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. (February 28)

Hands-On Exercise: UNIX, SSH, and FTP
Reading: Niederst Chapter 4; Williams Chapter 1
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:563/resources/telnetftp.html
 

Topic 2: Introduction to Web Design Concepts (March 7)

Hands-on Exercise:  Examining Good and Bad Web Design
Reading: Niederst Chapters 1-3, Williams Chapter 6 and 8
Online Reading: Page Design Resources http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/designintro.html
 

Topic 3: Introduction to HTML (March 7)

Hands-on Exercise:  Creating a Bare-Bones Web Page in Basic HTML
Reading: Niederst Chapters 5 and 6
Online Reading: HTML Online Documentation: The Essentials http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/htmlbasics.html
 

Topic 4: Web Page Style Considerations (March 7)

Hands-on Exercise:  Creating a Bare-Bones Web Page in Basic HTML (continued!)
Reading: Niederst Chapter 8
Online Reading: Web Style Online Documentation: The Essentials http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webstylebasics.html
 

Topics 5 & 6: Page Design [Instructor: Cindi Perrine] (March 14); Lecture Notes Powerpoint / PDF (Note: Professor Trygstad will be out of town)

Hands-on Exercise: Page Design
Reading: Nielsen Chapters 2, 3 and 4 (optional text)
Online Reading: http://www.alistapart.com/stories/marsvenus/index.html
 

Topic 7:   HTML Tags, Page Composition, Typefaces and Tag Parameters (March 21st)

Hands-on Exercise:  Using lists and tables, changing faces and adding tag parameters
Reading: Niederst  Chapters 7 and 10; Williams Chapter 12
Online Reading: Typefaces and Tag Parameters: The Essentials: http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/tagparameters.html
 

Topic 8:   Basic Color and Graphics for Web Pages (March 21st)

Hands-on Exercise:  Adding color and graphics
Reading: Niederst  Chapter 9 (and 14, 15 & 17: skim only); Williams Chapters 9-10
Online Reading:  Color and Graphics: The Essentials: http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webgraphics.html
 

Topic 9: Introduction to WYSIWYG Web Page Editors (March 28th)

Hands-on Exercise:  Creating a Basic Web Page in Dreamweaver 3
Reading: Dreamweaver Tutorial Handout
Online Reading:  Web Tools http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webtools.html
 

Topic 10: Advanced Page Design: Using Tables and Frames to Control Page Format (March 28th)

Hands-on Exercise: Controlling page format with tables and frames
Reading: Niederst Chapters 10 and 11
Online Reading: Table and Frame Resources http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/tableframe.html
 

Topic 11:  Preparing Graphics and Animations (April 4th)

Hands-on Exercise: Creating basic Web graphics
Reading: Niederst Chapters 14, 15 &17; Williams Chapter 11
Online Reading: Graphics Tools http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/graphicstools.html
 

Topic 12:  Forms (April 4th)

Hands-on Exercise: Writing forms for Web pages 
Reading: Niederst Chapter 12
Online Reading: Forms http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/forms.html
 

Topic 13: Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (April 11th)

Hands-on Exercise: Adding style sheets to your page
Reading: Niederst Chapter 23
Online Reading: Cascading Style Sheets http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/css.html
 

Topic 14: Page Design Concepts (April 11th)

Hands-on Exercise: Evaluating Pages
Reading: Williams Chapters 5 and 6; Niederst Chapter 10
Online Reading: Web Design Fundamentals http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webdesign.html
 

Topic  15: User Interface Design, the Page Grid and Page Templates (April 18th)

Hands-on Exercise: Designing a user interface using the Page Grid
Reading: Williams Chapter 7
Online Reading: Web User Interface Design http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/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.html
 

Topic  16: Cascading Style Sheets II (CSS) (April 18th)

Hands-on Exercise: Assignment 2 Workshop
Reading: Niederst Chapter 23
Online Reading: Cascading Style Sheets http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/css.html
 

Topic 17 & 18 : Usability Testing [Instructor: Cindi Perrine] (April 25th)

Hands-on Exercise: To be determined
Reading: To be determined
Online Reading: To be determined

 

Topic 19: Typography & Graphic Design for the Web (May 2nd)

Hands-on Exercise: Creating graphical text elements
Readings: Williams Chapters 10 and 12; Fireworks 3 Tutorial Handout
Online Reading: Type for the Web http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webtype.html
 

Topic 20: Dynamic HTML and XML (May 2nd)

Hands-on Exercise: Creating DHTML in Dreamweaver
Readings: Niederst Chapters 24 and 25

Online Reading: New Web Technologies http://itwebmaster.iit.edu:563/resources/webnewstuff.html
 

Final Exam (May 9th)

Assignments
There will be two 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. Eight to twelve 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 April 4th. 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 May 2nd. 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