Prof. Jenna Spevack | Teaching Site

COURSE CALENDAR | WEEK 01 CLASS OUTLINE | Homework

Topics Covered in Class:

1. Introductions
   • Welcome to Web Design and Implementation. In the first half of this class we will learn the basic tools for producing contemporary, standards compliant web sites. These tools will include: XHTML (Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language) for structure and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for presentation. Later we will enhance our sites with images using Illustrator/Adobe Photoshop/Image Ready. We will use Dreamweaver for coding and site maintenance.
   • We will be designing and developing 1 major project: a professional portfolio site.
   • The co-requisite class, Information Architecture, will cover in tandem, the basics of web page design principles: good navigability, interface design, effective communication, and the importance of a interoperable and accessible sites.
2. Syllabus
3. Technology and Vocabulary of the WWW:
   • How the Web Works (animation)
   • Connecting to the Internet (animation)
   • The Glossary of Geek
4. THE PRESENT: Web Design = Functionality + Usability + Aesthetics
   • "Functionality" refers to the features or functions provided by the product. The primary focus is on what the user can do with the product.
   • "Usability" refers to the ability to use a product easily, effectively, and efficiently to perform a task. The primary focus is on how people work with a product.
   • "Aesthetics" are a set of generally agreed upon ideas about what makes effective communication in a given medium. Establishing an aesthetical sensibility requires that you look beyond your own personal likes and dislikes to evaluate a work within the medium in which it is presented.
5. THE PAST:
   1. The History of the Web | ONE PAGE SUMMARY
   2. As we remember it...
   3. The Living Internet
6. THE FUTURE: The Semantic Web Explanation
   • "The Semantic Web is a web of data. There is lots of data we all use every day, and its not part of the web. I can see my bank statements on the web, and my photographs, and I can see my appointments in a calendar. But can I see my photos in a calendar to see what I was doing when I took them? Can I see bank statement lines in a calendar? Why not? Because we don't have a web of data. Because data is controlled by applications, and each application keeps it to itself." *
   • The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. It is based on the Resource Description Framework (RDF).
   • How can following Web Standards help us prepare for the Future?
7. What are Web Standards?
   • "Web standards are intended to be a common base ...a foundation for the world wide web so that browsers, software and other non-human devices can understand the same basic vocabulary"
   • At the core of web standards we have Semantic Markup.
8. XHTML tutorial:
   • The Basic Rules and Syntax of XHTML
   • HTML Beginner Tutorial: http://www.htmldog.com/guides/htmlbeginner/
   • Basic XHMTL tags: html, head, title, body, h1-h6, p, ul, ol, li, a

 

Homework | Week 1

1. Bring to class the web page we started today. We will continue to work on this page next class.
2. Review the following:
   1. What are Web Standards?
   2. The Basic Rules and Syntax of XHTML
   3. Tags: html, head, title, body, h1-h6, p, ul, ol, li, a