MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
CIS 3303 COURSE SYLLABUS

revised 6/7/2007

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course number: CIS 3303
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Summer IB, June 11 – June 28, 2007
Course title: Web Site Design
College
website: www.mansfield.edu

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor name: John Phillips
Instructor office location: Elliott 205 C
Instructor office hours: by appointment
Instructor telephone: 570-662-4554 (however, it is best to contact me via e-mail)
Instructor e-mail address: jphillip@mansfield.edu

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description

The student is introduced to the basics of web site design using HTML and a variety of tools including Adobe/Macromedia Studio software. The student will learn to create web pages using Dreamweaver, web images using Fireworks, and web animations using Flash.

Prerequisite: none - however, it is assumed the student has very good computing skills; otherwise the student should first take CIS 1103 or similar introductory computing class.

Textbooks

HTML Introductory Concepts and Techniques, 4th edition, Introductory, Shelly/Cashman/Woods, 2007, Course Technology, ISBN 1-4188-5935-4.

The Web Collection Revealed: Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, and Fireworks 8, Deluxe Education Edition, Bishop/Shuman/Waxer, 2006, Course Technology, ISBN 1-4188-4307-5.

Software

You need to have access to Adobe/Macromedia Studio 8 software or the individual packages that include Flash 8, Dreamweaver 8, and Fireworks 8. A slightly older version of this software (Macromedia Studio 2004 MX) is installed in several campus computer labs including Elliott 207 and on the two library graphic workstation computers.

If you would like to do most of your work on your home computer then you can download the 30-day trial versions of Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks. I will provide a link to the proper version of this software. This should not be a problem since this summer class only lasts 3 weeks. However, it is important that you wait to install the software until the weekend before the class begins. Should you install the software too early or on a machine that already had the software installed once then the trial software may expire before you finish the course. Then you would have to complete your assignments at the school or install the trial software on a different computer.

Our textbook covers Adobe/Macromedia Studio 8. However, Adobe has recently released a new version of the software titled Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard. It is similar to Studio 8 but there may be a few differences. During the course I will provide you with trial versions of Studio 8. However, feel free to give the newer software a try. Once again, please wait on installing this software until we are ready to cover it. I will provide you with directions on downloading and installing the software at that time.

If you want to have a copy of this software for the long term and not mess with trial versions then you can buy the educational version of the software. This software is available from a number of educational vendors listed on the Macromedia web site at http://www.macromedia.com/buy/reseller_edu_us.html. I have had good luck in the past dealing with Diskovery out of Florida where they are selling Macromedia Studio 8 for $299. The new Adobe CS3 Web Standard is $399. But feel free to shop around. Once again, you do not need to buy this software to take this course as the trial versions or the college computer lab software should suffice.

Equipment and supplies

Access to the Internet is required either using your own computer or by using a computer in the school's computer lab. You should keep a backup copy of all work you do on diskettes or a CD or a USB pen drive. I strongly recommend getting a USB pen (or Flash) drive. A small inexpensive one should work well for this course. You can buy these USB drives about anywhere. I buy most of my computers parts from http://www.newegg.com/. Here is a link to the USB Flash drives sorted in order by price http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=PRICE&Page=1&N=2000170522&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=522.

Course Websites

Visit http://faculty.mansfield.edu/jphillip/ for this syllabus, office hours, and other course information.

Visit Blackboard for class announcements, assignments, and the discussion board (http://www.mansfield.edu/blackboard.htm).

Course Outline

  1. Learn the basic terms and concepts associated with web design
  2. Create and edit an HTML web page using Notepad
  3. Use HTML to add links, images, and formatted text
  4. Use HTML to create a table
  5. Use Fireworks to work with bitmap and vector graphics
  6. Use Dreamweaver to create an advanced web site
  7. Use Flash to create web animations

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

  • use a text editor to create an HTML web page containing links, images, and tables
  • use a webpage design application to create a web page
  • use a webpage design application to create a cascading style sheet (CSS)
  • use a graphics design / image editing application to create web graphics
  • use a multimedia animation design application to create web animations
  • incorporate a cascading style sheet into a web page
  • incorporate graphics into a web page
  • incorporate animations into a web page
  • incorporate multiple web pages into a web site
  • use web tools such as WinSCP to upload files to a web server
  • discuss how to use a storyboard to plan and design a web site
  • discuss the five phases of the Web development life cycle
  • describe the importance of testing using more than one browser
  • discuss some of the current guidelines for usability and accessibility

Class schedule

This is an online course. Log on to Blackboard every day if possible.

Grading scale and policy

Final grades will be calculated using the following standard scale (refer to the Mansfield University Catalog for grades that can be awarded).

A >= 90%
B >= 80%
C >= 70%
D >= 60%
F < 60%

I may choose to differentiate final grades with plus and minus subdivisions as outlined in the catalog.

Course Item

% of Grade

Quizzes

20

Assignments

20

Final Exam

20

Final Project

30

Final Project Peer Review

10

Late work policy

Assignments are posted well in advance. Late work will be penalized. Please do not wait until the last minute as computer and network problems are very common and are not a very good excuse for being late. Count on having some problems and complete your work early so that you will not be penalized.

Instructor's expectations

This is an online course. As such it requires a certain amount of self-discipline in order to be successful. If you have very limited computing experience and/or have a hard time following written directions, then you may find the on-campus sections of this course more to your liking. This online course places an emphasis on self-directed hands-on experimentation. You will need to spend a large amount of time exploring the course topics in a hands-on environment, either on your own computer or on a computer in one of MU's computer labs. Please allocate plenty of time in your schedule for this course.

Academic Integrity

Feel free to help each other solve problems encountered as much as possible in this class on the assignments. Browse other students' posted work, on-line web sites, and other books for ideas. However, do be careful; if you copy another's work and you do not give credit for it that is plagiarism. In general, any computer files you submit should contain your own work and not someone else's. It would be especially bad to copy another student's work and then make a few changes to it and submit it as your own. Please do not do this. If you are in doubt then discuss the situation with your instructor.

Withdrawal Policy

The last day to withdraw from this course with a "W" grade is published in the Academic Calendar. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the necessary forms to the Registrar's Office. An official withdrawal would entitle the student to a grade of "W" in the course.

Syllabus statement for students who may have “exceptionalities:”

Any students with documented psychological or learning disorders or other significant medical conditions that may affect their learning should work through Mr. William Chabala in our Counseling Center (101 Hemlock Manor, Phone: 662-4695; e-mail wchabala@mnsfld.edu) to provide me with the appropriate letter so that I may serve their particular needs more effectively. If you have an exceptionality that requires class or testing accommodations, Mr. Chabala will work with us to identify and implement appropriate interventions.

Syllabus Change Policy

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course timeline as the course progresses.

COURSE TIMELINE

Day

Activity

Monday
6/11

Blackboard “About Me” posting
HTML Chapter 1; Quiz 1

Tuesday
6/12

HTML Chapter 2; Quiz 2

Wednesday
6/13

HTML Chapter 3; Quiz 3

Thursday
6/14

HTML Chapter 4; Quiz 4

Monday
6/18

Fireworks chapter 1

Tuesday
6/19

Fireworks chapters 2 and 3

Wednesday
6/20

Dreamweaver chapters 1 & 2

Thursday
6/21

Dreamweaver chapters 3 & 4

Monday
6/25

Dreamweaver chapter 5

Tuesday
6/26

Flash chapters 1 & 2

Wednesday
6/27

Final Project due

Thursday
6/28

Final Project Peer Reviews due

Final Exam

Friday
6/29

Final Grades Posted