Syllabus Contents

 


CIS 212 covers design and production of Web sites using Adobe Dreamweaver CS3. Plan to spend 5-10 hours per week on this class.   You must have reliable access to Dreamweaver CS3 and Internet to complete this class. You will also need access to a graphics program such as Photoshop or Dreamweaver. You are expected to check Blackboard and email at least twice per week.

2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 3 units

Sections 1185 & 4696
Online - please see How an Online Class Works

Section 1181
Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:50 pm
Room H-113
2 hours per week online (discussion, quizzes, and lab assignments)

Course Web Site: cis2.cuyamaca.net/jreed/212

Instructor:

Jodi Reed, MA
Computer & Information Science, Graphic Design
Cuyamaca College
(619) 660-4465
jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu
office:  room H-115

Fall 2008 Office Hours

Semester begins August 25

Monday
 online, 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Tuesday 
 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Wednesday
 online, 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Thursday
 10:00AM - 11:00AM

Please request an appointment if you can't see me during office hours.

Topics/Themes

In this 3-unit course, students will use Macromedia Dreamweaver to create Web sites.  The course will cover 3 main topics:

  1. planning - how to organize your content
  2. design - how to choose an appropriate navigation scheme and "look"
  3. production - how to use Dreamweaver and Fireworks or Photoshop to create and manage your site

Prerequisites

The prerequisite skills for this class are:

These skills can be learned in CIS 105, CIS 110,  or GD 105.  Solid skills are especially important for students in the online course.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, each student will be able to:

Grading and Assignments

You will be graded on assignments, online discussion, and tests.  Blackboard and the course schedule and assignments pages will link to complete instructions, including a scoring rubric for each Web page assignment.  You will use Blackboard to check your grades, turn in assignments, take quizzes, and participate in class discussion.  Your total grade will include:

~10% Labs Labs are fairly quick ways to reinforce your understanding of a specific concept or skills.
~30% Projects Projects require you to apply skills from multiple lessons and give you an opportunity to practice skills covered in the textbooks.   Projects include Personal Home Page,Graphics Project, Hobby site, and Final Project Peer Review
~ 5% Discussion Participation You are expected to post at least one message to the Blackboard discussion each week.  These can be questions, comments, responses, interesting Web sites, etc.  Your message will be given 1-5 points based on complexity, appropriateness, and helpfulness. Maximum per week: 10 points.
~15% Quizzes Blackboard quizzes will cover handouts, textbook, and online video material. 
~30% Final Web Site This small web site will demonstrate your mastery of course skills and design concepts.
~10% Final Exam The final exam will be cumulative and will include a practical section.

Scale

A  90-100%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations and shows effort, skill, and creativity
B 80-89%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations
C 70-79%, awarded for work that meets expectations
D 60-69%, awarded for work that is below expectation

Due Dates, Make-ups, and Incompletes

Assignments are usually due to Blackboard a week or two after they are assigned.  After the due date, you lose 20% for each week it is late. Be sure to SAVE and BACK UP everything you do. BEGIN ASSIGNMENTS early in the week they are assigned so you will have time for questions. ASSUME you will have technical problems and turn in work BEFORE the due date. I have built in plenty of time to allow for questions and technical difficulties as long as you begin on the date it was assigned.

Quizzes and exams are available on Blackboard for two weeks only, and no make-ups are allowed. 

An incomplete grade is given only when there is an emergency near the end of the semester.

Mature students meet deadlines in spite of difficulties, but there are times when personal or work situations demand a shift in priorities. Please contact your instructor if you need to discuss your situation. If you fall behind on more than 2 assignments you may be dropped from the class.

Textbooks - available at the campus bookstore or online

Don't Make Me Think, 2nd edition
Steve Krug, Roger Black
ISBN: 0321344758
$26 on Amazon
1 copy available for one-day checkout at library reserve
Dreamweaver CS3 Hands On Training
by Garrick Chow
ISBN: 0321509854
$32 on Amazon
1 copy available for one-day checkout at library reserve

If you prefer video instruction, you may purchase Dreamweaver CS3 Video Training ($30 on Amazon, available for one-day checkout at library reserve) or subscribe to Lynda.com INSTEAD OF or in addition to using the Hands On Training textbook The student rate for Lynda.com online video training is about $40 for the semester and includes:

  1. Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training
  2. Fireworks CS3 Essential Training
  3. Photoshop CS3 for the Web Essential Training
  4. Dreamweaver CS3 with CSS Essential Training
  5. Working with Color

The first few "chapters" are free, so click one of the above links to try it out. You only need one account for CIS 212 and GD 217. See system requirements. Instructions will be provided the first week of class. I realize that $40 is a lot of money for many students, so consider teaming with another student or two to share an account (only one can log in at a time, so compare schedules).
1 DVD (Dreamweaver CS3 Video Training) available for one-day checkout at library reserve

 

Materials

You cannot complete this class wilthout reliable access to Internet and Dreamweaver CS3. Most online students have Dreamweaver installed on their home computer, but some use campus computers. See Collegebuys, Gradware, or campustech.com for academic prices.    Adobe has packages that include Dreamweaver, Fireworks (Web graphics), and Flash (animation).  We will use Fireworks or Photoshop for a few projects so you can either purchase them, use one of our labs on campus, or use the free 30-day trial from Adobe.

Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop are available in the new Science and Technology Mall in the 3 computer labs on the North side of the building and in the main Open Lab.  To use a lab outside of class time, you must enroll in CIS 198 or GD 198, a free, zero-unit class.  I strongly recommend that you enroll in CIS/GD 198 so you may use a campus lab if necessary. I will distribute add codes at the beginning of the semester. See the lab use policy for details. Ask a staff member for details.

You need adequate storage to SAVE and BACK UP your work.  You are responsible for your work in spite of technical problems, so be sure to back up!  Most students use a USB Flash Hard Drive.

Attendance

Though any student not participating in class for 2 consecutive weeks may be dropped from the course by the instructor, it is always the student's responsibility to drop any unattended course.  Failure to drop an unattended course will result in a grade of "F" on your transcript.  Participation in an online class means submitting assignments and taking quizzes on time, contributing to discussion regularly, and checking Blackboard & email at least twice a week.

Course Communication

Post general questions to the Blackboard online discussion.  You may also send email to jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu or stop by during office hours.  I also use Windows Live Messenger (screen name jrTeacher) and AOL Instant Messenger (screen name teacherCIS ) for quick questions -- PLEASE DON'T ABUSE THIS with daily questions -- try reading instructions & FAQ's first!

NOTE: I must respond to many requests each day, so my responses tend to be brief. Please don't take this personally. In general, I respond the same day or the next day. Please try again if you don't hear back within 2 days. I check email most often followed by Blackboard discussion and then voice mail.

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class should notify me and contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. See www.cuyamaca.net/eops/dsps.asp for contact information.

Academic Integrity

When creating Graphics or Web sites, treat Web content as you would treat content from a published article or book. Stealing content is unethical, and students guilty of academic dishonesty will receive a zero for the assignment and may be suspended or expelled.

ACCEPTABLE

CHEATING

including a brief quote from a Web page with the source cited

 copying entire pages or paragraphs and republishing it as your own
using graphics from a clip art site using someone else's graphics without permission
discussing an assignment with another student copying another student's work
studying for a quiz with other students completing a quiz with help from another student

Important Dates

Please mark your calendar!

August 25 - September 5 Program Adjustment Period
September 1 Labor Day Holiday
September 5 Last Day to Add Semester-Length Classes
September 5 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes Without a "W" Appearing on Transcripts
September 5 Last Day to Receive a Refund for Semester-Length Classes
September 8 Census Day
September 26 Last Day to Apply for P/NP (CR/NC) - Semester Length Classes
October 17 Last Day to Apply for Fall 2008 Degree/Certificate
October 17 End of First 8-Week Session
October 20 Second 8-Week Session Begins
November 10 Veteran's Day Holiday
November 14 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes
November 27 - 29 Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
December 12 End Second 8-Week Session for Weekday (M-F) classes
December  15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 22 Final Examination Days
December 22 Close of Fall Semester
December 23 Instructor Grade Deadline

 

 

This course adheres to the policies outlined in the Cuyamaca College catalogue. For further information, see Academic Policies stated in the catalog.