Web Design and Implementation • Spring 2008


Course Syllabus

instructor information

Professor: Elizabeth Lane Lawley
Office: 70-2545
Phone: 585-598-4749
Email: ell at mail dot rit dot edu
Office Hours: mondays and wednesdays, 2-4pm

textbooks and readings

We will not be using the Information Architecture book in this class, but we will be using Webmaster in a Nutshell.

In addition to the Webmaster book, online readings will be assigned in class, and linked from the relevant items in the course outline. A full list of readings is also available.

important rit deadlines

Last day of add/drop is December 10.

Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is February 8.

NOTE: IT department policy states that a student has one quarter to challenge any grade. After that, grades cannot be challenged, because documentation of the course grades may not be retained.

course description

This course builds on the basic aspects of HTML and multimedia programming that are presented in 4002-320 and 4002-330. An overview of web design concepts, including usability, accessibility, information design, and graphic design in the context of the web will be covered. Introduction to web site technologies, including cascading style sheets and DHTML will also be explored.

I expect you to enter this class with a solid understanding of HTML, XHTML, and basic CSS. If you do not have this knowledge, you will need to develop it on your own very quickly, or consider taking this class after you have acquired that knowledge.

This class is being taught in a "blended learning" format--I will lecture on the week's topic on Monday, and Wednesday will be an optional studio session. You can work on the studio exercises on your own time, and/or attend the studio session so that you can work with me and your classmates on the exercises.

Only two of the Wednesday sessions are required--the first is the information architecture session, in which you'll work in groups on the architecture for your group projects, and the second is the practical exam the last week of class.

We'll talk more about this format during the first class meeting.

course goals and objectives

The goal of this course is to provide an overview of web design concepts and techniques including usability, accessibility, information design, client and server side techniques, and graphic design in the context of the web.

By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Demonstrate proficiency in web site design, planning and documentation by participating in a team project to create a written design document.

  2. Use information design, graphics, and cascading style sheets to format and position HTML elements and create an aesthetic effect in both individual and group projects.

  3. Use client side techniques such as JavaScript and the document object model to improve interactivity and navigation in the individual and group projects.

  4. Use server side techniques including CGI, SSA passwords, server side includes, and basic PHP to improve site performance and security in the individual and group projects.

  5. Markup forms, validate form input and submit form input to an email address to improve interactivity in the individual and group projects.

  6. Complete in-class activities on topics like information architecture, presentation design, CSS, JavaScript, DHTML, and accessibility to gain familiarity with current practices and future developments in web site design and implementation.

  7. Demonstrate basic proficiency by completing a practical hands-on exam based on material covered in the class.

prerequisites

Prerequisites for this class include 4002-320, 4002-330, and a two course programming sequence.

Students should be able to:

  • Use XHTML and CSS to create valid web pages (validated against W3C standards)
  • Create and manipulate UNIX files and directories
  • Program basic loops, variables, conditionals, and commands

grading

Your grade will be based on your individual assignments (40%), your group project (40%), and your attendance, participation, and attitude in class (20%).

Breakdown of the weight of the individual assignments is as follows:

  • Personal Course Web Page: 5%
  • Individual Midterm Site: 15%
  • Individual Final Site: 20%

Breakdown of the group project assignments is as follows:

  • Design Document: 8%
  • Final Project: 16%
  • Peer Evaluations: 16%

Breakdown of the participation grade is as follows:

  • In-class exercises: 10%
  • Attendance, in-class participation, engagement, peer support: 10%

There will be a practical exam given in class during the last week of classes. You must pass the practical to pass the class. This will not be a difficult exam, but it is intended to ensure that you've learned the basic concepts presented in the class. If you don't pass it the first time, you'll have an opportunity to retake it during finals week.

It's important to understand that if you complete all the requirements for an assignment, that is only sufficient for a grade of "B" (i.e. "satisfactory work"). To receive an A for an assignment, you must go beyond the basic requirements, and show some creativity, initiative, and excellence--the grade of A is intended for work that is superior, not just competent.

Assignments submitted after the due date/time will lose half a letter grade (5%) for each day that they are late. If you know that a situation will prevent you from turning something in, contact me in advance of the deadline to make alternate arrangements.

If you wish to dispute your final course grade, you must do so before the end of the quarter following this one; otherwise documentation of your work may be discarded.

academic honesty policy

Please review the IT department and RIT policies on academic dishonesty.