ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: WIL GERKEN
I'm the CEO and Web Engineer of DesertNet. My background and experience is in computer programming/engineering, software development, site design and architecture, building online communities, content aggregation, content repurposing and data management. I've been involved in the development of over 100 web sites and currently maintain more than 40,000 web documents.
My company, DesertNet, has won hundreds of awards in design and new media. For an up to date list of some of our latest awards and industry recognition, click here.
Selected works include:
- Explore the World Wide Web (usage, searching, site reviews)
- Configure and operate Internet software (browsers, editors, tools)
- Learn HTML (beginner, intermediate, and advanced)
- Upload / download pages to a web server (maintain a site using FTP)
- Design and create individual pages and larger web sites
- Explore the design process (interview, storyboarding, site expansion)
- Enhance with multimedia effects
- Exploration of New Media
Experience on computers and an understanding of files, folders, directory structures, switching between multiple applications, a basic understanding of the Internet and some previous experience in design and/or layout. This is a hands on course.
Attendance is mandatory except for emergency or illness. Please inform the instructor if you will not be attending class. Three absences without prior notification to the instructor could result in withdrawal from the class. It is your responsibility to get information, materials, and to make up work missed during your absence. Attendance makes up 10% of your final grade.
Rodeo Days: February 19 - 20
Spring Break: March 16 - 22
Behavior that is disruptive to the class or interferes with the lecture will be dealt with by asking you to stop. If you continue, you will be asked to leave the class. Persistent misconduct could result in you being dropped from the class.
At least one of the following: 2-5 Floppy disks, 1 Zip disk, or 1 Syquest disk to back up any projects you are working on. Note: You are responsible for your own backups.
TEXTBOOK AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
Required:
- Microsoft's HTML Reference guide (print out)
Suggested (NOT required):
- Teach Yourself Web Publishing With Html in a Week by Laura Lemay ISBN: 1575213362
- Designing Web Graphics by Lynda Weinman ISBN 1-56205-715-4
- Professional Web Design: Theory and Technique on the Cutting Edge by Molly E. Holzschlag ISBN 0-7615-0759-0
- Creating Killer Interactiv Web Sites by Adjacency Brand New Media ISBN 1-56830-373-4
The evaluation of your work is subjective, based on the instructor's experience in the field. Your work will be evaluated on the demonstration of the following criteria: fulfillment of goals outlined in the project or exercise, accuracy of coding, aesthetics, imagination, and creativity. Projects and exercises make up 80% of your final grade.
Site reviews are due by the Sunday evening of each week they are scheduled unless otherwise noted by the instructor. You may make up site reviews by turning them in late for half credit. Site reviews are to be posted on the class message board which you can get to from the class web site. There will be a total of 6 site reviews. One review may be thrown away, missed, or skipped, leaving you with 5 reviews for your site review grade average. Site reviews make up 10% of your final grade.
SITE REVIEW REQUIREMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
All site reviews should be a minimum of 150-200 words. The review should consist of some of the elements below, but you are free to be creative and explore your own reviewing style.
- Overview - Your personal opinion and initial reactions.
- Graphics - How do they look? Do they add or
take away from the professional elements or
value of this site? Are they speedy, and does that
matter? Are they in tune with the company/site or
are they just eye-candy? How are the use of
colors? How about monitor width and space
usage?
- HTML - Are there errors? Are the pages
professional and slick or are they a "do-it-yourself"
looking project? What is the level of HTML
usage? Do they use frames, if so do they use
them wisely? Are there links, do they enhance the
site and offer you more information?
- Toys/Multimedia - Are there any? Do they fit into
the scheme of objectives for this site or are they
just toys? Do they distract from the mission of this
site or add to the experience?
- Copy - Is the copy professionally written? Any
spelling or grammatical errors? Does the writing
fit the tone of the site? Does the writing appear to
be shoveled online from another media or is it
well adjusted for the screen?
- Summary - Did this site meet its apparent objectives? Would you do business or seek entertainment from this site? Would you return based on your reactions to this site, or did they chase you away never to return? Would you tell a friend about this site?
Your semester grade is based on the following criteria:
Attendance 10%
Projects and Exercises 80%
Site Reviews 10%
The semester grading sequence is as follows:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
65-69 = D
Below 65 = F
Office Phone: 206-6332 (messages only)
Email: wil@desert.net
Class Message Board: http://bbs.desert.net/~6/
©1997-98 Wil Gerken