COM 1010
Basic Web Design
3 credit hours

Course Information

Course Description:
Presents the principles for planning and designing attractive and informative Web pages and Web sites. The course explores the factors that affect Web layout and design such as browswer choice, screen resolution, navigation, connection speed, typography, graphics and color.

Course Objectives:
  • To provide an understanding of typographic and design fundamentals
  • To familiarize students with the process and principles of web design
  • To emphasize usability from the audience's perspective
  • To help prepare students for an entry-level job as a Web Technician
Prerequisites and Corequisites:
Basic computing and keyboarding skills.
Course Topics:
  • The infrastructure behind the internet and the Web
  • The evolution of web page design
  • Job titles, duties, and teamwork
  • Basic principles of design
  • Defining the purpose for a web site
  • Identifying the audience for the web site
  • Planning the content of a web site
  • Designing the site's structure and developing a flowchart
  • Establishing a page layout
  • Working with navigation and developing a storyboard
  • Basic principles of typography
  • Types of graphics and multimedia available
  • Testing the site before publishing
Specific Course Requirements:
Students should be able to save a computer document as a specific format such as a text (.txt) file or as a GIF (.gif) file. Word (.doc) files and some graphic formats (such as .bmp or .pict) are not compatible with web browsers and will not be suitable attachments. If these are new concepts for you then you'll want to find someone to help you understand this process.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain current textbook information for this course:

http://rodp.bkstr.com
Supplementary Materials:
It's strongly recommended that you make regular backups of your work for this class in case the hard disk in your computer fails.
Hardware Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

Access to a scanner or a digital camera is helpful. Some of the assignments ask you to post an image.
Software Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

Most scanners or digital cameras come with a basic image editor which will be sufficient to crop or scale any images you're required to create for this course.
Instructor Information
Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.
Assessment and Grading
Testing Procedures:
There will be an open book quiz nearly every week. There are two scheduled exams; a Midterm and a Final. You must take your exams during the scheduled week or receive a zero. The midterm and final exams are proctored.

The easiest way to take a proctored exam is to travel to a Testing Center on one of the TBR college campuses. Contact your declared home institution for information about their Testing Center and policies. For example; the Nashville State Community College Testing Center requires that you bring two forms of identification, does not allow cell phones, and does not allow children to accompany you. A photo ID is required. If you do not bring proper identification you will not be allowed to take the exam.

Most college campuses require that you have a parking permit. You should either purchase a parking permit or contact the Security office to ask about a temporary parking permit.

If your location is too remote from an official Testing Center (or if you're unable to travel) you'll need to contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester to arrange for an acceptable proctor to monitor your exam.
Grading Procedure:
Students will answer questions, analyze sites for structure, create flowcharts and storyboard designs, and contribute to a variety of discussion board topics.

Each student will research and post a report on an individual who has contributed to the evolution of the internet, the web or interface design.

Students will work in teams to test selected sites for navigability and usability factors. Grades for group discussions and other types of projects will reflect whether you addressed the topic completely and appropriately.

Late or missing assignments will receive a score of zero. WebCT will not accept submissions after 11:55 PM on the due date. All assignments will be graded after the due date. Assigments turned in early will not be graded early. The instructor is not responsible for differences between your clock and the clock on the WebCT server. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your work. 
Grading Scale:
100-93---A
92-85---B
84-75---C

You'll need a C average or better to pass this course: no D grades will be issued. The scores for your various assignments will be averaged according to percentages.
  • 25% - Projects/Assignments
  • 20% - Discussion/Participation
  • 25% - Quizzes
  • 30% - Midterm and Final exams
Assignments and Participation
Assignments and Projects:
A sequenced list of assignments and projects is provided within the course
Class Participation:
Attendance will be determined by online communications. If your instructor does not hear from you for a two week period (either by e-mail, phone, or submission of projects) you will be dropped from the course with a grade of WF (withdrawal failing).

Students are required to check their in-class mail and to participate in all scheduled discussions on a regular basis. If your computer fails you are advised to find another computer to log in to class from.
Punctuality:
The course calendar will provide due dates. Most assignments provide a week long window to complete and submit the work. Don't wait until the due date to join a discussion board assignment or your classmates will not have time to respond to your postings.
Course Ground Rules
Participation and regular attendance is required. The course is asynchronous--meaning that you're not required to log in at a specific time of day--but the course does have a schedule you are expected to follow.

Civility is expected and flaming will not be tolerated. Observe the guidelines for netiquette and communication.

You are expected to only submit work you do yourself. Do not collaborate on work with other students unless you are assigned a group project. Academic dishonesty can result in dismissal with a failing grade.
Guidelines for Communication
Email:
  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussion Groups:
  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other's ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Chat:
  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion
Web Resources:

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program.

 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:
If you are having problems logging into your course, timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the Eduprise Help Desk by calling

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to their website at:

http://help.rodp.org