Web Design Syllabus

Web Design is an introductory web design course where students will learn what makes a web site useful and attractive, and put that information into practice by developing a web site for a ‘client’. The client can be a school, business, teacher, coach, or organization needing web site development.

The letter 'I', an icon that means 'information'.

It is best if clients are real, but a fictitious or temporary client can be used with instructor approval. Students can propose clients (instructor approved) or have a client assigned to them. It is a goal of this course to have an informative web site available online after the student leaves the class. Web sites and student conduct must meet the policies of Oregon State University. If web site content would not be allowed in a public school, it will not be allowed in this course.

Skills Needed When You Start This Class

Your school may or may not have prerequisites for this class. You should be familiar with: word processing, emailing, Internet use, downloading, installing software, file naming conventions (including file extensions), folder structures, and copy/paste operations. It is helpful if you already know about image processing, spreadsheets, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, or other similar software. Students with good computer skills, but no computer class credits, can still complete this class and make a worthy web site.

You do not need prior knowledge of HTML programming. This class is not a 'programming' class, but you will learn some very basic HTML programming during the class, and you will also learn to use Java applets.

Course Outline

Course Pretest	Take the Course Pretest and get teacher approval before proceeding to the Lessons.
Lesson 1 Getting Started	Task 1: Getting a client & Discussion Board orientation Task 2: Web site style reviews Task 3: HTML editor/tutorial selection, skills check
Lesson 2 Are We There Yet?	Task 1: Teaching yourself HTML editing Task 2: Teaching yourself HTML editing, part 2 Task 3: Making a placeholder web page
Lesson 3 Getting Ready	Task 1: Beginning some practice web pages Task 2: Keeping order on your web pages with tables Task 3: Adding images to your document Task 4: Hyperlinks
Lesson 4 Image Processing	Task 1: GIF files Task 2: JPG files Task 3: Practicing with 'Print Screen'
Lesson 5 HTML & Style Sheets	Task 1: Tweaking HTML code Task 2: Web colors and hex codes Task 3: Making a cascading style sheet
Lesson 6 Other Stuff	Task 1: Other software Task 2: Web ethics - copyrights and fair use Task 3: Using Java applets
Lesson 7 Project Time!	Creating a website for your client.
Lesson 8 (and beyond)	Other lessons are added if deemed necessary by the Instructor.

Course Format

This course is 'asynchronous' in that there is no requirement that students or the instructor be online and 'in class' at any particular time. Attendance will not be taken, but apparent lack of participation for any extended time will result in contact from the instructor, and it may affect the final grade.

The course has due dates for assignments, and during the project phase of the course (Lesson 7) weekly reports are required.

The Discussion Board is how and where our class 'meets', and participation is mandatory. The Discussion Board is where assignments are turned in, and it is also where commentary and opinion are to be presented. Private correspondence is by email.

Students are encouraged to interact with each other through the Discussion Board, email, or face-to-face at school. Interaction is especially encouraged for the purpose of design, techniques, or web site content.

Grading

The final grade for this course will be determined as follows:

1	Discussion Board participation/contribution. This is the interaction participation that is in addition to submitting your assignments. See the Guidelines for Grading Discussion Board Postings	20%
2	Lessons 1 thru 6, plus any added Lessons. The ability to complete the various tasks will vary with each student's access to software and equipment. Therefore, grading will be based on each student's genuine attempts to complete the tasks and the level of success with consideration given for software/equipment constraints.	30%
3	Work Ethic - your level of professionalism toward the class, your client, and your Project. This grade reflects the judgment of the instructor based on the content of the student's Discussion Board entries, the instructor's contacts with the student, and input from the student's client.	20%
4	Final Web Site - based on Guidelines for a Great Web Site!. Your final presentation is your web site.	30%

Prior to determining your final grade, and at various times during the course, your instructor may contact you to review your work. You should be able to explain any aspect of your work.

Progress grades will be posted for Discussion Board participation and for Lessons 1 thru 6. Grade contributions from Work Ethic and the Final Web Site will not be determined until end of the term.

Instructor Info

Randy Boyd, PE
Email: randy@randyboyd.com Email or the Blackboard Discussion Board are the preferred methods of contact.
Phone: (home) 541-752-7200.
Office: Best times to call will vary. See the Announcements for current information.

Instructor's Background

Since 2000, Mr. Boyd has taught science, technology, and education courses at Memorial Middle School (Albany), Corvallis High School, West Albany High School, and Oregon State University. He currently teaches Technical Design at Cheldelin Middle School in Corvallis.

Mr. Boyd is a registered professional engineer. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Boyd worked as a consulting engineer designing electrical power & lighting systems for commercial buildings. He has also worked at electric utility companies, and is currently a co-owner/operator of an Internet mail order business, www.frogstore.com, and other web sites.

Mr. Boyd coached the Corvallis HS FIRST Robotics Team (2001-2002), coached 'Odyssey of the Mind' teams for 5 years, "Science Olympiad" one year, and coached girls softball one year (long ago). He has been married over 25 years and has two grown children.