agent;
8. Research, develop and follow copyright guidelines for web site materials;
9. Identify and use resources to keep abreast of changes in web design and development.

Assignments:

All assignments are submitted to your web site by the due date as a standards compliant web page. The numbers in brackets [] indicate the objective(s) that are measured by the assignment.

Site Hosting [1,9]

Students are responsible for acquiring their own linux-based web hosting and domain name. You choose your own hosting (but it must be professional hosting). Several hosting companies are recommended: goDaddy.com (be sure to sign up for their $1.99 domain name special at the time hosting is purchased), Hostmonster.com, or Dreamhost.com (Enter the code "BR1" to save $25 on the total hosting fee). Hosting must be maintained for the duration of the course although most hosts will discount prices for longer sign up periods. I have created some short videos that explain the sign-up process for the three recommended hosting providers listed above. The video for each can be viewed by going to the video helps list.

Hosting Requirements: This list constitutes the basic requirements for your hosted site:

• Linux-based;
• Server-side Includes (SSI) supported;
• PHP 5 or higher supported;
• Minimum of four months in duration (the length of the semester and slightly beyond).

Registration [9]

Once the hosting is operational, you must register at School.Blaine Robertson.net and enter your web address (URL) into the registration system. I will then create a common directory for the class to allow members of the class to visit one another's sites.

Site Plan [1,4,5,7]

You will complete and publish a site plan to your web site. The plan may be updated as the semester progresses. A planning worksheet is provided to assist you [ Word Format | PDF Format ]. Included in the plan must the items covered in the workbook, including a list of directories (folders) used in the web site — required directories include: css, assignments, images and modules. Also, the sketches to be done in step 4 of the workbook should be scanned and linked to or embedded into the plan itself. The plan will be a web page and a link to the plan will be placed in the footer of each page in the web site. An example is also available to look at.

Style Guide [1,2,4,5,7,9]

You will develop and publish a style guide for your web site. Your style guide, by necessity, will be a work in progress for most of the semester but must be complete prior to midterm. The guide will outline pertinent detail to govern your site development and must include the following sections: navigation, typography, color, logos, graphics, content and "best practices". You must provide detailed information for each section. Three sample guides are viewable at Penn, PPG and SilverOrange. The guide will be a web page and a link to the guide will be placed in the footer of each page in the web site.

Modularization Plan [1,3,4,5,7]

A key component of maintainable web sites is modularization of common elements across the site. You will be responsible for designing and implementing modules of common code within your site. Besides the design and implement, you will document each module and post your "Modularization Plan" to your web site. The plan must include a list of all modules and the links or other data that each one contains. This plan will be a web page and a link to the plan will be posted to your assignments area.

Colophon Page [2,3,4,5,6,7]

A colophon page describes how a web site is constructed and can be arranged in a wide variety of ways. Your colophon page must contain a minimum of four sections: Web Standards, Usability, SEO and ROI. The web standards section must explain what standards you have used in building your web site and why. The usability section is going to describe how you have implemented the concepts from the Don't Make Me Think text. Be sure to be thorough in your explanation. The SEO section will explain the principles and techniques you have used to increase your site rankings in the Google search engine. Finally, the ROI section will describe how doing each of the three preceeding section will increase profitability for the site. The colophon page will be in xhtml format, and a link to the guide will be placed in the footer of each page in the web site.

Copyright Policy [2,3,4,7,8]

Copyright is a legal concept that governs how materials can be used. You will be responsible for researching how copyright affects web design and development. Based on your research, you will write and post a copyright policy to your web site. The policy will consist of two sections: Overview and Adherence. The overview section will outline in one printed web page length the essentials of copyright as pertains to placing materials in a web environment. The adherence section will summarize how you personally have adhered to copyright law in the construction of your web site. This section should conclude with a general statement that will direct visitors to your web site to do the same.The copyright policy will be in xhtml format, and a link to the policy will be placed in the footer of each page in the web site.

Learning Reports [3,4,5,7,9]

The acceleration of change on the web is exponential. This means that the web professional must constantly retool. It is easy to fall behind and become outdated. To reduce the risk for such tragedy, web professionals have to find resources to use to update their skills on an ongoing basis; such resources may include ezines, blogs and tutorial sites. This series of assignments is to locate several such resources and learn something new each week. Based on what you learn, you will be responsible for two things: first) implementing what you learned into your site, and second) documenting this in written form. The written documentation will include: a- identification of the resource used (by name and identifier [if a web site use the URL, if a printed item, full bibliographic reference]), b- a short (2 to 3 paragraph) overview of what you learned, c- an explanation (2 to 3 paragraphs) of how you implemented it into the web site (be specific and provide examples or links to examples within your site). Each report (8 total) will be its own web page in xhtml format and posted to your assignments area. An example is also available to look at.

Learning Report Presentation [5,9]

Once during the semester, you will have the opportunity to present to the class a 5 minute mini-seminar based on one of your learning reports. You will be required to develop a presentation (posted to your web site) and a working example of your topic. Presentation dates will be signed up for on the school.blainerobertson.net web site (You must have registered first and login to sign up) and will occur on a first come first serve basis.

Development Assignments [Varies]

During the course of the semester, there will be a number of assignments to be completed as you build your web site. These development assignments will be graded as part of your personal web site. Consult the syllabus schedule for due dates. Some examples of these assignments will include development of a logo for your site, optimization and posting of appropriate images for your site.

Student Web Site [All]

Each student will plan, build and maintain an XHTML compliant web site which meets the objectives outlined in the syllabus. Web sites will be formally presented and graded at the end of the semester. Each student will present her or his own web site, and sites will be graded during the presentation. Grading will be on how well the web site meets the posted criteria.

Exams [All]

Students will take two 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.

Attendance [Not Measured]

While attendance is not part of the graded objectives, attendance is critical and should be consistent. Treat class like a job, you miss and you get fired. I will be prepared every day to teach. You should be in attendance every day ready to learn.

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. No assignments will be accepted after the deadline. This is critical! Each assignment demonstrates your mastery of course concepts. Failing to demonstrate mastery will have an immediate and substantial impact on your overall grade. Be prompt and on time with all assignments.

Grading:

Each assignment allows you to demonstrate mastery of a course objective. Each assignment is graded "Pass" or "Fail" and each course objective will be assessed using multiple assignments. To pass a course objective you must "Pass" 70% or more of the assignments for that objective.

To pass an assignment, you must meet the stated requirements in the Assignments section of this syllabus. In addition, the work must be your best work -- including web pages that meet validation and usability standards and are error free. Do not submit junk!

Grade Scale

A	Pass 100% of course objectives.
A-	Fail only one course objective.
B	Fail only two course objectives.
C	Fail only three course objectives.
D	Fail four course objectives.
F	Fail five or more course objectives.

Lab Facilities

The Smith 476 computer lab is available for your use to complete assignments in the evenings. 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 printed versions, for the most up-to-date information. You may view all CIT 230 assignments using Google calendar.

The readings below belong to: Site (Build your own web site the right way using html & css); Think (Don't make me think);

Week 1 — Jan. 4 - 9 [Reading- Site: Ch. 8]

Intro to course; Site Hosting; Basic Guides [Guideline Readings];

Homework Due: Hosting & Domain Name purchased and activated; Register URL; Download and install the course bookmarks to FireFox or other browser; Install Netbeans; Complete XHTML and CSS Quizzes (Please do the quizzes prior to doing the tutorials listed next); Complete the General and Technical tutorials.

Week 2 — Jan. 11 - 16 [Reading- Site: Ch. 2; Think: Ch. 7, 8, 9]

Planning your web site; Site Design and Topography

Homework Due: Site plan; Home page;

Week 3 — Jan. 18 - 23 [Reading- Think: Ch. 6]

Site Modularization and Server-Side Includes [Server Side Includes Tutorial];

Homework Due: Modularization Plan; Learning report 1;

Week 4 — Jan. 25 - 30 [Reading- Think: Ch. 1, 2, 4]

Web Guiding principles [Web Principles]; Web Standards [ Standards FAQ's]; Page Layout;

Homework due: Learning report 2;

Week 5 — Feb. 1 - 6 [Reading- Think: Ch. 10]

Design Concepts: Proximity, Alignment, Repetition, Contrast (PARC);

Homework due: Learning report 3;

Week 6 — Feb. 8 - 13 [Reading- Think: Ch. 11; Site: Ch. 3, 4]

CSS and Layout; Navigation;

Homework due: Learning report 4;

Week 7 — Feb. 15 - 20 [Reading- Site: 5]

Graphics; Mid-term exam;

Homework due: Web Style Guide;

Week 8 — Feb. 22 - 27 [Reading- Think: Ch. 3, 5; Site: Ch. 7]

Communications - A taste of PHP

Homework due: Learning report 5;

Week 9 — Mar. 1 - 6 [Reading- Site: Ch. 6]

Organizing data with Tables;

Homework due: Learning report 6; Copyright policy;

Week 10 — Mar. 8 - 13

Typography;

Homework due: Learning report 7;

Week 11 — Mar. 15 - 20 [Reading- Review Think text]

Usability summary [Don't Make Me Think text];

Homework due: Learning report 8;

Week 12— Mar. 22 - 27

Catch-up and Preparation week; Receive final exam (two weeks to complete);

Homework due: Personal web site & colophon page;

Week 13— Mar. 29 - Apr. 3

Student Web Site Presentations

Homework due: Student web sites presented;

Week 14 — Apr. 5 - 10

Grade final exam on Wednesday (must be in attendance);

Homework due: None

Class Policies

Computer Ethics

The use of the school´s network, systems and data impose responsibilities and obligations upon the students to use these computer components in an ethical manner and in accordance with the guidelines found in the Honor Code. Students are to access only data and files that are owned by them or the instructor who has given explicit authorization for them to be used. Copyrighted material must be used in accordance with copyright law and applicable license agreements followed. Attempting to circumvent or subvert system security measures or engaging in any activity that causes harm to systems or to any information stored thereon, such as creating or propagating viruses, disrupting services, or damaging files are considered inappropriate use. Violators are subject to disciplinary actions as prescribed by school policy and may also be prosecuted under applicable local, state, or federal civil or criminal law.

Content Disclaimer

This syllabus represents a proposed overview of the content, expectations and sequence of the course. Changes may occur during the course at the discretion of the teacher. Students will be informed when and if such changes occur.

Honor Code

All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards. These standards apply to all classrooms and labs. If you are not sure of the standards or honor code, please review them here: Dress and Grooming and Honor Code. Hats, caps and shorts are all popular attire, but are not appropriate for classrooms and should not be worn in classrooms or labs by men or women. This applies particularly to exams and assignments. Since the course is online, you are expected to complete all work yourself. You are on your honor to do so.

Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to ´reasonable accommodation.´ It is the student´s responsibility to disclose to appropriate personnel in the Services for Students with a Disability (SSD) Office any special need he/she may have and to provide the appropriate documentation of the disability. The SSD office is located inside the Learning Assistance Center, McKay Library 1st floor.