Web Design and Implementation (Winter 04-05)


Course Syllabus

instructor information

Professor: Elizabeth Lane Lawley
Office: 70-2545
Phone: 585-475-6896
Email: ell at mail dot rit dot edu
Office Hours:

textbooks and readings

The only required text for the class is:

In addition to the text(s), 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.

You may also find the following optional texts useful. No required readings will be assigned from these books, but they will be useful for completing in-class exercises and projects.

Many of the links that I discuss in class can be found on my del.icio.us page. It's a freeform bookmark maintenance system that allows you to share links with others, and subscribe to other people's lists of links.

important rit deadlines

Last day of add/drop is December 6.

Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is January 21 (the deadline for withdrawing from a course with a W grade is the end of the 6th week of the quarter). Forms may be obtained from your department office and need your instructor’s signature.

NOTE: IT department policy states that a student has one quarter to challenge any grade. After that, grades cannot be challenged.

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.

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 like CGI, passwords, and server side includes 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 to create a web page with both relative and absolute CSS, JavaScript rollovers and date/time stamps, columnar formatting, and form mail submission link.

prerequisites

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

Students should be able to:

  • Use XHTML to create valid web pages
  • Manipulate graphics in bitmap format
  • Create media objects for inclusion on web pages
  • 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%).

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 one full letter grade 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.