August | September | October | November | December
Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Revised November 3, 2008
The schedule shows assignments listed by date. Since links can change throughout the semester, be sure to start by looking at this page each time you work on class assignments.
Week 1: August 26
- Log in to Blackboard and DO Online Orientation (see LESSONS, 1-4
hours, due next week). See 30 second movie or tutorial for login instructions (username=first.last, password=6 digit birthday). Orientation includes
- Blackboard Discussion 1: Orientation Discussion
- Blackboard Quiz 1: Orientation
- READ Introduction & Chapters 1-2 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (1 hour)
While reading, consider the following questions:- Usability really just means ________________.
- What is Krug's first law of usability? What does it mean to you as a designer and as a user?
- What are some examples of things that make users think? As you use the web this week, notice what seems confusing to you.
- Why is usability so important?
- What do people ACTUALLY do when browsing web pages?
- What does Krug mean by satisficing? Why do users satisfice?
- Why do we tend to muddle through instead of figuring things out?
- Can you imagine some things that might be important for making a web site usable?
- SKIM How
Web Servers Work (1 hour)
While reading, consider the following questions:- What is a URL?
- What are the 3 parts of a URL?
- What is the Internet? How can a home computer link to the Internet? What does ISP stand for?
- What is a server? What is a client? What are some of the services provided by servers?
- What does FTP stand for?
- What is an IP address?
- What is a domain name?
- What is a DNS -- what does it do?
- What if someone like your non-technical grandmother asked you how the web works? Could you draw a picture that would help explain it? Could you explain how a Web developer gets her page on the Internet?
- What questions do you have about the Internet and the Web?
September 1: Labor Day
Week 2: September 2
- DUE Tuesday: Orientation (includes Blackboard Discussion and Quiz)
- check Blackboard grades weekly to make sure you are caught up
- TAKE QUIZ 2 on Blackboard (15 minutes, covers everything from week 1, due Tuesday of Week 4)
- DO PROJECT: HTML Coding (2-3 hours, due Tuesday of next week)
- READ Chapters 3-5 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (1 hour)
While reading, consider the following questions:- What 5 things should designers do to make sure users understand the site?
- What helps make a clear visual hierarchy?
- Why is conventional design useful?
- According to Krug, 3 mindless, unambiguous clicks equal _____________.
- Why eliminate (or at least reduce) "happy talk" and instructions?
- OPTIONAL - SUBSCRIBE to Lynda.com. Please see the INSTRUCTIONS so you can get the student rate.
- DO: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: Introduction, 1. Getting Started, and 2. The Interface. (1-2 hours)
While viewing, consider the following questions:- MOST IMPORTANT (sure to be on quiz!): What are rules for naming files? What happens to the URL when you include spaces in the file name?
- IMPORTANT: What is an index page? Explain what the URL (web address) has to do with folder and file names.
- Are HTML and XHTML vastly different? What is the main reason for using XHTML?
- How does CSS save time? What can you do with it?
- What kinds of things can DHTML/Javascript do that plain HTML cannot? Are Java and Javascript the same?
- DISCUSSION. Post at least 1 question, comment, or answer to Blackboard Discussion. You will get 1-5 points based on the usefulness of your message and you need 50 points by the end of the semester, so strive to post at least 1 useful/thoughtful message each week.
ONLINE STUDENTS: If you haven't already done so, install Dreamweaver on your home computer or arrange to use a computer with Dreamweaver & Internet Access.
September 5 : Last Day to Add, Last Day to Drop Classes Without a "W" Appearing on Your Record, Last Day for Refund
Week 3: September 9
- DUE TUESDAY: PROJECT: HTML Coding
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 3. Site Control (1-2 hours)
While viewing, consider the following questions:- Why should you manage files within Dreamweaver?
- How do you create or delete a new folder or file within the Dreamweaver files panel?
- How does path structure in the property inspector reflect folder and file structure?
- How do you move files within Dreamweaver files panel? What does Dreamweaver do to local links when you move a file?
- How can you upload (put) files to your web site?
- READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS in Site Management handout (1
hour, VERY IMPORTANT because the setup is specific to our server)
- UPLOAD your HTML Coding page to the studentweb server
- TEST your work by looking on the server. Your URL will be studentweb.gcccd.net/username. Our server is set up to display files and folders, so you can navigate to your page by clicking folder and file names. Notice how the URL corresponds to the folder and file names in your local root.
- DO LAB/DISCUSSION: Web Design Overview (~2 hours, due next Tuesday)
- Read Chapter 6 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (1-2 hours) While reading, consider the following questions:
- Do you tend to be more "search dominant" or "link dominant"?
- What navigation cues are missing in Web space? (No sense of _____, ____, or ____)
- What are the obvious and overlooked purposes of web navigation?
- What are the basic elements of web navigation?
- Describe persistent navigation. What are the 5 elements of persistent navigation? 2 exceptions?
- WHat is the function of the site ID/logo. WHere should it be located on the screen for English sites?
- What does Krug mean by sections and utilities?
- What are Krug's guidelines for designing the search interface?
- WHere should a page name be located? Should it stand out? Why should the page name match what I clicked?
- Describe breadcrumbs navigation
- What is the trunk test?
- DISCUSS. Post a question, comment, or answer to the Blackboard discussion.
Week 4: September 16
- DUE TUESDAY:
- QUIZ 2
- Web Design Overview
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 4. Basics & 5. Linking (2-3 hours)
- Use the Week 4 Practice Worksheet to PRACTICE what the videos showed.
- Read Chapter 7 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (1 hour)
- Quiz 3: Lynda.com OR Hands-On-Training lessons 1-4, Don't Make Me Think 1-6 (DUE Tuesday of Week 6)
- Begin CIS 212 Portfolio Project (due Tuesday of week 7)
- Post a question, comment, or answer to the Blackboard discussion.
Week 5: September 23
- Begin with Week 5 Warm up
- Here is a fill-in-the-blanks CSS Notes handout to help you organize what you learn about CSS.
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 6. CSS (2-3 hours)
While viewing, TRY things on your own and consider the following questions:- What is meant by CASCADING in CSS?
- Why use CSS? Why use EXTERNAL CSS?
- What are the parts of a CSS rule? What are the parts of a declaration?
- What is a quick way to set page properties (font face, background, etc.)
- How can you move embedded styles into an external style sheet?
- How can you use the CSS styles panel to create, edited, and manage your styles?
- Describe the 4 most common selectors, how they work, and when to use them.
- Show how to change link attributes using pseudo-class selectors
- Work on CIS 212 Portfolio Project
- Read Chapter 8 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (30 minutes)
- Post a question, comment, or answer to the Blackboard discussion.
September 26 : Last Day to Apply for P/NP (CR/NC) for semester length classes
Week 6:September 30
- DUE TUESDAY: Quiz 3
- Begin with Week 6 Warm up
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 7. Typography (2-3 hours)
While viewing, TRY things on your own and consider the following questions:- Why use CSS instead of font tags to style text?
- If you change fonts in the Property Inspector , how does Dreamweaver code it?
- Why is it important to use heading (h1-h6) tags for headlines instead of just increasing the font size?
- What is the most efficient way to define the appearance of tags like h1?
- What are the advantages of using ems for font measurements? How about pixels?
- Why are font sets used instead of single fonts?
- Why choose common font faces for your web site?
- What is the advantage of the Verdana font face?
- How can you align text? Can you align a single sentence within a paragraph?
- What happens when you align and image to the left or right?
- How can you create a numbered or bulleted list?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Flash text?
- READ Chapter 9 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) (1 hour)
- finish, upload, and turn in CIS 212 Portfolio Project
- continue to post a weekly (or more) question, comment, or answer to the Blackboard discussion until you are notified that you have 50 points
REMEMBER!
- NO SPACES or illegal characters in file names (including graphic files, anchors, and links to documents)
- include titles on all pages
- include ALT attribute for all IMG elements
- use common, legible fonts
Week 7: October 7
- DUE TUESDAY CIS 212 Portfolio Project
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 8. Tables (2-3 hours)
While viewing, TRY things on your own and consider the following questions:- What are tables used for?
- What do the tr, th,and td tags do?
- How do you create a table in Dreamweaver?
- What is expanded table mode and why would you need it?
- How can you add content to a table?
- How do table cells behave as you add content if table or cell width is not specified?
- What key jumps you from cell to cell?
- How can you select a table, a column, and a row?
- How can you change the table border?
- What is and @copy;
- How can you color a table or cells using the Property Inspector or CSS?
- How can you align cell content using the Property Inspector or CSS?
- How can you set table and column widths? What is the difference between using number of pixels and %?
- How can you add or delete a row or column? (hint: select and right click)
- BROWSE table notes and examples
- LAB: Tables (1-2 hours)
- Read Chapters 10-12 of Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition)
- Quiz 4: Don't Make Me Think (2nd Edition) 7-12 (due week 9)
- Read about choosing a final project topic and then post your FINAL PROJECT topic idea(s) to the Blackboard discussion for approval (10 points)
Week 8: October 14
- DUE TUESDAY: Final Project Topic - posted to Blackboard discussion
- Is your table lab done (with link to it from 212portfolio.htm)?
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 10. Designing for Devices (2-3 hours)
- Lesson: CSS Layout Screencast and Notes
- Lab: CSS Layout (link to this from 212portfolio.htm)
- Read the Screen Design Presentation (30 minutes)
- begin Graphics assignment (due Tuesday of week 10)
- Read Final Project overview and begin final project proposal (proposal due at the beginning of week 11)
October 17 : Last Day to Apply for Fall 2008 Degree/Certificate
Week 9: October 21
- DUE TUESDAY: Quiz 4
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 11. Rollovers, 12. XHTML (SKIM)(2-3 hours)
- OPTIONAL: Learn how to make CSS Rollover buttons (GD 217 handout) using Listamatic buttons as a starting point.
- Hobby Project (due Tuesday of week 11)
- finish final project proposal (proposal due at the beginning of week 11)
Week 10: October 28
- DUE TUESDAY: Graphics Project
- Quiz 5: Dreamweaver 5-8 (due week 12)
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 13. Forms, 14. Behaviors (1-3 hours)
- Finish, upload, and turn in Hobby Project
- Begin Final Project (Prototype Draft due in 3 weeks)
Week 11: November 4
- DUE THURSDAY: final project proposal , Hobby Project
- DO EXERCISES: Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training or Lynda.com Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training: 15. Images, 16. Templates and Library Items (1-2 hours)
- Lab: Images
- Begin Final Project (Prototype Draft due in 2 weeks)
November 10: Veterans Day Holiday
Week 12: November 11
- DUE TUESDAY: Quiz 5
- work on Final Project - prototype (home page and at least one sub page) must be finished and uploaded by NEXT WEEK in order to participate in peer review (worth 50 points). You must submit your URL to Blackboard AND via this form
- read the final project scoring rubric
November 14 : Last Day to Drop Class
NOTE! The end of the semester will be here before you know it, so accomplish as much as possible early. Don't get distracted! Do the important parts first and keep moving!
Week 13: November 18
- DUE TUESDAY: Final Project Prototype Draft
- TURN IN Final Project Prototype Draft by submitting URL to Blackboard AND by using this form
- work on Final Project
- Peer Review (due next Tuesday)
Week 14: November 25
- DUE TUESDAY: Peer Review
- work on Final Project (due week 16)
November 27-29: Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday
Week 15: December 2
- DUE TUESDAY: 212portfolio.htm (upload and submit URL to Blackboard) - this should link to all labs and projects including
- All projects (html coding, web design overview, graphics, hobby, final project propoal, final project)
- All labs (tables, CSS layout, images)
- Finish, upload, & test Final Project (due next Tuesday)
- review the final project scoring rubric
Week 16: December 9
- DUE TUESDAY: Final Project - upload and submit URL to Blackboard
- Test Final Project on server and make any last-minute changes
- Review for Final Exam
December 15-20
- FINAL EXAM (to be completed online)
- FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS - room H-113, date TBA.
You'll have the opportunity to share your final project and I'll even bring pizza. You are invited to bring a dish or drink to share. 25 extra credit points for presenting.