Schedule of Topics
This schedule is subject to change and revision; the latest version will always be on this page.

Topic 1: Introduction to the Web and Web-Enabling Technologies.(September 6)

Hands-on Exercise: UNIX, SSH, and FTP
Reading: Niederst Chapter 1, 2 & 3
Online Reading: Network and Computer Use Policies http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/policies.html
"Using a UNIX Shell Account" from Special Edition Using the Internet, Fourth Edition
http://docs.rinet.ru:8083/UsingInternet/apa/apa.htm
Telnet, SSH and FTP http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/telnetftp.html
 

Topic 2: Introduction to Web Design Concepts (September 6)

Hands-on Exercise: Examining Good and Bad Web Design
Reading: Niederst Chapter 4
Online Reading: Page Design Resources http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/designintro.html
 

Topic 3: Define Your Site: Mission, Vision, Purpose and Goals (September 13)

Reading: Niederst Chapter 5
Online Reading: Web Strategy http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/strategy.html
 

Topic 4:Getting Your Pages on the Server (September 13)

Hands-on Exercise: Getting Your Pages on the Server
Reading: Niederst Chapters 4, 5 & 18
Online Reading: Using the Web Publishing Wizard http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webpublishingwizard.html
 

Topic 5: Introduction to HTML (September 20)

Hands-on Exercise: Creating a Bare-Bones Web Page in Basic HTML
Reading: Niederst Chapters 6 & 9
Online Reading: HTML Online Documentation: The Essentials http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/htmlbasics.html
 

Topic 6: Web Page Style Considerations (September 20)

Reading: Niederst Chapter 19
Online Reading: Web Style Online Documentation: The Essentials: http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webstylebasics.html
 

Topic 7: HTML Tags, Page Composition, Typefaces and Tag Parameters (September 27)

Hands-on Exercise: Using lists and tables, changing faces and adding tag parameters
Reading: Niederst Chapters 7 & 10
Online Reading: Typefaces and Tag Parameters: The Essentials: http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/tagparameters.html
 

Topic 8: Basic Color and Graphics for Web Pages (September 27)

Hands-on Exercise: Adding color and graphics
Reading: Niederst Chapters 8 & 12
Online Reading:  Color and Graphics: The Essentials: http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webgraphics.html
 

Topic 9: Introduction to WYSIWYG Web Page Editors (October 4)

Hands-on Exercise:  Creating a Basic Web Page in Dreamweaver
Readings: Dreamweaver Tutorial Handout
Online Reading: Web Tools http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webtools.html
 

Topic 10: Page Design Concepts (October 4)

Hands-on Exercise: Evaluating Pages
Reading: Niederst Chapter 17 & 18
Online Reading: Web Design Fundamentals http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webdesign.html
 

Topic 11: Advanced Page Design: Using Tables and Frames to Control Page Format (October 11)

Hands-on Exercise: Controlling page format with tables and frames
Readings: Niederst Chapters 10 and 11
Online Reading:Table and Frame Resources http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/tableframe.html
 

Topic 12: Forms (October 11)

Hands-on Exercise: Writing forms for Web pages 
Online Reading: Forms http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/forms.html
 

Topic 13: Preparing Graphics and Animations (October 18)

Hands-on Exercise: Creating basic Web graphics
Reading: Niederst Chapter 14 & 15
Online Reading: Graphics Tools http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/graphicstools.html
 

Topic 14: Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (October 18)

Hands-on Exercise: Adding style sheets to your page
Online Reading: Cascading Style Sheets http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/css.html

 

Topic 15: User Interface Design, the Page Grid and Page Templates (October 25)

Hands-on Exercise: Designing a user interface using the Page Grid
Online Reading: Web User Interface Design http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webui.html
Online Resource: Web Page Grid Template http://itwebmaster.iit.edu/resources/Gridtool.pdf
Web Page Pixelmeasure Template http://itwebmaster.iit.edu/resources/pixelmeasure.htm
 

Topic 16: Web Server/Hosting Options and Domain Name Registration (October 25)

Reading: Niederst Chapter 3
Online Reading: Finding a Web Host
http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webhost.html
Domain Names
http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/domainnames.html
 

Topic 17: Web Site Structural Management (November 1)

Hands-on Exercise: Assignment 2 Work
Online Reading: Web Site Management http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webmgmt.html
 

Topic 18: Design Standards for Site Consistancy (November 1)

Hands-on Exercise: Drafting a design standard
Readings: Handouts
Online Reading: Web Standards http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webstandards.html
 

Topic 19: Web Site Testing (November 8)

Online Reading: Testing Your Web Site
http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webtesting.html
 

Topic 20: Dynamic HTML and XML (November 8)

Hands-on Exercise: Assignment 2 site review

Online Reading: New Web Technologies http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:516/resources/webnewstuff.html

Assignments
There will be two major assignments and a final exam for the class.

Assignment 1 will be an evaluation and critique of Web site designs of a set of selected sites on a related topic area. The evaluation will address overall impression, application of design principles, design considerations, usability, navigability, accuracy of information, validity of information and overall usefulness of the site. Seven to ten sites should be examined. The report should be at a minimum of three pages single-spaced but should not exceed ten pages single-spaced; it should be as long as is necessary to adequately convey the evaluation. This assignment is due September 27. It may be transmitted electronically, placed on the web, or submitted typed or printed on paper.

Assignment 2 is a Web site encompassing the principles of design taught in the class and demonstrating a mastery of Web design tools and concepts. If all hands-on exercises are completed this assignment should require little or no additional work. Specific grading criteria for the assignment will be distributed by the instructor about halfway through the class; the assignment is due November 8th. Each student will be given an account on a server to complete this assignment and will submit the assignment by placing the required pages in their Web directory on the server as directed by the instructor. Specific instructions for this assignment may be found on the Assignment 2 page.

The Final Exam will be a certification-style exam consisting of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and short essay questions to demonstrate mastery of the material covered; questions will be based on the learning objectives for each topic.

Grading
Grading criteria for the class will be as follows:

• Outstanding work reflecting substantial effort:
  90-100%: A
• Adequate work fully meeting that expected of a graduate student:
  80-89.99%: B
• Weak but still marginally satisfactory work:
  70-79.99%: C
• Substandard work not meeting reasonable expectations:
  60-69.99%: D
• Unsatisfactory work:
  0-59.99%: E