Syllabus Contents

 


CIS 212 covers design and production of Web sites using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4. Plan to spend 9 hours per week on this class. You must have reliable access to Dreamweaver CS4 and Internet to complete this class. You will also need access to a graphics program such as Photoshop or Fireworks, but only for part of the semester, so you can probably use a trial version. You are expected to check Moodle and email at least twice per week.

2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 3 units

Section 1185
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
jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu
office:  room H-115


Jodi's Fall 2009 Schedule

Tuesday 
CIS 212 (room H-113): 11:00AM - 2:00PM

office hour
s (room H-115 or H-113):
10:00 - 11:00am
2:00PM -3:00am
Wednesday office hour (online):
10:00 - 11:00am
Thursday
office hour (room H-115 or H-113):
12:00 - 1:00pm
Friday
office hour (room H-115 or H-113):
8:00 - 9:00am

GD 217 (room H-114): 9:00 - 11:50am

Please request an appointment if you would like to see me outside office hours. I am also available by email almost every work day and usually at least one weekend day.


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.  Due dates are shown on Moodle. 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 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
$26 on Amazon
1 copy available for one-day checkout at library reserve

Dreamweaver CS4 Visual Quickstart Guide
Tom Negrino & Dori Smith
ISBN: 0321573528
$20 on Amazon

Lynda.com video training
recommended, especially for visual learners
5 full accounts will be available to share
details will be announced when class begins

 

Materials

You cannot complete this class wilthout reliable access to Internet and Dreamweaver CS4. 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.

Some students are able to complete the course using Dreamweaver CS3.

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 on 4 Windows machines and the Macs 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. Contact me for an add code. 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/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

 

Important Dates

Please mark your calendar!

August 24 Regular Day & Evening Classes Begin
September 4 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
September 7 Labor Day Holiday
September 25 Last Day to Apply for P/NP (CR/NC) - Semester Length Classes
October 16 Last Day to Apply for Fall 2009 Degree/Certificate
November 12 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes
November 13 - 14 ** Veteran's Day Holiday
November 26 - 28 ** Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
December 11 End of Second 8-Week Session
December  14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21 Final Examination Days

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