ISM 116-02: Web Design and Development
Spring 2015 Syllabus
Instructor:
Co-Instructor:
Email:
Office:
Online Office Hours:
Maryellen Demaret
Dr. A F Salam
Maryellen.demaret@uncg.edu
u
Bryan
439
By Email (preferred method) or by appointment
Catalog Description:
Students learn skills needed to design effective web pages by studying the best practices in site
design and using leading-edge design and development tools and techniques.
Course Objective:
This course is designed to teach students to design, develop, and maintain a web site. Students
will learn web design and development techniques such as: defining the purpose for a web site;
creating an information architecture; designing layouts with text, hyperlinks, images, tables, etc.;
styling web pages; and adding rich media to the web site. Development environments like Adobe
Dreamweaver and content management systems like WordPress, applications such as Aptana,
HTML Kit, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP and other design programs may be utilized during the
course. Students will refine their development skills by using these technologies to complete a
series of course assignments and projects. Students will complete weekly assignments and two
major projects: an individual project and a group project. The individual project demonstrates
each student’s design and develop capabilities. The group project demonstrates students’ ability
to work in teams to complete a project. This skill is extremely important as a practitioner. As part
of these major projects, students are expected to design and develop fully functional web sites
that can be added to their professional portfolios. Where possible, students will work on realworld problems for the group project. These skills enable students to produce or transform
websites according to precise specifications, whether they use a fully-featured development
environment, a Content Management System, or write code from the ground-up using a simple
text editor.
Upon completion of the class, students will be able to:
1. Plan a web design project.
2. Design the content, information architecture, and layout of web sites.
3. Use design tools and strategies to implement a design.
4. Understand the basic concepts of HTML and CSS and use them appropriately.
5. Understand the basic of PHP and HTML5.
6. Enhance the visual design of a website by using good design principles.
7. Test the usability of website.
Materials:
1. Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 Comprehensive, Series: Shelly Cashman; Author:
Hoisington/Minnick; Publisher: Cengage Learning; 1st edition (November 1, 2012)
(Mandatory)
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2. ADOBE CS6 INTRODUCTORY ACCESS(6MO), EDITION: 2013, PUBLISHER:
CENGAGE L, ISBN: 9781285453477 (mandatory)
3. “Don’t Make me Think” by Steve Krug, New Riders Publishing. (optional)
4. “Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites; 2nd Edition” by Patrick J.
Lynch and Sarah Horton, Yale University Press. (This text book can be viewed from
www.webstyleguide.com)
5. “CSS: The Missing Manual” by David Sawyer McFarland, OREILLY Publishing. (optional)
6. W3C online Tutorial: http://www.w3schools.com/
In Order to Take This Course, You Must Have:
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Access to a computer.
Continuous broadband Internet access.
The ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g. Adobe Reader or Flash).
The ability to download and save files and documents to a computer.
The ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.).
Software capable of editing plain text-formatted files (e.g. Notepad, Textedit, Gedit, or Vim;
NOTE: students may want to install free and open-source software with convenient features
for editing and creating HTML and CSS files, e.g. Bluefish, Notepad X, or Notepad++).
Access to Canvas Class Management System: You should be familiar with Canvas and I
expect you to check it daily (https://canvas.uncg.edu).
Access to iSpartan email and calendar: Most individual communications outside Canvas
environment will be done through email. I expect you to check your iSpartan email daily. I
encourage you to email me immediately whenever you feel you need help. I will respond to
the emails within 24 hours during weekdays, and within one working day on holidays and
weekends. Please check Email Etiquette section on the last page of this syllabus for
appropriate conduct.
Time commitment
Desire to learn
Willingness to take what is presented and work with it to practice in your own way
Instructional Method:
This course will be delivered online in modules for each topic. Each module contains a
combination of course lectures, required readings, examples, discussion board topics, and handson computer exercises. In order to complete this course, you will need to work through each
module and all of its assigned materials weekly. You will need to look closely at provided
readings and example materials and experiment with them using your browser and editor and
participate in discussion. Modules in each week will give students a basic understanding of good
design principles and a vocabulary sufficient to guide them as they explore website design on
their own. Students are expected to learn how to find information to solve the problems they
encounter in assignments. Since technology is ever-changing, knowing how to find answers is
extremely important. Each module includes examples which will be used to demonstrate the
application of concepts discussed in units. Students will then have the opportunity to practice the
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techniques discussed in lecture by completing hands-on assignments. Hands-on learning
assignments may focus on content not discussed in lecture to encourage students to learn to find
information and solve development problems. A great deal of learning in this class is selfdirected. Use of materials and resources outside of the required text books is encouraged.
Homework assignments and projects challenge students to apply the knowledge learned in class,
and to learn to find information on their own to ensure that they are able to stay up to date with
the latest technological advances.
Participation:
Online Discussion Board and Forums
One or more topics will be posted weekly on Canvas discussion board relevant to the module covered
that week. Each student is required to post at least one thread per week/ per module. High-quality
postings on the discussion board are encouraged. All responses by students need to be posted by
Sunday of each week at 11:55 PM.
A help forum is also created on the discussion board for students to post questions or problems
relative to topics covered in each module for their classmates to answer.
Assignments:
The nature of this class is hands on. Thus, assignments represent a significant portion of the work
load for this course. Assignments should be submitted as designated on the assignment. NO late
assignments will be accepted.
Web Planning Projects:
Students will complete two website planning documents for the two class projects (e.g., the
individual and team project). The planning documents should follow the outline designated in
course readings and lectures. An assignment sheet will be available later in the semester.
Individual Project
Students will be asked to develop a webpage with some advance functions which will be covered
after spring break.
Group Project
Students will form design teams (4 or 5 people per group) to work on a group web project. This
project should be based on a real life business case (e.g., for-profit, non-profit, or governmental)
that requires the students to plan, design and develop a fully functional web site. Business cases
may be assigned to students, although students are encouraged to suggest projects to the
instructor. Several teams will work on each project.
The guidelines for this project are open ended. Students are encouraged to start thinking early
about team composition. Topics that may be offensive or inappropriate should be cleared first
with the instructor. Team projects include the web site files, team charter, and usability test
reviews and write-up. Students should submit a presentation of the group project on canvas. Final
group project is submitted as published website. An assignment sheet will be available later in
the semester.
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Essay:
Students will be asked to write an essay on one of the three advanced topics covered in the class.
The purpose of the essay is to make students think both beyond and deeper; so they should
integrate into the essay what have learnt from the class while include some readings outside of
class along with their insights and thoughts. Thinking and writing are both important for this
assignment. But students are encouraged to be creative while using sufficient reference to support
their point of view.
Midterm:
The midterm is administered in two parts. The first part of the exam will cover the concepts and
underlying theories of web design and development. Students who are actively studying and
following along each week will be well prepared to answer questions on this part of the exam.
Again, students are responsible for material in the assigned readings. The second part of the exam
is a hands-on exam that will test the students’ ability to create a website. No make-up
examinations are offered unless a written, verifiable, legitimate excuse for the absence is
presented to the instructor or written arrangements are made beforehand. An assignment sheet
will be available later in the semester.
Late Submissions:
Assignments cannot be turned in late. Quizzes and lab practices must be completed by their
assigned date and time. Students will still be expected to know how to complete any missed labs,
since labs often build on each other.
Exams may only be made-up with a written, verifiable, legitimate excuse or prior written
consent from the instructor.
Late individual and team projects and planning assignments will be docked 10% for every
day late up to 40% off unless previous written arrangements have been made with the instructor.
No assignment will be accepted after the last official day of class; this does NOT include finals
week.
Tentative Course Schedule
See document titled tentative course schedule in the course documents module in Canvas.
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Performance Evaluation / Grading:
Your grades will be based on the following allocation:
Requirements
Points toward grade
Discussion Participation
5%
Assignments
15%
Essay
5%
Quizzes
5%
Midterm
Part I (10%)
30%
Part II (20%)
Individual Webpage
Group Project
15%
Proposal (5%)
25%
Status Reports (2*5%)
Final Project and Presentation (10%)
Total
100%
Your letter grade will be based on the following distribution:
Points
Grade
Points
Grade
Points
Grade
Points
Grade
97-100%
A+
87-90%
B+
77-80%
C+
67-70%
D+
93-96%
A
83-86%
B
73-76%
C
63-66%
D
90-92%
A–
80-82%
B–
70-72%
C–
60-62%
D–
< 60%
F
Statement of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities:
This syllabus is a contract between you as a student and me as the instructor in this class. Your full
understanding and acceptance of the following rights and responsibilities will lead to better learning. If
you are in this class after week 1, I assume you have read, understood and “signed” this contract.
You have the right to expect from your instructor:
1. A clear statement of course policies, expectations, assessment and grading practices;
2. Opportunities to learn and grow professionally;
3. Knowledgeable and timely assistance regarding class assignments and course content;
4. A response to your email within 24 hours, including an arrangement to meet;
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5. Adherence to the University policies;
6. Professional behavior, equitable treatment, ethical practices, and respect for human rights;
7. Adequate opportunity to appeal any perceived violations of the above rights.
You have specific responsibilities to:
1. Commit yourself to grow academically and professionally;
2. Plan your study and work schedule appropriately to allow sufficient time to do quality work in
the course (Review “Suggested Academic Workload Guidelines” for the Bryan School of
Business and Economics published in the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin);
3. Complete all assignments in a professional manner;
4. Strictly adhere to the posted deadlines;
5. Practice ethical behaviors and display respect to the rights of others;
6. Timely contact your instructor and discuss circumstances that may prevent you from achieving
acceptable performance;
7. Understand and follow the school and course policies, including the UNCG Academic Integrity
Policy (sa.uncg.edu/dean/academic-integrity), and report observed violations of these policies.
Academic Integrity Policy
University students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the demands of academic
honesty. A student is a subject to penalty for academic misconduct, such as plagiarism. Discussing your
assignments with other students can be a valuable learning opportunity. However, you are expected to
do your own original work.
All students are expected to follow the provisions of the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy
(http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/academic-integrity-policy/) in completing coursework. I assume that by
submitting your work in this course you conform to the Academic Integrity Policy. Any violations will
result in charges.
Disability Services
If you have any type of learning or physical disability, please contact the UNCG Office of Disability
Services in Suite 208 EUC. The Disability office will contact me once your request is approved.
Email Etiquette
You are always encouraged to contact me via email with any questions or concerns that you may have.
However, I ask that you comply with the following ‘house rules’:
1. Send your email and reply to my emails from your UNCG account. Given security risks, I will not
open emails from other accounts.
2. Please use appropriate etiquette when you email and I will do the same in return:
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(a) begin with a greeting;
(b) state who you are and which class you are in;
(c) end with an appropriate signature;
(d) Spell-check as if you email to your future employer.
Example of appropriate email format:
Subject: ISM116 Question about ……
Ms. Demaret,
My name is [YOUR FULL NAME] and I am in your ISM 116 course. I have a question about
…
Thanks, [YOUR
NAME]’
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