Understanding hypertext markup language (HTML) is essential for designers who wish to implement their creative visions on-line, and it is also surprisingly easy to learn. Students in this course learn the HTML attributes and commands used to create web pages, link to other files or pages, format text, integrate graphics and manage page layout. After creating their projects in HTML, students learn to upload them to a web server using file transfer protocol (FTP) software. Topics of discussion include meta-information (for helping search engines find your web site), cross-platform issues and browser compatibility.
This course provide students with an orientation and introduction to Web-based content generation Using HTML and CSS. The HyperText Markup Language is the original language of the Web and still a very good language to start with for providing website content. But for those who have more detailed electronic publishing requirements, Cascading Style Sheets provide the opportunity to layout Web pages more exactly as if they were being designed for a physical medium (like paper). Students perform rigorous exercises to gain confidence in using technologies and then build towards generating a website of their own choosing as a final project. As this is an online class, students are expected to have strong self-motivational and organizational skills. Class materials will be provided through required textbook readings and homework exercises, on-line readings, and weekly on-line video lectures.
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Week Of
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Topic
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Assignment
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Week of 14 September
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Course Overview
- Course Introduction & Policies
- Instructor and Student Introductions
- Opening Pre-test of Student Skills
- How HTML, XHTML, and CSS fits into the Big Picture of the Web
- Comparative Web Page Examples (PHP and Flash)
- Syntax Review / Introduction
- Managing HTML and CSS text files
- HTML Document Structure
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- Look at our class book companion site at: HTML 4 For the World Wide Web Book Site.
- Watch the week one video which gives an important overview on how to be successful in this class by participating in the on-line Forums.
- Read the Welcome to Class document I provide you.
- Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of your HTML book.
- Write a 1000+ word essay on your current understanding of HTML, XHTML, and CSS (or if you have not exposure at all, your Web use behavior and personal goals for the class)
- Surf the Web and investigate the code behind Web pages of interest to you. Use that task to motivate your interest in making pages of your own.
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Week of 21 September
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Introduction to HTML and CSS
Goals:
- Let's Do Some Basic HTML with CSS
- Software for Creating Web Pages:
- Browser
- Text Editor
- HTML Editor (Go Live, Front Page, Dream Weaver)
- File Transfer Program (to upload files to a Web server)
- The Standard Setting Organization: The World Wide Web Consortium (w3.org)
- Vocabulary:
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- Watch the week two video.
- Read the Week 2 lecture support I provide you.
- Read Chapter 2 of your HTML book and begin to play with the HTML and CSS in Chapters 1 and 2.
- Read the Project 1 Requirements document I provide you.
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Week of 28 September
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Introduction to XHTML
Goals:
- Differences between HTML and XHTML
- XHTML is an XML-encoding of HTML
- Why use XHTML?
- Links and Images
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- Watch the week three video.
- Read the Week 3 lecture support I provide you.
- Read Chapters 3 and 4 of your HTML book and interact with the examples.
- Read the updated Project 1 Requirements document I provided you.
- Optional: Read my XML Primer that I require engineering students to read who take a similar course as this one.
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Week of 5 October
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HTML Boot Camp
Goals:
- Complete mastery of HTML text formatting
- Lists and dictionaries
- Character Entities
- Meta-information
- Proficiency using CE Link Forums
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Week of 12 October
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HTML Boot Camp
Goals:
- Adding Color with HTML
- Adding Color with CSS style attributes
- Understanding hexidecimal color notation
- Understanding image file types
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- Watch the week five video.
- Read the Week 5 lecture support I provide you.
- Read Chapters 5 and 6 of your HTML book and interact with the examples.
- Continue to work on Project 1 — reading the Forums for ideas from your fellow students.
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Week of 19 October
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CSS Boot Camp
Goals:
- History of Electronic Publishing
- Internal Style Sheets
- External Style Sheets
- Cascading Style Sheet Layout
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- Watch the week six video.
- Read the Week 6 lecture support I provide you.
- Read Chapters 7 and 8 of your HTML book and interact with the examples.
- Continue to work on Project 1 — participating in the Forums with ideas for and from your fellow students.
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Week of 26 October
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Advanced HTML Concepts
Goals:
- Anchors and Links
- CSS Layout
- Table Layout
- Area Maps
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- Watch the week seven video.
- Read the Week 7 lecture support I provide you.
- Read Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of your HTML book and interact with the examples.
- Project 1 Due on Sunday, November 8th
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Week of 2 November
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Project 2 Discussion
Goals:
- Templates
- On-line design review
- Project 2 Questions and Answers
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Week of 9 November
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Advanced CSS Concepts
Goals:
- Table-based Layout
- Compared to CSS Layout
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Week of 16 November
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Putting everything together
Goals:
- Forms Development
- Develop your process for providing consistency across a website.
- Usability tips and techniques
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- Watch the Week Ten Video.
- Read the Week 10 Lecture document I provide you.
- Investigate Chapter 17 of your course book and interact with the examples.
- Keep investigating the Project 2 templates for your familiarity.
- Work on Project 2 by playfully trying out some ideas you have (and searching the Web for designs you like).
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Week of 23 November
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Dynamic and HTML 4 Enhancements
Goals:
- Layers
- HTML and CSS interaction techniques
- Advanced properties
- Mouse and keyboard interaction techniques
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Week of 30 November
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Javascript Considerations
Goals:
- Understand why Javascript is so popular in Web pages
- Practice implementing popular Javascript functions into our projects.
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- I will send out some thoughts on JavaScript after November 30th so you can focus on your project 2.
- Given all the updates I got from class on Project 2, I will hold off on the video until next week.
- Final project due December 13th although if you need an extension, you can get it to me after that as long as grades are not due yet.
- If you miss the December 13th submission deadline, you won't be eligible for entering your submission into the class voting process.
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Week of 7 December
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Last Day of Class
Goals:
- Review of all e-mail questions that were relevant for all students.
- Discussion of class experience.
- Where should you go from here?
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- Look at the Class Project 2 Submissions.
- Attend our get-together at 20 Washington Place on June 4th, 5-8pm.
- Watch the Video when I e-mail you with my final thoughts.
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