Web Design Logo

Web Design and Publishing l MC 4315 l Spring 2011

Texas State University
School of Journalism and Mass Communication

ADJUNCT_LECTURER_JON_ZMIKLY
Email: jonzmikly@txstate.edu
Twitter: @jonzmikly
Office Hours, OM 236D
TH 5:00-6:30pm; or by appt.

3_SECTIONS
Yang 36035 – MW 2:00-3:40pm (OM 238)
Yang 36036 – MW 10:00-11:40 (Trinity 113)
Zmikly 36037 – TH 6:30-9:20pm (Trinity 113)

Most course materials and announcements will be delivered through the course website. TRACS (http://tracs.txstate.edu) will be used primarily for communication and posting grades. You will need your Texas State NetID and password to access the TRACS site.

GRADUATE_ASSISTANT
Ryan Stewart, Office Hours:


COURSE_OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to instruct students in website construction and design. Students will learn HTML coding and then be introduced to popular Web design and graphics programs including Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash, as well as the multimedia program iMovie. The course will cover the usage of graphics, sound and video and discuss the appropriateness of multimedia on websites for journalism, advertising, public relations, and e-commerce. Students will work on several small Web projects that will lead to a final multimedia project. The goal is to emphasize more than just the skills associated with individual programs, but the integration of several programs into designing effective and attractive websites.

In addition, the class will address social and theoretical implications of technology, such as the digital divide, cyberlaw, e-commerce, and Web content credibility and accessibility.

The course requires attendance at weekly lab sessions and lectures, as topics tend to build upon one another. In past semesters, students who attended class regularly turned in the more creative, impressive projects.

Upon completion of this course, students will possess:

TEACHING_METHODS
This class uses a variety of teaching methods to accommodate various learning styles. Lecture is but one method in which students will be introduced to course concepts. Students are expected to participate in news and current event discussions, providing topics that are of interest to them. The instructor will cover skills session in class as a group, and students will practice skills both in and out of class in order to complete projects. Assistance is available at designated times. OM212 is also available as an open lab for project work when it is not being used for a class. The course website provides a variety of resources for reinforcement of learning, including downloadable handouts and video tutorials. Students will also participate in online discussions and a blogging activity that will further provide an opportunity to communicate and contribute.

E-MAIL
You must use an active Texas State email account. Communication via TRACS uses your Texas State email, and the university is required to send grade information out only through the Texas State email system. Make sure you check your email on a regular basis, as schedule changes will be communicated there as well as on TRACS.

TEXTBOOK
There are no required textbooks this semester. However, we will be reading some excerpts from Robin Williams and John Tollett, The Non-Designer's Web Book. 3rd Edition. Berkeley, Calif.: Peachpit Press, 2005. You will also be asked to do online or handout readings from time to time.

GRADING
Basic Assignments (4) - 40%

  1. Basic Student Bio Website
  2. Student Bio Redesign
  3. Credibility Assignment
  4. Hobby or Organization Site

Exercises (2) - 10%

  1. Photo Slideshow Exercise
  2. iMovie Exercise

Short News Presentation - 5%

Participation & Attendance - 10%

There is no extra credit available for this class. Please contact the instructor early in the semester if you are having problems with any of the course requirements.

LATE_ASSIGNMENTS_AND_ATTENDANCE
Assignments for this course are challenging and fun, but the class moves very quickly, so you will not want to fall behind. Missed assignments will receive a grade of F. A student may turn in one (1) assignment late during the semester, if there is an excused reason with prior arrangement with professor. Any other late assignments will receive a grade of F.

Attendance is required in this course. You may have two absences without penalty throughout the semester. After your third and fourth absence, your final course grade will be reduced by 10% each. After the fourth absence, you will be encouraged to drop the course or you will receive an F. For the Thursday section that meets once per week, you may only have one absence without penalty and one additional for a reduced final grade. There are no excused absences; sickness and work-related absences must be covered within the two. Because we cover so much ground in this class, it is no coincidence that the best projects historically have been turned in by the students with the best attendance. Students (and teachers, too) often learn best from one another, so an open environment is encouraged. Ask questions and help each other.

We will start class at the designated time. It is important that you show up on time, as announcements tend to be made early, and you could miss valuable information. If you arrive later than 5 minutes after the designated time, you will be marked as late. This can affect your participation grade, as well as your ultimate course grade.

SUPPLIES_AND_EQUIPMENT
You will need a USB storage device (Flash drive) to save a backup of your files. You will also receive access to a shared folder on the department server, but it is best to have a backup on disk.

We will discuss Web hosting options in class. For most of you, I am going to recommend going through www.doteasy.com to obtain your own domain for only $25 per year. There are other hosting options, but many students prefer to get their own domain so that they can use it for resume/portfolio later on. Students should also have a TX State email account that they check frequently. This will be the main method of course communication.

Equipment_Checkout
We have several digital still cameras, HD Flip Cams, and Kodak Zi-series cameras assigned to this class. Please contact me in advance if you want to check one out. You will be allowed to keep it from one class period to the next (i.e. checkout on Thursday, return on Thursday or earlier), so plan your shoots accordingly. On the day you return a still camera, you must download your photos and delete them from the memory stick at the first available lab time and return the camera to the Instructor (n/a for camcorders, as you will be using your own tape). To reserve a camera for a specific date, e-mail me.

You MUST return the camera(s) in full working order on the following class period. It is important to respect other classmates' needs to use the equipment. No excuses will be accepted. Failure to return the equipment on the next class period will result in an automatic reduction of 10% from your final course grade, and your equipment checkout privilege will be revoked for the remainder of the semester.

You are responsible for the equipment that you checkout. Failure to return any equipment due to loss, damage, theft or any other reason will result in the replacement value of that equipment being charged to your Texas State account.

STUDENT_CONDUCT
In this class, you should feel comfortable to participate and express opinions and ideas. Please respect the opinions of others and be considerate of their need to contribute and learn. If you must take a phone call, please leave the room. Do not use your phone for text messaging during class. Browsing the Web, checking email, IMing, Twitter, Facebook or other non-related activities during class are not acceptable. Please do not have private conversations with your neighbors during class time, whether the instructor or other students are talking.

Any student who does not adhere to these conduct policies will be asked to leave the classroom. In general, please be respectful of others desire to learn and help to create a fun and beneficial classroom environment.

Student work will be displayed on the Web, which means that it will be available to anyone with Internet access and a browser. Please see the instructor if you have any concerns about posting your projects to the Web.

DROPPING_A_COURSE
Texas State has a new course drop policy. You can drop this or any course by March 22 and receive an automatic “W.” After that date you cannot drop a single course. You must withdraw from all courses.

ACADEMIC_HONESTY Students are required to submit original work in this course unless otherwise specified in the assignments. This includes text, content, graphics and photography. Students may use art from "free" sites with appropriate credit and identification, but are encouraged to design their own artwork (grades will be higher for using original work as opposed to another's artwork).

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication commits itself to the preparation of mass media professionals and scholars. Such a mission demands the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic honesty, including but not limited to plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, collusion, deception, conflict of interest and theft, are not tolerated and can lead to severe penalties. Disciplinary actions for violations of the standards for academic honesty are outlined in the Texas State Academic Honesty Statement, printed each year in the Student Handbook. The policy is also available at http://www.mrp.txstate.edu/studenthandbook/rules.html#academic.

NOTE_TO_STUDENTS_WITH_DISABILITIES
Texas State University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at (512) 245-3451, and register with that office. ODS is located in Suite 5-5.1 at the LBJ Student Center. If you are a student with a disability certified by ODS and you require accommodations in this class, it is your responsibility to notify the professor no later than the fifth class day of this semester so that accommodations can be discussed and promptly provided.

Instructor may notify you of changes or updates to policies in this syllabus throughout the semester.