Syllabus for CIS86: Web Site Design

Overview and Personal Info

Course Name: CIS 86, Web Site Design • Mendocino Coast Campus, College of the Redwoods
# of Credits: 2 CEUs [Grade or Pass/No Pass option]
Day and Time: Wednesday nights, January 21–May 13, 2009; 6:00-9:10 pm
Location: Room 306, the Mixed Lab room
Instructor: Dennis F. Freeze: 707-937-1729 • class@monolithdesign.com
Web Site: www.MonolithDesign.com/class for class-related info.
The preferred way to contact me is through email. I respond promptly at all hours of day and night. A phone call should be your last resort, and please restrict calls to weekday afternoons.

An introduction to design and construction of Web sites for the Internet, using Web page design software to create Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Students will create their own pages and post them to the Internet via FTP.

Students will create and manage their own Web page/site on the Internet.
- Students will develop a working knowledge of HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), project development, and file management for Web sites.
- Students will develop skills in project management, problem solving, and storyboard design and layout.
- Students will use a Web development system for building and synchronizing their sites. We will use free, open-source software that can be installed on any computer.
Students will go from an initial concept to finished product for a small Web site.
- Students will learn to analyze and solve problems in their designs and HTML code.
- Each student will create a Web site as their final project. Weekly projects will both teach the basics and add specific features to each student’s site, resulting in a well-rounded Web site.
Read more about Objectives on this page.

Dates: Jan 21, 28; February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13 (final date). Spring Break is the week of March 16, so we will not have class on Wednesday the 18th.
Time: 6:00 - 9:10 pm [Required Breaks: 10 min/hour]
Lab Time: The Library has 17 computers configured with Firefox and the key extensions, and it is open from 8:30-6:30 Mon-Thurs, and 8:30-3:30 on Fridays. If you use one of these computers for class work, please logon as "mm-student", and remember to log out when you are finished. This will ensure that the right software is available to you.
Weekly Class Sessions: This page will be filled in as we go, and it will contain a week-by-week summary of what the class covered, assignments that were given out or due, and similar info.
Projects: projects will be due each week after the first for at least the first half of the term, and the final project will be presented on the last evening of class.
Exams: instead of a final exam, each student will present their Web site to the class in the final class session.

Although there are no formal prerequisites, this is not a class in basic computer skills. I will assume that students have a basic understanding and skills for using the Internet, including Web browsing.
Estimated time allocations for class activities:
- 15% : Storyboard Design and Layout
- 15% : Project Management / Upload
- 10% : Problem Solving
- 60% : HTML/CSS Programming

"HTML, XHTML, & CSS (6th Edition)", Elizabeth Castro
"Creating a Web Page with HTML", Elizabeth Castro
Both textbooks are available for sale in the bookstore. The Library has a reference copy of "HTML for the World Wide Web (5th Edition)".
For more information about the class and pointers to more resources (books, articles, and Web sites), visit www.MonolithDesign.com/class.

Check the final project evaluation criteria page, which includes a small caveat about attendance.

"The above schedule and procedures are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances."