Syllabus Contents

 


CIS 212 covers design and production of Web sites using Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5. Plan to spend 9 hours per week on this class. You must have reliable access to Dreamweaver CS5.5 or CS5 and Internet to complete this class, so you must either purchase Dreamweaver ($120) or use the campus labs. You will also need access to a graphics program such as Photoshop or Fireworks, but only for part of the semester, so you can use a trial version or campus lab computers. You are expected to check Moodle and email at least twice per week.

2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 3 units

Section 5172
Online - please see How an Online Class Works

Section 5170
Tuesday 9:30AM - 12:30PM
Room E-206
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
Cuyamaca College
jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu
office:  room E-107

Jodi's Spring 2012 Office Hours

Monday: 10:00-11:30AM
online
Tuesday: 1:00-3:00PM
E-206 or E-107
Thursday: 3:30-5:00PM
E-206 or E-107

Please request an appointment if you would like to see me outside office hours. I am also available by email.

Topics/Themes

In this 3-unit course, students will use Adobe 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.  Moodle will link to complete instructions, including a scoring rubric for each Web development project.  You will use Moodle to check your grades, turn in assignments, take quizzes, and participate in class discussion.  Your total grade will include:

~10% Labs & Simple Assignments These 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 general Moodle discussion forums 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 Moodle 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.
  Extra Credit extra credit is sometimes offered and is used to bump up a borderline grade (1-2% below higher grade)

Scale

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 Moodle a week or two after they are assigned.  Everything is carefully set up in a specific sequence to help you learn, so DON'T SKIP ASSIGNMENTS. Due dates are shown on Moodle. After the due date, you lose 20%. 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 are available on Moodle 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
$23 on Amazon
1 copy available for one-day checkout at library reserve

Dreamweaver CS5.5: The Missing Manual
David Sawyer McFarland
Print ISBN 9781449397975
$28 on Amazon

Lynda.com video training
recommended, especially for visual learners
details will be announced when class begins

NOTE: Join Amazon Student and get FREE Two-Day Shipping for one year with a free Amazon Prime membership ($79 value). The program is available only for students and there is no cost to join--simply sign up by providing your school, major, and campus email address.

 

Materials

You cannot complete this class without reliable access to Internet and Dreamweaver CS5.5. Most online students have Dreamweaver installed on their home computer, but some use campus computers. See Collegebuys.org, Gradware.com, or campustech.com for academic prices.    Collegebuys.org sells Dreamweaver CS5.5 for $125. Adobe has bundles that include Dreamweaver, Fireworks (Web graphics), Photoshop 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.

Some students are able to complete the course using old versions of Dreamweaver. This can be confusing. If you choose to use an old version, you are responsible for finding learning materials.

Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop are available on 4 Macs and 4 PC's in the E building Open Lab. You may also use Graphic Design Labs and CIS labs during open hours. Tutoring is available in the Graphic Design labs. Hours are posted on the doors.

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/Participation

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 Moodle & email at least twice a week.

Course Communication

Post general questions to the online discussion.  You may also send email to jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu or stop by during office hours. 

NOTE: I must respond to many questions each day, so my responses tend to be brief. Please don't take this personally. I usually 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 Moodle 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. It is acceptable to use brief quotes or clip art. It's not ok to copy entire web pages or style sheets or use someone else's images without permission.

Schedule

Week 1: Course Orientation, Internet Review
Week 2: HTML, Dreamweaver Introduction
Week 3: Site Management, Dreamweaver Basics
Week 4: Adding Text, Links & Images
Week 5: CSS
Week 6: Images
Week 7: CSS Layout, Final Project Overview
Week 8: Tables
Week 9: Screen Design, Fine-Tuning Workflow
Week 10: Adding Flash, Video, & Sound
Week 11: Maximizing Site Design with Templates & Libraries
Week 12: Code Editing & Forms
Week 13: Spry
Week 14: Managing SITES
Week 15: Final Project
Week 16: Final Project, Final Exam Review

 

Important Dates for Spring 2012

Please mark your calendar!

January 23 Classes begin
February 3 Last day to add semester-length classes
Last day to drop semester-length classes without a W
Last day to receive a refund for semester-length classes
February 6 Census Day
February 17 - 20 Holiday (President's Day Weekend - Friday, Lincoln Day & Monday, Washington Day)
February 24 Last day to apply for Pass/No Pass for semester length classes
March 16 Last day to apply for Spring 2012 degree/certificate
April 2 - April 6 Spring Recess
April 20 Last day to drop semester-length classes
May 21-29 Final Examinations

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