Printed from TeacherJohn.com • http://www.teacherjohn.com/cabrillo/dm60a/syllabus.php

Syllabus

Web Publishing 1: (X)HTML and CSS Level 1 (DM60A)
Cabrillo College, summer 2008, section 57511
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 AM–2 PM, room 1303

John Govsky, instructor
john@teacherjohn.com
831-466-3269
PO Box 7624, Santa Cruz, CA 95061

Class Web Site

All important information is at:
http://teacherjohn.com/cabrillo/dm60a/
Although you may wish to print out many of these Web pages, be aware that some of the information here may change before the course is over. For quick reference, the sitemap contains a list of all this site’s pages, along with their dates of last revision.

You are responsible for regularly reading the online help forum section of the Web site.

Course description (from the schedule of classes)

Presents planning and production of Web sites; including: text, graphics, hand-coded (X)HTML, basic cascading style sheets (CSS Level 1), and (X)HTML and CSS validation. Taught on Macintosh. Adaptable to Windows. Recommended preparation: DM 1 or equivalent. Repeatability: May be taken 2 times.

Course objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify online HTML resources.
  2. Apply HTML principles to create Web pages.
  3. Identify and explain Internet protocols.
  4. Analyze components for placement on the page.
  5. Analyze images to scan for screen display.
  6. Identify and assess graphics software to create and manipulate images.
  7. Assess and deduce correct file format to use for images.
  8. Evaluate, plan and design effective interactive hypertext.
  9. Apply design principles to create good looking pages.
  10. Evaluate sound, movies, and other components of the page.
  11. Assess and apply color principles to screen displays.
  12. Analyze and evaluate the page on the Internet.
  13. Explain how to navigate the Web.
  14. Solve design problems to create a site using HTML code.
  15. Analyze, test, validate, and troubleshoot HTML code.
  16. Analyze, test, validate, and troubleshoot CSS (cascading style sheets).
  17. Identify and explain external, internal, and local CSS.
  18. Apply basic cascading style sheets to pages.

Textbook

HTML, XHTML, and CSS textbook

Required text:
HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition: Visual Quickstart Guide
by Elizabeth Castro. Publisher: Peachpit Press, August 2006. List price: $34.99. 456 pages;
ISBN-10: 0321430840; ISBN-13: 9780321430847
Note this is the 6th edition.

Handcoding

This class is about learning raw HTML (hand coding).

You are absolutely not to use any software that writes HTML code for you, such as Dreamweaver, CyberStudio, FrontPage, Homesite, or any WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) software. All work done for this class, except when specified, must be done using a text editor (such as Wordpad for Windows, or TextWrangler for Mac) or a word processor. If you use a word processor such as Microsoft Word (which I do not recommend), do not use the program's "save as HTML" features.

Using software that writes any HTML or CSS code for you, unless authorized by the instructor, is considered cheating and will result in a grade of "no credit" for the course.

Prerequisites

You must be comfortable with your computer's operating system to get the most out of this class. I will assume that you know how to use a computer. Because almost all of the work for this class can be done with a basic text editor, it really makes no difference whether you use Macintosh, Windows, or Unix/Linux to do your work. The important thing is that you know how to edit a text file, save a file onto a disk, and that you know how to navigate through a file system to find a file after you've saved it.

Grading

Grading will be based on your final project, exercises, tests and quizzes and participation in the online class help forum. See the grades page, where you can check your progress and where grades will be periodically posted, for details on grading. Here is the percentage breakdown on how grades are calculated:

There are also extra credit possibilities.

If you are an extremely busy person and you do not need a grade, you may wish to take the class for credit/no credit instead of a grade. There is a place in the Student Survey form (exercise 1) where you can indicate that you elect to take this class on a credit/no credit basis.

A quiz will be given at the very beginning of almost every class. If you miss a class (or arrive late) and miss a quiz, the quiz cannot be made up.

There will be three tests during the term.

Note that there are deadlines throughout the term when your posts to the help forum are tallied for the pupose of awarding points toward your grade. These dates are listed in the course schedule.

Late work is not accepted

When you turn in work, you must also fill out an online "feedback form" stating what you have done, how many points you think you should earn, and any comments or feedback on the exercise. You will not receive any credit for an exercise, or for the final project, if you do not submit the appropriate feedback form by the due date and time. In other words, work is not accepted late. If your work is not finished, submit it by the due date and at least you may receive partial credit.

See the homework frequently asked questions (FAQ) page for answers to questions about homework exercises and how they are graded.

If you lose points on homework you may wish to do some extra credit work to make up the lost points.

Validation

All Web pages done for this class must validate according to the W3C's HTML Validator, initially using the "HTML 4.01 Transitional" standard, and later in the course to the "XHTML 1.0 Strict" standard. All cascading style sheets must validate according to the W3C's CSS Validator.

How this class works

Most classes will be a combination of lecture and hands-on lab. Each class will start with a lecture on new material, during which all computers in the classroom are to be turned off. Then we will take a break, followed by the lab portion of the class where I will help students do the exercise on the computers in the classroom.

You will "turn in" your homework exercise by uploading it to the class Web site and submitting the appropriate online feedback form. Unless explicitly stated, homework is not accepted on paper or via email.

Most classes will begin promptly with a quiz. If you arrive late or miss class, you will not be able to take the quiz. You may wish to do some extra credit work to make up the lost points.

Class pace

This class will move at a good pace, and it is expected that you will be working on a computer outside of class each week. The purpose of the exercises is to keep you learning at a steady pace, and to give you guideposts of where you should be throughout the course. It is important that you complete each exercise on time, making a reasonable effort to get it right. For your own benefit, it is important that the exercises are completed on time, as we build on previous information and it is important to understand the material as we progress through the class. If you fall behind you will not get the optimum benefit from in-class troubleshooting. If you get ahead of the schedule, and work on exercises before they are due, please do not ask questions in class on topics not yet covered so we do not have to discuss the same material twice (but feel free to post such questions to the help forum).

Working from home

If you have an Internet connection at home, you can do your work there, and avoid the Computer Technology Center (Cabrillo computer lab). If you do not have Internet connectivity at home, you will have to use the lab, at least to upload and validate your homework.

Final project

Your final project will be to create an original Web site on a topic of your own choosing, within certain guidelines. As soon as possible, start thinking of a theme for your final project.

Attendance

Attendance is very important. Although class materials are online, this is not an online class. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to get the information, learn the material, and do the exercise. If you miss class, please do not ask me to tell you what you missed; get the notes from a classmate.You are responsible for knowing what was covered during your absence.

Cabrillo College states that students who miss three weeks or more of classes may be dropped from the course. If you have extensive absenteeism and you do not wish to be dropped from the course, please contact me as soon as possible. Roll will be called, or the roll sheet will be circulated, in every class; it is your responsibility to make sure you are marked present. Any student who does not attend the first class, and does not inform me in advance of the reason why, may be dropped to make room for those on the waiting list.

Communication

In all communication with the instructor (written, phone message, or email) please include your name and the name of this class. Send email to john@teacherjohn.com; or leave a phone message at 831-466-3269. Important: when emailing me, always start the subject line with "DM60A" or I may not see your message!

Do not send me any attachments to an e-mail message; if you accidentally send me a message with an attachment, please re-send the message without the attachment, as I delete all messages with attachments and may not see your message.

For help with homework exercises, projects, or topics covered in class, do not ask questions through email; post your questions to the help forum, or see me during office hours. For questions regarding administrative or personal issues, contact me directly; do not post these questions to the forum.

See the contact John page for my office hours.

Courtesy and respect

All computers are to be turned off during lectures. If you will be bringing your own laptop to class, please talk to me first.

Please turn off all cell phones and pagers in class, or at least make them inaudible.

If you are late, please make your entrance quietly and sit in the nearest seat. Please wait until I have dismissed the class before packing up to leave; I do not appreciate shuffling or book slamming during the last few minutes of class. Listen respectfully when others are speaking.

Special needs

Students needing accommodations should contact the instructor ASAP. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations are provided to insure equal opportunity for students with verified disabilities. If you need assistance with an accommodation, please contact Disabled Student Services, Room 810, 479-6379, or Learning Skills Program, Room 1073, 479-6220.

The schedule is subject to change

The nature of the Web is rapid, constant evolution and change. I may modify the course schedule as necessary, perhaps to accommodate a guest speaker or examination of a new technology.