WEB 2400

Project Management for the Web

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course is designed help students define the scope of projects; identify stakeholders, decision makers, and escalation procedures; develop detailed task lists; estimate time requirements; develop flow charts; identify required resources and budgets evaluate project requirements; identify and evaluate risks; prepare contingency plans; identify interdependencies; identify and track critical milestones; participate in project phase review; secure needed resources; manage the control process; and report project status

Course Objectives:

Students will:

  1. Practice elements of the work ethic such as professionalism, preparedness, punctuality, honesty, cooperation, dependability, contribution, effectiveness, and good manners.
  2. Participate in a project development team.
  3. Use professionally accepted methods and materials in completion of projects.
  4. Use a variety of methods to present findings from research.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Research proposals and contracts for web projects.
  2. Organize and write proposals and contracts for web projects.
  3. Use typical software and communications technology to manage a working group.
  4. Use typical software and communications technology to produce various components of web site.
  5. Function as an integral part of a web site production unit alternately as a project manager and in various other production roles.
  6. Manage a web development project team and deliver a satisfactory web site.
  7. Perform different production roles on several teams and evaluate outcomes and organization in each experience.
  8. Effectively use time management principles for their projects.
  9. Give and use constructive criticism in a working relationship with other members of a web project team.
  10. Use appropriate terminology to function within the discipline.
  11. Describe and evaluate media, procedures, equipment, software and delivery systems.
  12. Use tools of the Internet to communicate, manage, produce and work with others in web work groups.

Prerequisites and Corequisites:

A practical knowledge of how the Internet operates, HTML code, graphic formats, web site building, web page design, and an introductory knowledge of a computer graphics program is required. These pre- and co-requisites may be obtained through these courses:

  • COMN 1000--Beginning HTML (NSTCC)

Course Topics:

Week/Topic

 

1

Class objectives/Introduction/Review Syllabus
Equipment and software for the course
The Responsibilities of the Web Project Manager
Composition of the Web Team 
Project: The Project Pitch 

2

The Project Method and the Project Work Stages 
Scoping the Project 
Selecting the Team 
Project: Manager and Client Meeting 

3

Project Clarification 
The Requirements 
Building the Team 
Project: Project Brief for Client 

4

Defining the Solution 
Project Specifications 
Project: Solution Definitions and Proposal

5

Finalizing Project Planning 
What to Include in the Project Specification 
Project: Project Specification 

6

Refining the Content Plan 
Content Agreement 
Intellectual Rights and Media Rights 
Project: Storyboard 

7

Design and Construction 
Selecting Media 
Interface Design and Interactivity 
Project: Navigable Prototype 

8

Video and Asset Production 
Project: Production 

9

Audio and Asset Production 
Project: Production

10

Graphics and Asset Production 
Project: Production 

11

Integration and Hosting 
Project: Upload Site 

12

Testing Function and Performance 
Implement the Testing Plan 
Project: Site Testing and Revisions Report

13

Launch and Handover 
Service Agreement 
Training 
Handover Organized Site Files 
Project: Handover Brief, Operations Manual, Maintenance Plan 

14

Project Review 
Archive Project Files 
Project: Project Review 

15

Final Exam Period

Specific Course Requirements:

Students should have and be able to use software for site development such as Dreamweaver, Flash, and Photoshop.

This course is intended for students with comprehensive skills for building Web sites who are near the completion of their program requirements. Students should already have mastery of the software and code basics so they can concentrate on managing site production and developing Web sites with teams.

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

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

Hardware/Software Requirements for this Course

IBM-type criteria:

Hardware:

  • Intel Pentium 4, Intel Centrino, Intel Xeon, or Intel Core Duo (or compatible) processor.
  • Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate or Enterprise (certified for 32-bit editions)
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 5 GB of available hard-disk space
  • 1024 x 768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card
  • CD-ROM drive (DVD preferred)
  • High-speed Internet connection such as cable modem or DSL recommended, if possible
  • Speakers

Software:

  • Internet Explorer 6.0 (or higher) with Outlook Express
  • Macromedia Shockwave and Flash players. Download free from http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or better. Download free from http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html
  • OPTIONAL: Netscape 7.0 (full installation)

Macintosh criteria:

Hardware:

  • PowerPC G4 or G5 or multicore Intel processor
  • Mac OS X v.10.4.8
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 7 GB of available hard-disk space
  • 1024 x 768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card
  • CD-ROM (DVD preferred)
  • High-speed Internet connection such as cable modem or DSL recommended, if possible
  • Speakers

Software:

  • QuickTime 7.0.4 or better
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 or better. Download free from http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html
  • Macromedia Shockwave and Flash players. Download free from http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Student should have and be able to use software for site development such as Dreamweaver, Flash, and Photoshop

Instructor Information

See the separate page located on the Professor link on thr Course Menu to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

Your grade will be made up of:

  • Assignments: 50 percent of grade. The Assignments are located on the Course Menu. The files will be sent as designated by the instructor in each Assignment.
  • Quizzes: 25 percent of grade. Students will be given a series of non-cumulative theory quizzes over textbook content during the semester. These exams will consist of true/false, multiple choice, and essay questions.
  • Performance Evaluations: 25 percent of grade. Communication and cooperation between teams and project managers to accomplish assigned tasks will be a part of the Performance Evaluation. Evidence for communications, cooperation and completed work on each project will be documented in the Project Schedule and in each team Discussion Board.

This course is designed help students define the scope of projects; identify stakeholders, decision makers, and escalation procedures; develop detailed task lists; estimate time requirements; develop flow charts; identify required resources and budgets evaluate project requirements; identify and evaluate risks; prepare contingency plans; identify interdependencies; identify and track critical milestones; participate in project phase review; secure needed resources; manage the control process; and report project status. Students will successfully complete exercises and tests to demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills.

Grading Procedure:

Grading:

  • Assignments: 500 points (50 percent of grade)
  • Quizzes: 250 points (25 percent of grade)
  • Performance Evaluations: 250 points (25 percent of grade)

Total points: 1000 (100 percent)

Grading Scale:

A

90-100%

900-1000 points

B

80-89%

800-899 points

C

70-79%

700-799 points

D

60-69%

600-699 points

F

0-59%

0-599 points

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:
  1. Discussion Postings will be submitted to the Discussion Board.. These postings must be of quality or they will not count. A simple "I agree" does not count for discussion board participation credit.
  2. Web project files will be placed in your PSTCC web server space as your project develops.
  3. A summary of the goals and activities for each week can be found in the Lesson for each week. These can be found under the Lessons link in WebCT.
  4. The deadline for each week's activities, reports, tests and assignments is 11:00 pm Sunday.
  5. Due dates are posted with each Assignment, Quiz and in the Schedule.

Class Participation:

Students will be expected to complete all assignments and projects satisfactorily on time in a professional manner. Evaluation of the student's knowledge and performance will be based on demonstration by written discussion and testing of the basic competencies required to deploy content on the Internet, as well as demonstrated ability to produce and incorporate suitable content in functioning project Web sites. Students will successfully complete exercises and tests to demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills.

Punctuality:

Policy on Late Assignments: Assignments and tests are expected to be submitted by the due date and time. If an extenuating circumstance delays submission of your work, you must contact the instructor before the assignment is due. Any credit for late or incomplete assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. Time management is absolutely critical for project management, so it is imperative that you meet deadlines.

Course Ground Rules
  1. Discussion Postings will be submitted to the Discussion Board.. These postings must be of quality or they will not count. A simple "I agree" does not count for discussion board participation credit.
  2. Web project files will be placed in your PSTCC web server space as your project develops.
  3. A summary of the goals and activities for each week can be found in the Lesson for each week. These can be found under the Lessons link in WebCT.
  4. The deadline for each week's activities, reports, tests and assignments is 11:55 pm Sunday.
  5. Due dates are posted with each Assignment, Quiz and in the Schedule.

Guidelines for Communications

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. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses.

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 left 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