| Week |
Tuesday |
Thursday |
| 1 |
August 26
- Introduction to course
- Personal introductions
- Review syllabus and class website
- Set up ISU home pages
|
August 28
Before you come to class:
|
| 2 |
September 2
- CSS basics
- Web typography
- Resume workshop
Before you come to class:
- Read Castro, 55-79; 119-126
- Read Chapter 5 of the Web Style Guide
- Bring an electronic copy (e.g., Microsoft Word format) of your résumé to class
- Read the Week 2 post and complete the mini-assignment described in that post.
|
September 4
- External style sheets
- More web typography
- Lists
- Blogs
Before you come to class:
- Read Castro, 127-168; 215-227
- Read Jeffrey Zeldman’s “The Vanishing Personal Site” (be sure to click through to the sites he mentions)
- Convert your Word-formatted résumé into XHTML code. Bring the file to class.
|
| 3 |
September 9
- Page layout and design
- Structuring pages with CSS
- Basic usability principles
- Résumé workshop
Before you come to class:
- Read Castro, 169-188
- Read Krug, 10-49
- Read Chapter 3 of the Web Style Guide
- Select a visual theme for your WordPress.com weblog and write your first post
- Complete a draft of your online résumé
|
September 11
Before you come to class:
- Read Castro, 339-351
- Read the CSS Zen Garden website, then browse the archive and find three designs that you want to discuss in class
|
| 4 |
September 16
- Working with images
- Creating GIFs, JGPs, and PNGs
- Photoshop tutorial
- Color on the web
Before you come to class:
|
September 18
- Low-bandwidth images
- Creating color schemes
- Browser-safe colors
- Zen Garden workshop
Before you come to class:
|
| 5 |
September 23
- Developing a visual motif
- Finding online image resources
- CSS Zen Garden workshop
Before you come to class:
|
September 25
- Information architecture
- Navigation systems
- Site structure
Before you come to class:
|
| 6 |
September 30
- CSS peer critique workshop
Before you come to class:
- Upload a draft of your CSS Zen Garden assignment to a folder named “zengarden” on your Iowa State public website.
- Come to class ready to explain your design and solicit feedback on a few specific issues.
|
October 2
- Intro to tables
- Tables for data display
- Tables for page design
Before you come to class:
|
| 7 |
October 7
- Introduce Usability Report assignment
- Developing usability protocols
Before you come to class:
|
October 9
Before you come to class:
- Study for the midterm exam using the list of review topics Quinn emailed to the class.
- Bring a pencil or pen to class; the exam will be given on paper.
|
| 8 |
October 14
- Drafting usability protocols
Before you come to class:
- Explore the entire Usability.gov website, becoming familiar with the process of creating and administering a usability test.
- Read the following section of the Usability.gov website carefully: Step-by-Step Usability Guide (read all subsections, too)
- Begin drafting your usability protocol
|
October 16
- Pilot testing usability protocols with classmates
Before you come to class:
- Bring complete draft of your usability protocol
- Be prepared to lead one of your classmates through your usability test
|
| 9 |
October 21
- Hand-coding vs. WYSIWYG
- Introduction to Dreamweaver
Before you come to class:
- Watch the videos in the first three sections on the CD Quinn gave you
- Familiarize yourself with Dreamweaver’s basic functions and tools
|
October 23
- Dealing with usability testing problems
- Dreamwever workshop
- Discuss plans for final project
Before you come to class:
- Administer your usability test to at least one human subject. Be ready to discuss any challenges or problems you encountered.
|
| 10 |
October 28
- Present ideas and select teams for the Final Project.
- Continue discussion of WYSIWYG editors and other web development tools.
Before you come to class:
- Develop an idea for the final project and come to class ready to present your idea. If necessary, contact your potential client to determine whether the scope of the project is appropriate for this assignment.
|
October 30
- NO CLASS—Quinn will be out of town today. Sometime before the end of the week, your team should hold its first meeting and also meet with your client to discuss the Final Project.
|
| 11 |
November 4
- Usability Report peer review
- Working with clients
- Assigning team roles
Before you come to class:
- Bring draft of Usability Report for peer review
- Hold your first client meeting and your first team meeting to determine the scope of your Final Project.
|
November 6
- Starting from scratch vs. using a template
Before you come to class:
- Submit Usability Report (email Quinn with a link to the report; bring all files to class on a CD or a flash drive)
- Visit Open Source Web Design and Open Web Design to get a feel for the quality and quantity of free web templates available online.
|
| 12 |
November 11
- YouTube: a new definition of “writing” for the web?
|
November 13
- Microblogging and Twitter
Before you come to class:
|
| 13 |
November 18
Before you come to class:
- Study for the exam by reviewing Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think, usability.gov, and the list of resources listed under “Usability” on the links page.
|
November 20
- Team Conferences with Quinn (Wednesday or Thursday)
- During class time: team meetings/workshop
Before you come to class:
- Submit Final Project Proposal (FINAL)
- Confer with your team members and find a time that all of you can meet with Quinn for 30 minutes on Wednesday or Thursday.
|
| 14 |
Thanksgiving Break: NO CLASSES
|
| 15 |
December 2
- The business of web design
- Launching and promoting your site
- Search engine optimization
Before you come to class:
|
December 4
- Lifestreaming and Minutia Capturing
- Final Project workshop
Before you come to class:
|
| 16 |
December 9
- Team Conferences with Quinn
- During class time: team meetings/workshop
|
December 11
- Final Project workshop
- Course evaluations (IMPORTANT: Everyone needs to attend class today!)
Before you come to class:
- Have a complete draft of your website online, ready to be reviewed by your peers.
|
| 17 |
Finals Week
Final Project websites and all accompanying materials are due in my office (435 Ross Hall) on Tuesday, December 16, between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
|
