I'm eager to get started in this course because it's the first course I'm taking in this concentration. I started the graduate program last summer with aspirations of creating three-tier web applications. I have completed the object technologies concentration and I have only one more course to take in the database concentration: 484. I have enjoyed all of my courses and look forward to doing my capstone project so I can apply all of these skills to a useful web application.

I did not take 320 or 741 but Professor Bills did not think it would be necessary. I completed an undergraduate degree in Information Technology and learned the basic skills necessary at that level. I currently teach computer courses to high school students. Most of the courses I teach use Java and focus on the object-oriented paradigm; however, I do a sufficient amount of HTML and style sheets in an introductory level course. Professor Bills and I agreed that any skills I may be lacking from prerequisite courses or my teaching experience would not be significant enough to prevent me from being successful in this course. I enjoy my studies and am comfortable picking up skills on my own.

I am taking this course so I can improve my design skills and my understanding of web media. I enjoy learning and will never stop continuing to improve my education because of my love of learning, but this course will also help me reach my goal of creating three-tier web sites and it will help me better prepare my students for college. I am always trying to keep abreast of current practices in web design and programming because most of my students are getting their first taste of computing in my classes and I want them to develop a strong foundation.

I am a firm believer that learning how to use technology is much easier than learning how to apply it well. We often focus too much on the technology and not enough on the implications of its use. I would like to learn more about how to create customer-centered sites through design patterns and information architecture. I recently purchased a copy of The Design of Sites (Van Duyne, Landay, and Hong) and realized during some cursory study that there are many sites that still don't use good principals of design and don't focus on the inherent needs of the individuals using the site. I look forward to addressing some of these issues in class.

I have had some difficulty finding a good ISP to host sites in the past and would like to learn more about what services are being offered by various companies. I realize this is not stated in the course description but hope to at least be exposed to some options available for using the technology we are learning about.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Vince Falbo

Hello Class,
My name is Chandra Wilson, I look forward to working with and meeting you. I have been a part-time graduate student since 1999. I do not have a lot of web design experience, but find it very interesting and am very eager to learn. I was a mainframe programmer for a few years and find that I have a far greater interest in newer technologies.
I took 741 and struggled in a few areas, so I know this course will be a challenge, but a welcomed challenge it will be. My concentrations are Multimedia Web design and Ecommerce. I look forward to learning from the professor and my peers.

My name is Robert. At the Big Corporation, I have been a Web customer for a long time; I hire development groups to build Web sites for me. So far, I have yet to get my hands dirty, but I know what I like to see in a Web site, so it will be interesting to see if I can rise to my own standards.

This is only my second class in the MS-IT program. Although Dr. Bills and I have planned my future through the end of time (or graduation, whichever comes first); I can’t imagine staying totally true to that plan. Where exactly this program will take me..., don't know. Don't care. I'm just having fun.

I waived out of 741 because Professor Axelrod testified as to my Web proficiency, however, what Mike forgets is that, during the time we worked together at the Big Corporation, he was my Web supplier - I was just the customer. He did all the work. I just paid.

So HA! The joke is on me. Now I must pay for my laziness. Not that I’m all that bad. I have been noodling around with stuff like this...

www.rkostin.com (just a FrontPage form)

...and this...

junkstorecowgirl.typepad.com (just a hosted service).

But what I'd like to do is to be able to work Web sites like that myself so I
can bend them to my will.

Hello. My name is Fuyuko Takegawa and I was in the CS department for little over a year and switched to the IT department this quarter. Through this is rather a late switch, fortunately I have taken several IT courses in Japan prior to coming to RIT...so the transition was pretty smooth.

My concentration areas are Multimedia Web Design and Application development. I've talked to Prof. Bills regarding 741 and was waived and registered me for this course.

My outside-of-class web development experience is mostly developing personal website, www.takegawa.net (this one is version 10). I haven't hard coded the files for a while...but occasionally modify them because the editor sometimes doesn't work exactly the way you want it to be...I'm sure you all experienced that before. I also worked briefly (part-time) at a company in Japan and was involved with testing usability of its site.

I'm taking this course because 1) I need to...for my concentration and 2) to gain more techniques for web development so that I can build my personal site more user-friendly, update-friendly, and better-looking!!!

Hello, everyone!

My name is Matt Penna. I matriculated into the graduate program in late 2001 with concentrations in Telecommunications and E-Commerce. I intended to finish the grad program quite some time ago, but it's been slow going because of many other commitments that I've had to make in the meantime. I started as a student in the undergraduate IT program in the Summer of 1996, so I've been an RIT student for a very long time. My undergraduate concentrations were in System Administration and Networking and I worked for Corning as an IT Analyst (essentially a System and Network Administrator) for about a year before I decided to enter the Graduate program.

After getting my feet wet in the area of eCommerce, it looked like Web design would be more to my liking, so I decided to change my second concentration to Multimedia Application Development. While this course is a prerequisite for that concentration, I was planning to squeeze it in as an elective anyway because I have an interest in this area.

My web design skills are a bit weak. I started making web pages in early 1995 - yes, I remember when the Web was gray - but I haven't done much in the way of building pages in the last 3 or 4 years. I took 741 in the Spring of 2001 with Professor Sonstein and didn't have any trouble with the material, so I'm hoping I won't be too far behind the curve in this course. I never used WYSIWYG web page generators to make my pages in the past because I didn't like the messy code they churned out, so it looks like my affinity for text editors is going to prove useful in this course!

By taking this course, I'm hoping to bring my understanding of web technology into the 21st century. Also, I haven't had a personal web site since 1996, so I'm hoping that this course will inspire me to actually create a new one.

I'm looking forward to this course and am eager to meet everyone in person.

Hello all,
My name is Neil Davis. I am a non-trad part-time student seeking a graduate degree in e-commerce. Although I have been enrolled as a distance learner since 2000 I commute from Syracuse, New York for a majority of my classes as the on-line offerings have been dwindling of late.
I have been employed at Carrier Corporation, the air conditioning maker, for longer than I care to remember and originally enrolled in the graduate program to improve my effectiveness at work. Beyond this though I have a personal desire to acquire these skills and perhaps apply them in other endeavors. As a staff manufacturing engineer part of my responsibility involves the development and maintenance of systems related to engineering and manufacturing information.
My experience with web development has been through the use of applications such as Microsoft Frontpage. Other than that if my need was beyond my limited scope I outsourced. I took 741 in the fall quarter and look forward to taking what I learned to the next level.
See you in class.

I was a web developer for a year, but the dot com division was killed off. I did grunt coding, until being assimilated into the software dev division to work with Kintana. I hated that job. Fortunately last November (2002) I was let go. I noticed that after spending many years in the corporate world, I had developed a strange and unnatural attachment to post-it notes. It was time to leave, so I ripped up my resume and went back to school. I took 340 with Axelrod in the winter qtr 02, and finished the bridge last quarter.

I build cheesy websites on the side, and would like to be able to design sites with less cheese, lower fat, and more fibre. My next project is a site for an artist's B&W photos, that disallows image downloads. Muddling through Director and Flash, trying to decide which is better. Not sure this course will cover those applications, but uhm yeah so there it is.
ciao,
cher

Hello Everyone! I am a part-time grad student with concentrations in Web, Database and XML. Last quarter was my first official quarter in the Masters program. My only experience with web development was the bridge course, 320, I had to take this past spring. Other than that, I have no other web experience. I'm hoping to learn a lot more about web development in this class and hopefully won't be that far behind other students. And hopefully, I'll still have some memory of what I learned in 320. :o)

See you in class!

Wennie

Greeting Everyone,

I am Yusuke Kuwahara - and I am about halfway through my MSIT coursework. Since I have completed my another concentration, Application Development, I can put my mind only to Web/MM concentration from this quarter. Along with this course, I am taking Dig Audio & Computer Music (4002-727) course (Let me know if you take the same class;).

Even though I have learnt the basic aspects of HTML not only in classes, but by myself since 1998, I still feel I need to learn it again because it has been revised so often until now. I think this is a good chance to rebuild my HTML skill because of that.

Looking forward to see you in class.

Hello everyone, my name is Chris Lister and this is my second quarter in the IT graduate program. My concentrations include Interactive Multimedia Development, Multimedia Authoring, and Human Computer Interaction. I was waived out of the 320/741 classes. I have done a couple small freelance web projects and have taken a few web design classes during my undergrad. Although, the undergrad classes never went as advanced as I would have liked them to. I am taking this class to help further improve my abilities in web design and improve my web coding abilities.

I look forward to seeing you all in class,

Chris

Hello everyone. My name is Joe Carino. I'm in the Interactive Multimedia Dev. certificate program. I started the program in the fall of '02. I've done three courses in the program so far in addition to some programming courses I needed as prerequesites.

I had 741 last Winter with Prof. Sonstein and I did 730 and 745 this Fall. I don't have very much other web development experience. That's why I'm taking this class. I"m hoping to learn more about web development and web design, so I can start creating some exciting web pages.

Hello Prof. Lawlay and everybody

My name is Keisuke Yamamoto and I am from Japan. My concentration is "Web Site and Multimedia Development " and "Application Development" I have learned HTML, CSS, Web design and Java script in Japan. Nevertheless, my knowledge of well desighed web sites is not well enough at this point. Also this is my first concentration class, therefore I expect what I will be learning a lot in this class.

At present, having gotten a broad band Internet connection, we are able to see various web sites using some techniques, like Flash which amuse viewers. I think this is very good tendency and I like watching "Adcanced and technical Web sites" However, sometimes those kind of web sites bring about confusings such as "where should I go first in this page?", "where is a link butten?" or "What is the maim purpose and aimimg?" In order to make a attractive and useful web sites, I want to learn how we have to mix advenced and simple technics.

I took the prerequisite course 7004-741 last quater.

Thank you

Hello, everyone. My name is Kenichiro Araki. I came from Japan 3 months ago. I studied only English at ELC last quarter. This class is the first class for me among academic classes, so I'm under little tension.
I took the prerequisite course 7004-741 in Japan, but I took this class 1 year ago, so I've forgotten most things. My skill is not so good, but I will study very hard.
I'm looking forward to seeing you in class.

Hello everyone,
My web experience is from my first class, 741, that I took in 1999 with Prof Doubleday. Since then I have completed the necessary bridge courses to enter the MSIT program. I do not have web experience outside of class. My interest is in this particular class is more on the technical side than on design.

Hello all,
My name is Matt Copeland and This is my second quarter in the IT program. I started last quarter. My concentration areas are Multimedia and e-commerce. I did not take 741 or 320. I took similar classes at other schools. I have not done much web design. I do have my owm site though. I hope to learn how to make it more interesting and interactive. It is www.mattcopeland.com if you care to have a look.

Hi Everyone,

My name is Christian Crews, Chris for short. I am a first year, fulltime MS IT student. My concentrations are game programming, computer graphics design (CIAS) and web. I took 741 last quarter with Prof. Sonstein. I have no real web experience except for playing around with different web applications (ie Dreamweaver, Flash, GoLive, etc.) on my own. I am primarily taking this course b/c it is a pre-req for one of my gaming courses, I think... I hope to come out with some web development skills.

Hello, my name is Dave Chelus and I am in my second quarter here at RIT. My concentrations are in Application Development, Technology Management, and E-Commerce. I am taking this course as my elective because I wanted to learn more about web design, than I did in my undergrad web development class. I have very basic web development experience and hope to get more.

Hello everyone,

My name is Aaron Sanders, and this is my final quarter as an IT student- I'm finally going to be done! My concentrations are in Telecommunications, eCommerce, and Tech. Management. It's been a fun year and a half of studying, but now I'm about ready to get a job and earn money, rather than debt.

eCommerce and Web design related subjects came into my life after I switched my concentration from networking to eCommerce (let's not go there...), but I have to say that I am extremely glad that things turned out the way they did. The courses that I've ended up taking have integrated surprisingly well with telecom. RIT does such a great job at making their design and eCommerce courses more than just "here's how you make a Web page", and I am glad. I only wish that I had time to actually apply what I have learned to my own Web site. Unfortunetly time is something that there isn't enough of, so my site doesn't get much attention.

I took 741 with Prof. Vullo last fall (a year ago). It's been awhile, but I still have the notes for anything that I might have forgotten.

I look forward to having class with everyone,
Aaron

Hello Everyone!!

I am a first year Grad student in the Multidisplinary Studies program concentrating in Multimedia, information design and Tech Comm. I am taking this course as part of my MM requirements.

Although I have some web experience, having made a number of web sites over the years - both for personal and business - I feel I could use some improvement.

I have done javascript, dreamweaver, html, CSS and a lot of other related web applications and scripting. I seek to learn more to make my pages more eye catching.

However, I do not like to program - well I dont mind programming where logic is not an issue. But to do deep programming, like JAVA 2 and that sort of stuff is really not my cup of tea. I was told by the professor that the course will require programming, including php. At first I was scared because I had a tough time in RIT's IT Java 2 course but then I carefully looked at what this course will be offering, the types of things we will be learning, etc, and I am pretty much relieved now.

To say the least, I look forward to continuing on in the class and learn as much as my brain will allow so that I can eventually beat Bill Gates at his own game *chuckles* - well ill take that back since I would have to be a good programmer to do so...heh

*By the way, I had a site but took it down to do some work on it.....once its back up ill give the url. Though in meantime you can check out my work I did for the Department of Defense at the pentagon, where I worked for co op over the summer 2003. Hang on, need to locate the url - then i ll post it.

My name is Bob Mullen and I am pursuing a MSIT. This is my first on-campus class, but I have previously completed 6 distance learning courses. My specializations are HCI and Telecommunications Technology. I will have just one class and my capstone to complete after this course in order to finish my degree requirements.

I am currently a high school technology teacher at Batavia High School, Batavia, NY. I enjoy working with high school students and find that my graduate courses have added tremendously to my teaching repertoire. I currently teach 2 classes of the Cisco Networking Academy, which helps prepare students to take the CCNA certification exam. I started teaching a new Fundamentals of Web Design class last year, utilizing the Adobe Web Suite. I also teach a photography class (an intro to traditional & digital) and a keyboarding class (in a special ed environment).

Before becoming a teacher 7 years ago I worked in the construction field for 17 years. I graduated from Cornell University in 1981 with a BS degree in Agricultural Engineering with a specialization in Building Design and Construction.

I have been married for 18 years and have 3 children - 2 girls (ages 12 & 15) and 1 boy (age 9). They keep my life very exciting and I love them all dearly. We live on a small farm in the country in a post and beam home that my wife and I built 12 1/2 years ago. I am a varsity girls soccer coach at Batavia High School and my entire family enjoys playing the game. I also serve as the high school tech club advisor.

My wife and I enjoy traveling we have taken our family to the US west coast (San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Nogales Mexico). We have also taken the family to Puerto Rico to visit my sister, who has lived there for the last 23 years.

My family enjoys downhill skiing and we generally venture to the Adirondacks or New England states on an annual ski trip. These have always been an exciting and fun getaway for us all during the cold winter months.

I have not taken 320 or 741 (scheduled for 741 this quarter, but it was cancelled), but am hoping that with some extra effort on my part I can bring myself up to speed. By completing this course, I hope to learn some effective new strategies and techniques for enhancing my technology course content through both web design and content. Over the past 5 months I have been working with a team from our school district and Internet Solutions Group to configure our new district website which was just recently launched about two weeks ago. We are continuing to add content daily and I am working with the training of the staff, so they may configure course content information. It has been a fast paced project to say the least. If you would like to take a peek the URL is: http://www.bataviacsd.org

Well, I have rambled long enough and look forward to getting to know all of you better. From the looks of the syllabus it appears as though Prof. Lawley will be giving us plenty of opportunity to get better acquainted and allow us to share our areas of expertise and experience through the group assignments.

Happy Holidays,
Bob

My name is Curt Markham, and my path to the world of IT is somewhat odd. I went to NYU film school in the early 90's, then pursued a graduate degree in computer animation at RIT. By the time I completed my graduate degree I was employed part-time as part of the TV crew at WXXI. My skills and responsibilities grew after a couple years, to the point where I was segment producer, and occasional director of the Channel 12 telecast of the radio call-in show "Sound Bytes". The pay was low and it was only part-time, but I felt my career in film/TV was finally getting started.

Then at the station one day I received an urgent phone call from a former RIT classmate who had just gotten a full-time, 18-month contract job at Xerox, recording and editing footage of usability tests. They needed a second person and he urged me to apply. I did and was quickly offered the job. After about 16 months I was hired directly by Xerox, to continue my work as well as manage the testing lab and its computers.

At the time I was pleased to finally have full-time work, but regretted leaving the film/TV world behind. It turned out to be the right choice, though. It gave me the chance to improve my computer skills, and I eventually was able to request upgraded digital video equipment.

Gradually I entered the realm of digital content creation, exporting compressed video clips and creating interactive DVD's of test footage. My manager, supportive of my growth in the job, urged me to consider pursuing training opportunities to expand my skills. I ultimately decided to return to my alma mater, RIT, for the Advanced Certificate in Interactive Multimedia. I began the program this past fall, and have just completed 741 with Jeff Sonstein.

I don't normally blog. I have a webpage somewhere that hasn't been updated in two years, which should tell you something.

Hi Everyone,

I am Namgyal. I am a Fulbright scholar from Tibet and I appreciate the fact that I have been given this privileged scholarship and am making the most out of it.

I did my Bachelors' in Computer Engineering from India. As a matter of fact, I am a refugee living there as many Tibetans fled Tibet since it came under Chinese occupation. It has been a long journey but worthwhile in quest of freedom.

Well, politics apart, I like being in the academic field. I like physics and Math and regret the fact that I didn't do much about that. Being in computer engineering was really nice since it was a engineering thing than programming. After my studies I worked for the Tibetan government in exile for a little more than 2 years.

My first quarter, I realise computer science was almost totally programming..I might be mistaken.

I then switched my major to IT. At that time, it seems to the proper decision. And I don't regret it. I am very inclined towards networking and so my concentration are networking and system administration. But I have to choose another concentration as part of the program so that is the why I am in this course after taking 741.

I am not really a designing person...to put it simply...I am not creative in that field at all. But I do realise the importance of it. And that is why I am in this course, not to learn creativity(ofcourse that has to be born with) but then to learn the techniques behind good site development. Well...given the will..nothing is quite that hard.

And I am sure I will gain much from this course. I do like the way the course is setup and look forward to a good experience.

Good luck to all
Namgyal

Hi everyone!

My name is Bakhtiar Dossul, and I currently purse a master's degree in IT concentrating in three different areas: Application Development, Website Design & Technology, and Health System Adminstration.

I have taken the 741 course last quarter with Prof. Sonstein, and it was really fun being in his class which I learned a lot especially in CSS and HTML. I, myself, have never experienced working with the CSS platform but I found it very interesting. So I decided to switch the Networking concentration to the Website Design & Technology concentration because it enables me to work/interact with people via online in my future career when I am done with my masters.

I am looking forward to feeding my knowledge in this course as well as to working with you guys for the next 10 weeks!

Good luck to all of you!

Best regards,

Bakhtiar

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