May 28, 1999
My two sections of EDIT 772 this summer are
EDIT 772 5T1 6/2/99 to 6/30/99 (basic) MW 4:30-7:10, Robinson 109
EDIT 772 5T2 7/6 to 8/4 (advanced) MW 4:30-7:10, Robinson 109
The main questions that I am getting concern topics that I'll be teaching in each section, and how the two sections differ. I'll outline some ideas for now, and get some syllabi up as soon as the spring term finishes.
The basic section is intended for people who have not looked at HTML at all, or very little. Students who have made hand-coded first generation sites without table layout also might want to start here. This section will start with the basics of HTML syntax and required tags, and move to table coding and common page layouts. We'll look at how to engage users, and how to troubleshoot common technical problems.
We'll use freeware AOLPress for an editor (PC only now; Mac users can make arrangements with me), and will probably have one night's exposure to a graphics package. Students will download AOLPress and complete small weekly coding assignments to share with the class, hopefully through their project sites. They will also propose HTML projects for which they will (a) write a review of similar projects, (b) write a brief design treatment, and (c) code and present a finished final site.
I will assume that students in this section want/need more guidance, so I will do more leading and lecturing in the basic class than the advanced class.
The advanced section is intended for people who have already have second-generation sites laid out in table code up and running. This section will start with some overall considerations of web site goals, technologies, and common problems. Students will be expected to share their pages and experiences
Then they will develop individual lists of techniques and technologies they wish to work on for the semester (I will provide some examples - stuff like Javascript, Java, CSS, Shockwave, site management, DHTML, etc.). I'll try to synchronize student lists and my resources around common elements, so that, for example, we'll have a Javascript night, and a Shockwave night, and so on.
This section will proceed more like a writing workshop than a lecture class. I don't want to lecture much, and I do want to make full use of the diverse talents that are present in an advanced class - usually everyone has some formidible expertise to share. The workshop format is also needed to accomodate the highly diverse backgrounds and skills present in advanced classes, to keep the highly skilled folks from getting bored, and the less skilled folks from getting lost.
We'll use Macromedia Dreamweaver 2 (available for Mac or Win) for an editor, and I will strongly recommend that students buy the program (about $90 in campus bookstore) - it's an industry-standard tool for web designers, and learning how to use it is a significant job skill.
Students will complete small, weekly, self-selected coding assignments to share with the class through their project sites. They will also propose HTML projects for which they will (a) write a review of similar projects, (b) write a brief design treatment, and (c) code and present a finished final site.
Notes for Fri 1/15
1. Interactivity (part 2)
4. HTML Tools
1. Try the review quiz
2. Tonight we'll look at these things:
Image maps
Photoshop basics
- Resizing images
- Transparencies and web palettes
- Making text banners
- Drop shadows
Interactivity (Part 1)
FTPForum 4 and Forum 5 are open now. Remind me to go over the Forum 4 assignment (it's very quick and easy)
| Snow update - 1/8/98
Class is cancelled for this evening, of course. This is just a copy of the e-mail message I sent to the listserv earlier today, for anyone who missed it there: ------------------------------------------------------------ I think we have enough material online to go without a makeup class. Here are some things to be working on: 1. You can e-mail me drafts of your design treatment. Don't worry about getting everything in, particularly the flowcharts, unless you're already up on how to do this electronically. 2. You can use the templates and color schemes at http://www.nvcc.edu/home/nvwillj/templates_student/index.htm to start laying your final project out. Design hint #1: Most designs are built with tables. If you right-click on a template page in AOLPress, you'll be given the table dialog box which allows you to change table borders from zero to 1. People generally design with borders on, and turn them when they publish. Design hint #2: Name your main page index.htm This is one of the technical requirements for the final project. 3. Have a look at the ftp instructions at http://www.nvcc.edu/home/nvwillj/html-basics/ftp.htm and try to upload a test file to your site. Not everyone will get this, but the ones who do will be able to help others. 4. Ask questions in the Question Forum http://www.nvcc.edu/~nvwillj/edit772/772forums/forum3.htm It now uses the same WCB software as Forums 1 and 2, so you don't have to learn anything new just to ask a question. Have fun; send mail; toast marshmallows. |
New 1 - try out the Forums remote control below
New 2 - check out the resolution of your pages in 640-width monitors
New 3 - some HTML templates are ready for Friday's class (1/8)
New 4 - Try the 3-question online quiz
1/5/98
Done
To do