Syllabus
Introduction to Web Site Design and Development [COMM 223]
Spring 2012
Section 1, M/W 1:40-2:55 (Ely 313 - Mac Lab)
Section 2, M/W 3:10-4:25 (Ely 313 - Mac Lab)

Professor Nigel Dobereiner
Office: Ely 321
Office Hours: MWF 9:30 -10:30 and by appt.
Office Phone: (413) 572-5743
Email: ndobereiner@westfield.ma.edu

This course provides as introduction to web page design and creation. It also explores theoretical issues related to media development and user interface design. It includes an overview of the Macintosh interface, and prepares students for advanced work in multimedia production, web page design, streaming media and social media cross-links.

OBJECTIVES:
Among other things, when you finish this course you will be able to:

• Illustrate what comprises good, user-friendly web site design
• Explain the conventions "rules" of web design
• Comfortably read and write basic HTML code
• Utilize tools such as Dreamweaver and Photoshop to assist in your web site development
• Create multiple page web sites with consistent navigational paradigms
• Embed video into a web page
• Design and use forms for an e-commerce web site
• Utilize Cascading Style sheets (CSS), Server-side Includes (SSI) and other methods to streamline your work flow.
• Register a web site name and set up and utilize web site hosting on the web.
• Publish your web site to the web for the world to see

ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to get to class each day. I will take attendance at every class and excessive missed classes will lower your final grade. Here's how it works. Everyone can have a legitimate sick day now and then. I give you a couple. After that, every day you miss takes one point away from your final grade. That can easily lower your grade by a full letter. Taking attendance also helps me learn who you are! Anyone with borderline scores at the end of the semester will benefit from a good attendance record, and vice versa. Missing classes will almost certainly affect your final grade also in that almost all of the material learned in this course will come from class lectures and participation. 

If you arrive late for class, be sure to let me know you were in attendance when class is over – otherwise you will probably be marked as absent. I don't like it when people come in late because you disrupt the class and miss the point of what I'm talking about. Be here on time.

If you miss class, I will not provide copies of my lecture notes. You will have to get material from another student. If you miss a project due date your score for that project will be lowered by one full letter grade. If your project is not done within a week of the due date, it will not be accepted and you will receive a grade of 'F' for that project. NO EXCEPTIONS!

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
You will have to purchase a portable USB drive (available at the book store but much cheaper elsewhere). You will also need to purchase a web site name (~$10) and hosting services (~$16). I will show you how to do this. For that, you will need a credit card number or debit card There is no text for the course.

GRADING:
Five 5 projects (20 points each) will make up most of your grade. The remaining part of your grade is attendance. Yes, that means you can get an "A" on every project and still end up with a "B" in the course if your attendance is very poor. 

It is my view that students, in effect, grade themselves. That is, I will make every effort to assist you and give you all the information you need to succeed. However, the ultimate responsibility for success (or failure) is your own. Below you will find the Grading Structure. 

A very important part of this course is attending the presentations of student work.  Each project will be viewed online by the entire class and I expect constructive feedback/compliments and criticism be provided as appropriate. 

A note of warning: Projects take longer to create than you might think.  Please plan your time accordingly.  Also, TEST your projects before submitting them for grading.  Too often they simply don’t work from the USB drive the way they do on the Mac.

If you are having trouble with the course, please arrange to meet with me during office hours.  I will be happy to assist you in any way I can.  Anyone whose final grade is close to a borderline status between two letter grades will receive the benefit of the doubt (or vice versa) by a consideration of class attendance and participation records.  Again, it’s all up to you.

The following Classes and Topics listing is subject to change as our/your interests and progress dictate.  However, my experience with this course is that skill levels vary widely so this syllabus may change to a slower or more accelerated pace to meet the needs of the majority of the class.

ONLINE RESOURCE:
All assignments and related materials will be available online at www.znod.com.