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This course is an introduction to Web publishing, including hands-on experience in designing Web sites and the concepts behind online media. By the end of the class, you should develop a strong knowledge of the basics of Web design and maintaining effective Web sites. You should also understand the larger social, economic and ethical issues associated with the recent development of online media.
As the class progresses, we will move from creating basic HTML pages using code to building multi-page, multimedia sites in the final project. To start, we’ll learn some HTML before moving on to Dreamweaver. Along the way, we will consider issues of usability, accessibility and design. We will move into online storytelling and how it differs from other media, and delve into creating graphics and multimedia specifically for the Web. Throughout the course, you will create Web pages, building to a final project. The final project will demonstrate your acquired knowledge, and will be evaluated on content, and ease of use and design, among other criteria.
The purpose of this course is not to teach you how to use Dreamweaver. If Dreamweaver were to disappear, the Web would still exist. Because of this, we will focus on the concepts behind the technology. You are welcome to use other Web editing software to complete your assignments. However, any documents saved from Microsoft Word as HTML are not acceptable.
By continuing to attend this course after the first week when this issue is discussed, your presence indicates that you have taken the necessary prerequisite courses to enroll in this class. The prerequisite courses are JPRA 55: Introduction to Mass Media/Journalism and Society and JPRA 150: Writing for Mass Media. If you are unsure about your status regarding these courses, please see a SCAT adviser or contact the JPRA office.
Since online journalism is a rapidly developing area, we’ll combine two books on web design, with a Dreamweaver software reference book and Web readings. These books are all available at Temple SAC bookstore under this course number
Web readings will be a combination of links available on the class page in BlackBoard (most listed in the course schedule) and handouts in class. Note: You will be quizzed on chapters in these books and Web readings.
You are expected to attend all class meetings. Attendance will be taken for each class meeting. Only legitimate and documented excuses are acceptable. If you have to miss an assignment for a legitimate reason, you must notify me before class.
Five absences result in automatic failure of the course. Recognizable emergency and medically excused absences will not count against the total, but work assigned must still be made up promptly.
If you do not attend a class, any assignment due that day must be e-mailed to me before the start of class.
Coming late to class and leaving early will also result in losing points towards your participation and attendance credit totals, which counts for 5 percent of your grade. Being more than 30 minutes late results in a total loss of participation credit for that week, but you may want to attend anyway to keep up with the coursework.
Further, you should make a regular habit of checking the announcement page on the class Web site for late-breaking news before coming to class.
Deadlines for assignments will vary, but in all cases must be met. Late assignments will be lowered one letter grade and no assignment will be accepted more than 24 hours after it is due. Conflicts in your schedule or other unforeseen problems are not acceptable excuses for turning in assignments late. You should plan ahead, anticipate problems, and budget your time so that you can turn in all work on deadline.
If you miss a class, you must:
The issues surrounding online publishing, and the use and creation of online media, cannot be discussed in a thoughtful and rigorous manner without occasional references to unpopular ideas or offensive material. Students and the instructor in this class are expected to remain sensitive to individual differences. In any classroom, there will be a diversity of people and opinions, and we will discuss some topics without anger, arrogance, or personal attacks. We will not perpetuate stereotypes about gender, age, religious affiliation, sexual preference, national origin, dialect or disability.
Cheating and plagiarism on any examination or assignment will result in automatic failure of the course and recommendation to the University Disciplinary Committee for further disciplinary action.
Please note that plagiarism includes made-up quotes or sources, as well as work copied from others, including Web sites. All material used in class projects should be sourced, either with URLs, phone numbers or e-mail addresses for your sources.
It is Temple University's policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). At the beginning of each semester, any student with a disability should inform the course instructor if instructional accommodations or academic adjustments will be needed. For more information about the ADA and academic accommodations or adjustments, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services (http://www.temple.edu/disability; 215-204-1280; hellodrs@astro.temple.edu).
The emphasis of this course will be on combination of projects, in-class labs, quizzes and writing assignments. A multimedia Web site replaces the final exam. Details about the requirements for each assignment will be provided in class.
The instructor reserves the right to modify the following breakdown, and add assignments as necessary.
Course grades will be based on the following:
To receive full credit, work must be turned in on time. If you believe a mistake has been made on a grade, you must see me within one week after the assignment or quiz has been returned to you. After that, the grade stands.
There will be no grades of “Incomplete” given in this class.
Mid-term grades are not posted, but I encourage you to contact me at any time during the semester if you have questions about how you are doing in the course.
E-mail is generally the best way to get in touch with me. My e-mail address and phone numbers are listed at the top of the syllabus. Office hours are before and after class, and on breaks. If you are having a lot of trouble, we can schedule an alternate office hour, but this is at my convenience.
It is the students’ responsibility to figure out when open hours occur. Dreamweaver is not available in all computer labs across campus, nor is Photoshop in all labs, though it is more common. There may be other labs with these programs.
De Wolk, Roland. Introduction to Online Journalism: Publishing News
and Information.
Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon, 2001.
Kaye, Barbara K., and Norman J. Medoff. The World Wide Web: A Mass Communication Perspective. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1999.
Killian, Crawford. Writing for the Web. Bellingham: Self-Counsel Press, 1999.
Krug, Steve. Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. Indianapolis: New Riders Publishing, 2000.
McGuire, Mary, Linda Stilborne, Melinda McAdams, Laurel Hyatt. The Internet Handbook for Writers, Researchers and Journalists. 2002/2003 Edition. New York: The Guilford Press, 2002
Nielsen, Jakob. Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity. Indianapolis: New Riders Publishing, 2000.
Towers, J. Tarrin. Visual Quickstart Guide: Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 for Windows and Macintosh. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2001.
_____________. Visual Quickstart Guide: Macromedia Dreamweaver MX for Windows and Macintosh. Berkeley: Peachpit Press 2003.
Ward, Mike. Journalism Online. Oxford: Focal Press, 2002.
Williams, Robin. The Non-Designer’s Design Book. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 1994.
Williams, Robin and John Tollett. The Non-Designer’s Web Book. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2000.
A staple from the early years of the Web, webmonkey.com has lots of good HTML
resources, including: