Designing Educational Materials Online I

Syllabus

Part I of this course will require students to apply perspectives on teaching and curriculum to the design of original interactive Internet materials. The course will cover the elements of Website design, including selection of materials, organization and navigational design, rhetorical strategies, visual layout, and interactivity. Participants will learn the HyperText Markup Language of the World Wide Web, as well as how to use HTML and graphics editors, scanners, and digital recording equipment to create their own original backgrounds, illustrations, digitized photographs, and diagrams for educational Websites.

Instructor Information:

Course web site: http://www.learnwebstandards.org/design1

Jen Kramer
E-mail: jen@focusedconsulting.com

Michele Hamer, TA
Email: mbydesign01@yahoo.com

Required Resources:

Texts:
Required reading:

Recommended reading:

Software:
REQUIRED:

  • Adobe/Macromedia Dreamweaver 8
  • Adobe Photoshop CS2
  • Microsoft Word

Class Format

Biweekly lectures will be presented. Examples will be presented at such a pace that the student may follow along. A homework assignment will be given with each lecture for completion before posting of the next lecture for the first 4 classes. The final classes will have no formal homework, but you will be expected to be working on your final project.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able:

  1. To understand the five S's of website planning and explain the process in planning a website
  2. To understand basic concepts of website usability and incorporate them into planning and construction of websites
  3. To build a basic, static website using Macromedia Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop

Requirements

  1. Class participation. Regular class attendance online and in person is required. Participation in class discussions and a willingness to help other students is essential.
  2. Research. The instructor will not present all possible Dreamweaver and Photoshop techniques and tricks in class. You will be expected to research some of this material yourself and incorporate your learning into your homework assignments and final project. You may use the books recommended above, your own book choices, or online materials to do this.
  3. Homework deliverables Homework deliverables will be described as we go. It is expected that these will be submitted to the instructor via a course website. Comments and grading will be returned by FirstClass email.
  4. Final Project. The final deliverable and the end goal of this course is the ability to develop a well-planned website, from site conception to launch.

Course Outline / Content

Class 1: Intro to Web Concepts, Strategy and Scope Planes
Introductions, Strategy and Scope planes, competitive reviews, planning a website, basic computer skills, client vs. server
Class 2: HTML, FTP, Structure Plane
Basic HTML tags, what FTP is and how it works, site structure and site mapping
Class 3: Dreamweaver, Skeleton Plane
Intro to Dreamweaver, wireframe diagramming and how it's useful
Class 4: Photoshop and Surface Plane part 1
Jen will not be here this class. Kevin will introduce you to Photoshop and get you making some buttons. Site critiques.
Class 5: Photoshop and Surface Plane part 2
1/2 class: Jen will answer Photoshop questions, discuss site critiques. The other 1/2 class will be an open lab for everyone to work on final projects and ask questions as needed.
Class 6: Dreamweaver and Photoshop Were Meant For Each Other
Using both products together, organizing files, finalizing sites, etc.
Class 7: Review, Final project presentation
and we're all done!

Evidence of Accomplishment:

  • Participation – 20%
  • Biweekly assignments - 30%
  • Final Project – 50%

Please turn in all assignments on time. On time is by 1:00 PM on class Saturdays. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, late assignments will be marked down 10 %.

Please do not put off posting your homework until the last possible second. Technology can fail you at the last minute -- and it often does. I encourage you to post your homework earlier than 1:00 PM, just to make sure you can connect to the Internet, your computer didn't crash, FirstClass is up and running, and so forth.

Miscellaneous

It is recommended that you have at least one current back up of all your work at all times. It is not unheard of to have two or even three back-ups. Storing files on a thumb drive, CD, DVD, external hard drive, or some other external storage device is a fast and economical method for performing frequent back-ups. No matter which method you use, the important thing is to back up often!

Participation rubric:

You will be expected to choose a peer partner or partners at the beginning of the term. Provide feedback and assistance on their work as required. At the end of the course, you will be expected to document that you have worked with this person or people over the past term, and that you have provided adequate feedback to them.

Mastery Above Average Satisfactory Emerging

You participated in all of the required activities expertly and independently. Not only did you show evidence of understanding what was required, but you went beyond that expectation and applied these activities to situations outside the course routinely. You assumed leadership responsibilities often and effectively.

You participate in all of the required activities and may have taken the lead in several of them. You often demonstrated that you were well prepared and that you could connect the discussion topics to your own situations. You may have mentored other students or suggested additional materials to the instructor as well.

You participated in most of the required activities exactly as directed. You showed evidence that you understood the activities, but not necessarily that you enjoyed them or applied them further than required. You may also have been reminded to participate actively, either from a teammate or from the instructor.

You participated in some of the activities required, but not all of them. Or, you participated in many of the activities, but you did them hastily or with little preparation. You need to participate more actively or prepare more thoroughly, or write to the instructor for additional guidance on improving your participation.

© 2006 Jen Kramer. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate without permission.