This class is an introductory course exploring the design and development of effective web sites. Instruction will be provided in Dreamweaver for production of web pages. Proper coding of the pages with considerations of various platforms will be provided. Special emphasis on good design, proper usage of typography and images for delivery on the internet will be covered.
Design. Students will research, plan and implement their creative ideas from thumbnail sketches to working web sites. Emphasis will be placed on ideas, concepts, images used, color schemes/theory, typography, and navigation.
Technical. Students will focus intensively on Macromedia Dreamweaver on the PowerPC Macintosh Platform to produce interactive projects for the Internet with an emphasis on functionality, navigation and layout design. Site planning, architecture, communication, and web techniques will be taught and explored through out the semester. Students should be familiar with the Macintosh platform and Photoshop.
Prerequisites: GRA2201, Image Editing, and GRA1206c, Fundamentals of Typography, or departmental approval
You will need two books: Head First HTML & XHTML with CSS and Dreamweaver 8 Hands on Training. Both books are available in the Valencia bookstores.
Regular and punctual attendance is required. Discussions, demonstrations, in-class lab time and critiques are extremely important to your success in this class. If a student misses more than 2 classes the student will be given the option to be withdrawn for excessive absences or to have their final grade reduced by 10 pts. (the equivalent of a letter grade). FOR EACH ABSENCE OVER THE 2 ALLOWED. Students not taking the course with sincerity and seriousness enough to come to class are encouraged to withdrawal to prevent a reduction in their overall GPA. Late attendance or early departure may result in your being considered not in attendance for that day. If you decide to withdraw since your grade would be negatively impacted due to the absence deduction you may withdraw up to the Withdrawal Deadline of November 3, 2006 to still receive a WP for the course. After that you will be assigned the grade you had at your last date of attendance. If a student misses the final exams, they will receive a WF for this course.
Students should come prepared to work each class and bring materials as required. Lectures and demonstrations are given at each class meeting, so it is advised to be punctual. Some special demonstrations can be offered on a one-time basis only. If lectures or demonstrations are missed it will be the responsibility of the student to get necessary information from another student at some time other than class time. Roll is taken at the beginning of class.
Students are required to check their Atlas email account on a regular basis for notices. To effectively communicate with our students, Valencia uses e-mail as the primary means of notifying students of important college business and information dealing with classes, registration, deadlines, financial assistance, tuition and fees, etc.
Students are experiencing problems with receiving Atlas e-mail when their e-mail is forwarded to other e-mail providers (such as AOL, earthlink, etc.). Some of these providers, with their new improved Spam blockers, are blocking the Atlas e-mail from professors when they send information to the whole class (often with attachments). As a result, students are missing important e-mails from professors, financial aid, registration and the Business Office. Valencia prefers that you not forward your Atlas e-mail to any other e-mail provider. But, if you feel that you must forward your e-mail please notify your e-mail system's (AOL or other) anti-spam configuration to allow e-mails from any valenciacc.edu or valencia.cc.fl.us domain. Students are responsible for any official communication sent through Atlas e-mail.
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The OSD determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. At the time of notification accommodation arrangements can be discussed.
Just as in the workplace, due dates are considered deadlines. For that reason, no projects or exercises will be accepted late. You will receive a zero for any projects or exercises not submitted by the deadline. Failure to meet deadlines will affect your performance in this course. Here are a few guidelines to help prepare you for deadlines in this course:
Everyone is expected to participate in the critique process, which can be an insightful learning experience. The critique is the perfect place to polish your communication skills; there are no jobs on the line, egos to be crushed or company politics to worry about. Just put your best self and work forward. Although personalities will not be graded (just your oral presentation), remember that you will need to have these skills already when it comes time to interview for a job. No job is completely isolated from personal contact. Be ready to present your design completely; explain how and why you came to your final design, how the design and message tie together and anything you learned while working on the piece (helpful discoveries or frustrations experienced).
NOTE: any in-class assignments may also have mini critiques/presentations.
The College recommends that students spend 3 hours for each credit hour of the course to be successful. Open Lab is here for your use so that you can avoid the problems of using incompatible hardware or software at home. Make use of any time available to you here to work on your projects. Open lab hours will be posted on each classroom door.
The lab is in constant use and computers are not infallible. Save early, save often and when disk space allows save incrementally. Windows users especially should be aware that Windows will sometimes corrupt files with erroneous information at the end of a file. This doesn't always affect their usage on the PC they were created on but those files will be unopenable in this lab.
If you need to print anything you will need a print card. Students will need to purchase B/W print cards which allows classwork-only printing for the entire semester. Print cards may be purchased from lab assistants. Color print cards are available in various amounts; check with the lab assistants for the prices.
Some supplies are available at VCC Bookstores. Other recommendations are Sam Flax (Hwy 50), Art Systems or Pearls (Hwy 436)
During the planning stage students are encouraged to interact, but all work should still be done by the student turning in that project. You should not allow anyone to use your mouse or keyboard to complete any part of a project. All work turned in under the name of each student is expected to be that of the student turning it in. Printing without payment (in labs where required) is considered cheating. Cheating of any sort will not be tolerated. If caught cheating, you risk receiving a 0 (zero) for that project and the potential to be withdrawn from the class. Lab personnel may assist you if you are having problems with the operation of the computer or to answer questions concerning software applications, but they are not to do any part of your work nor are they tutors. Plagiarism or Copyright Infringement is cheating (refer to your Student Handbook)
This class is comprised of lessons, projects, webCT assignments & participation, and a written final exam.
Exercises. In most cases, it is not possible to make-up exercises as most are due by the end of class (see schedule), so it is important to come to class regularly. These exercises may take the form of hands-on exercises, group exercises, or simply turning in what you have done by following along in class.
Projects. Four projects will be completed this semester.
Learning Modules. Learning Modules are intended to add a better grasp of current material. You will be given specific assignments for selected weeks. All Learning Module assignments must be completed and e-mailed to me at bmiller6@atlas.valenciacc.edu by midnight on the Wednesday prior to the next class meeting , unless informed otherwise by the instructor.
Final Exam. The final exam will be comprehensive and consist of approximately 50 questions. There is no make-up for the final exam. According to College policy, students not in attendance for the final exam must receive a WF for the course regardless of their grade at the last day of attendance.
TVAC Expectations (Think, Value, Act, Communicate). Each student's grade will be based upon how he/she meets the TVAC requirements IN ADDITION TO completion of projects, exercises, webCT assignments, and exams. These observations will be subjective and will rely on the individual student to communicate such efforts. Students will be provided with a descriptive list of definitions and expectations that they will be expected to meet. These items are, but are not limited to, excellence in: oral directions, written directions, independent learning, problem solving, initiative, effort, self evaluation, improvement, attendance, appropriate use of class time, preparation, out of class work, meeting deadlines, time management, responsibility, verbal interaction, non verbal expression, response to email, participation in class or critique, ability to express concepts and response to comments.
All categories have been selected based upon the industry response to a survey that determined that students not scoring ‘excellent’ in such categories would not be considered for hire at those industry organizations. It is in the best interest of the student to have such skills when looking for work as a designer.Just as earning a degree does not entitle a student to a well paying job, students should also understand that simple completion of assigned tasks in this course do not entitle a student to a passing grade.
Students may be asked to complete a self evaluation in order to help them determine their TVAC weaknesses and to give them an opportunity to improve such skills.
The final grade will be determined by grades earned on required projects, in class exercises, exams, webCT participation, and .
A = 100 – 90
Exceptional achievement, demonstrated in work of keen understanding and optimal mastery of course competencies. Earned for exemplary work, clearly beyond the requirements. Great job, portfolio quality.B = 89 – 80
High achievement, demonstrated in work of consistent effort, intelligence, and mastery of course competencies.Good job, almost there.C = 79 – 70
Satisfactory completion of course requirements and mastery of essential course competencies. Okay, nothing special, just a number of many.D = 69 - 60
Unsatisfactory completion of course requirements and an unacceptable grade for prerequisite or graduation requirements.F = 59 or less
Failure to perform required work or to master required course material and competencies. Unspeakable work, consider another profession.
A grade of a “C” or better is required for graduation requirements students seeking an AS degree or using as a prerequisite for another course.
| Assignment | Value | Earned |
| Exercises (5 @ 3% each) | 15% | |
| Project 1 | 7% | |
| Project 2 | 7% | |
| Project 3 | 14% | |
| Project 4 | 14% | |
| Learning Module assignments/participation | 13% | |
| Written Final Exam | 10% | |
| TVCA | 20% |