Course Highlights

Target Population: This course is intended for students, professionals, and marketing people interested in creating and publishing web sites. No previous experience with HTML or programming is required.

Here's what you'll learn by taking this course:

  1. A working knowledge of the XHTML elements (HTML using the new XML specifications). This is critical information that you'll use every time you work with web pages.

  2. Design using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

  3. SEO - Search Engine Optimization - Getting your clients' pages to display at the top of search engine listings.

  4. Using DreamWeaver® as a professional, web-development tool (this is an optional section of the course)

  5. Publishing pages to the Web using FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

The Capstone Project for this course involves creating a working web site, working with an actual business. These projects often turn into paying jobs for people completing this course.

This course uses up-to-date teaching techniques allowing you to learn by reading, listening, experimenting, and writing your own code. Each module has specific learning activities designed to help you learn in an interesting and fun manner.

This course is part of the Web Programming Certificate  program at South Central College.

(A more detailed list of learning objectives is given below.)

Course Details

Web Programming I - COMP1400 - Spring Semester 2007

Section 01 Online via WebCT. http://southcentral.edu/students/

Credits - 3 credits (1 lecture - 2 lab)

Required Text: HTML for the World Wide Web by Elizabeth Castro, 5th Edition, Visual Quickstart Guide from PeachPit Press, ISBN 0-321-15068-6. (Sixth edition is okay if it is available)

Required Software: Either TextPad , JEdit , or the Crimson code editor.

Optional Text: DreamWeaver 8 Complete by Shelly Cashman, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN 1-4188-5992-3

Optional Software: DreamWeaver 8 - Educational licensed versions are available at greatly reduced cost through the bookstore.

It is recommended that you have at least one flash drive to store you work and class information. (Please back up your data on a regular basis!)


For more information contact: Linda Anderson , Instructor
email: linda.anderson@southcentral.edu   
phone: 507 389-7201

Prerequisites

  1. Successful completion of PC Hardware/Software Essentials I (COMP1105 with a C or higher), or a working knowledge of the Windows operating system and file management.

  2. Minimum typing speed of 20 wpm (35 wpm recommended).
    Find your typing speed at http://typingtest.com

Course Goals:

  1. Communicate effectively using today's technologies. (email, discussion forums, and other Web- based tools)

  2. Create and publish web pages on the World Wide Web.

  3. Establish a professional, client-based attitude, toward web design.

  4. Utilize the Web as an essential marketing tool.

Core Abilities:

Learning Objectives

1. Create a web site designed to meet the needs and expectations of a business partner.
a. Determine what a business partnership is.
b. Design a product that meets the needs and expectations of multiple customers.
c. Establish a method to determine a business partner's needs and expectations.
d. Establish a professional, business relationship.
e. Demonstrate how to design a web page as a communication tool.

2. Utilize communication tools to meet the needs of a business partner.
a. Utilize email and the web itself to maintain communications with your business partner.
b. Write professional memos outlining the business relationship.
c. Utilize diagrams and web sites to help explain how pages are "published" on the Web.
d. Utilize hand-drawn layouts as a communications tool.
e. Utilize a list of objectives and tasks to professionally communicate the web development process with your business partner.
f. Use face-to-face meetings to discuss ideas and show progress of the web site.

3. Describe how the World Wide Web works.
a. Conceptualize how the World Wide Web works.
b. Describe the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
c. Demonstrate how computers parse text information.
d. Describe the W3C and its role with the Web.

4. Describe the relationship between client and server.
a. Describe what a web server does.
b. List various client/server relationships found on the Web.
c. Describe why the client/server concept is a critical element of the World Wide Web.

5. Use the basic HTML commands to create a web page.
a. Create an HTML document using the essential HTML commands common to every web page.
b. Display the web page file using a browser.
c. Incorporate effective commenting in a web page.
d. Demonstrate the value of a header comment block for each web page.
e. Create a useful skeleton (or HTML template) to speed web page development.
f. Utilize at least three different heading tags in a web page.
g. Establish a working system for developing HTML code working between the HTML code editing window) and viewing the page (the browser).

6. Demonstrate the different LIST elements.

a. Demonstrate how to display a bulleted list on a web page.
b. Demonstrate how to display a lettered list on a web page.
c. Utilize at least three special characters on a web page.
d. Add a horizontal rule on a web page for increased readability.
e. Use the <img /> element to incorporate an image on your web page.

7. Utilize XHTML rules to create valid web pages.

a. List the advantages of XHTML.
b. List the five rules that must be followed when using XHTML elements.
c. Demonstrate what an empty element looks like.
d. Point out the difference between an element and an attribute.
e. Discuss what a document type definitions (DTD) is and why it is used with XHTML web pages.
f. Validate your XHTML web pages using TidyGui or the W3C Validator.

8. Use color and graphics effectively on a web page.

a. Use an appropriate background color for your web pages.
b. Incorporate graphics on a web page.
c. Use an appropriate background image for your web pages.
d. Incorporate color schemes in your web design.
e. Create web pages that communicate to all users (including those with color blindness).
f. Demonstrate knowledge of hex color codes by using them as part of your web pages.
g. Utilize the ALT attribute appropriately with all graphic images.
h. Use CSS to establish a color scheme and size graphics on a web page.

9. Use hyperlinks and anchors on a web page.

a. Use relative file references instead of absolute references.
b. Create and use hidden anchors on a page.
c. Create hyperlinks to anchors located on the same web page.
d. Create hyperlinks to other pages.
e. Create hyperlinks to anchors on other pages.
f. Create hyperlinks to other web sites.
g. Make an image into a hyperlink.
h. Create hyperlinks to an email address using an email client.
i. Create hyperlinks that allow users to download files.

10. Publish a web page using FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

a. Draw a diagram demonstrating how FTP works.
b. Demonstrate use of WS_FTP or similar software.
c. Determine cwhy graphics must be FTPed separate from HTML files.
d. Demonstrate organization of web space using folders and subfolders appropriately.
e. Determine a useful and valid domain name for a customer.
f. Write meta tags that will increase page rankings on various search engines.

11. Demonstrate how the TABLE elements are used in a web page.
a. Create a simple web page containing a table with multiple rows and columns.
b. Incorporate a table with comments in the web template to speed development time and simplify maintenance.
c. Use CSS to style table components.
d. Create a table that does not have borders.
e. Create a table with cells that span several columns or rows.
f. Create a table inside a table, or nested tables.

12. Use the Design Principles and the Design Process as an integral part of your web design.
a. Demonstrate the design principle of PROPORTION using graphics and text on a web page.
b. Demonstrate the design principle of BALANCE between items on a web page.
c. Demonstrate the design principle of HARMONY using color a web page.
d. Demonstrate the design principle of CONTRAST using color and/or graphic elements on a web page.
e. Demonstrate the design principle of UNITY using a color scheme on a web page.
f. Demonstrate the design principle of RHYTHM between items on a web page using repetitive elements.
g. Demonstrate The Design Process in developing a professional web site

13. Utilize cascading style sheets (CSS) to control the style of a web page.

a. Use the basic CSS syntax to create a specific style for at least five different HTML elements.
b. Use the class attribute to create three different paragraph styles.
c. Use the ID attribute to create a style for a single item on the page.
d. Use the psuedo attribute to create a "hover" affect with a hyperlink.
e. Demonstrate the use of comments in a CSS.
f. Utilize the three types of styles (external, internal, and inline) in different web pages.

14. Use IMAGE MAPS on a web page.
a. Describe how an image map works.
b. Graph a printed picture 300x300 pixels to demonstrate the common coordinate system.
c. Graph a printed picture 100x100 pixels to demonstrate the common coordinate system.
d. Demonstrate what will happen if the size of the graphic is changed after the image is mapped.
e. Create a simple image map with at least three hyperlink areas.
f. Include normal links to meet Section 508 of the ADA guidelines.

15. Use MULTIMEDIA to enhance the user experience.
a. Discuss how plugins work including advantages and disadvantages
b. Embed a QuickTime movie in your pages
c. Embed a Windows Media Player file in your pages
d. Include other multimedia files in your pages such as PDF and PowerPoint
e. Include Java applets as part of your web site
f. Include Flash files as part of your web site.
g. Describe how the affect file size has on the user's experience, especially with the huge files that are common with multimedia.

16. Use FORMS to get information from the user.

a. List at least five different ways form objects that can be used to obtain information from users.
b. Create a form on a web page using the <form> tag.
c. Consistently use standardized prefixes for all form object names.
d. Demonstrate using input boxes within a form.
e. Demonstrate using radio buttons/option buttons within a form.
f. Demonstrate how to use selection lists within a form to obtain consistent input from users.
g. Demonstrate using check boxes for yes/no input within a form.
h. Demonstrate using text areas within a form for free-form input from users.
i. Demonstrate using submit and reset buttons to handle the information collected by a form.

17. Incorporate JavaScript in a web page.
a. Describe what JavaScript allows the web programmer to accomplish that HTML code cannot.
b. Incorporate a JavaScript function that runs when a web page is first opened or refreshed.
c. Incorporate a JavaScript that automatically displays the last date and time a page was updated.
d. Demonstrate the use of variables with a JavaScript.
e. Demonstrate calling a JavaScript function when the user clicks a button on a web page.
f. Demonstrate use of the JavaScript alert box.

Grading

A   97-100%
A-  90-96
B+  97-89
B    84-86
B-   80-83
C+  77-79
C    74-76
C-  70-73
D+  67-69
D    64-66
D-  60-63
F    Below 60%

The grading for this course is performance-based. You will not be graded a curve. This means that your grade is based on the work you do and not on what grade others in the class receive.

As your instructor I am the record-keeper of your points. I do not “give you a grade”; I only keep track of the scores you receive.

You will earn your grade by demonstrating your knowledge of the learning objectives listed at the bottom of each learning activity page. Complete the work according to the specifications and you will receive points accordingly.

One hint: This is a project and participation-based course. For example, most projects are worth 25 points while a quiz in the same module might only be worth only 10 points. This focuses your efforts on demonstrating your knowledge in applying your learning, not just knowing the facts or memorized information. (It also makes the things you learn in this course much more useful in the real world!)

Course Policies

Be responsible for your own actions.

Respect due dates - No late projects, papers, or quizzes will be accepted unless you have made prior arrangements in writing with the instructor and have a valid and documented reason. All late projects that are accepted will automatically drop one letter grade.

Quizzes - Make-up quizzes must be done on or before the next class session. 10% will automatically be taken off the total available points on all make-up exams.

Incomplete - An incomplete is granted due to serious extenuating circumstances (e.g. a death in the immediate family, hospitalization, etc.) near the end of the semester when the majority of the coursework has been successfully completed. An incomplete will not be granted for failing work.

Cheating - All graded projects must be your own work only. Cheating or plagiarism is a serious breach of academic ethics and could lead to sanctions including expulsion from college. When taking tests, protect your answers from others. If cheating is discovered, all participants will be penalized.

Special Needs -
If you have a disability and need accommodations to participate in the course activities, please contact your instructor as soon as possible. This information will be made available in an alternative format, such as Braille, large print, or cassette tape, upon request.

Student contributions - Students are expected to:
-- Participate in course discussions and actively participate within their team.
-- Complete all projects on or before the deadline.
-- Read all assigned material before class or chat sessions.

The Bottom Line -
I am here to help you learn and understand the material presented in this course. Please let me know if you do not understand any concepts or projects in this class. Feel free to clarify any questions you may have during class, at my office, or via email. I am also open to any suggestions you may have that would make this course more interesting and/or useful.

Linda Anderson