Announcements

May 16, 2012

I posted my response in the Discussion section regarding your Final Project choices. Remember to alter the name of the website you chose per the directions for the final project located here: http://www.classes.jamiecavanaugh.com/grdes65online/final/  Let me know if you have any questions.

Remember that the Final Project site map and home page design comp are due Friday, May 18th.

Please note: As beginning web design students the challenge will be building your design, so don’t make it so complex that you won’t be able to build it! For the final project, your grade will be based on your design and your ability to build your project in HTML and CSS. In this class, we’ll cover One Column and Two Column CSS Layouts, so keep that in mind!

Also, the Week 05 class notes are now posted.

May 10, 2012

Quiz 1 and Assignment 3 grades are posted to the Gradebook section of the smconline.org site. I posted comments regarding your work to the Gradebook section, just click on your grade to view my comments. Please be sure to review my comments. Please see below for the answers to Quiz 1.

Most of you did really well with the One Column CSS Layout exercise. This exercise will come in handy next week when we take it one step further and create a Two Column Layout.

Be sure to post the information on your final project to the Assignment 4 Discussion section of the smconline.org site as soon as possible.

Lastly, how is the course going? Do you have any suggestions on how I can make this course better? Please feel free to email me any comments or feedback. It’s always greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answers to Quiz 1

2. What are the first three steps of the “Design Process” from our textbook?
The first three steps of the design process are the following items: 1. Conceptualize and research 2. Create and organize content 3. Develop the look and feel

3. What is the recommended maximum page dimensions for a 1024×768 monitor resolution?
990 pixels x 560 pixels

4. What does “above the fold” mean?
Above the fold refers to a expression developed by newspaper editors originally. For web design, this refers to what appears on the first screen that a user views.

5. What four basic tags are used in the structure of every web page?
Four basic tags include the following: 1. <html></html> 2. <head></head> 3. <title></title>4.<body></body>

6. Name and describe the 3 parts of the “Web Design Layer Cake.”
The Web Design Layer Cake includes the following parts: 1. Structure Layer – this includes the HTML code and contains the basic building blocks of the site. 2. Appearance Layer – this includes the CSS and the styles created here determine how the site will appear. 3. Behavior Layer – this includes JavaScript code and contains scripts that cause actions to happen as the user interacts the the site.

7. What is “substantive progress” as it relates to this class? (This information is located in the class introduction on the site: http://www.classes.jamiecavanaugh.com/grdes65/course-intro/)
“Substantive progress” means you are actively participating in the course. More specifically, this means you are actively participating in online discussions on a regular (weekly) basis when assigned. It also means you are logging into the course to complete your assignments and keep track of course announcements and updates.

8. What is a site map?
A site map is a graphical representation or blueprint of how pages connect with each other and provides a guide to the overall structure of the site.

9. List 4 web file naming conventions.
Some web file naming conventions include the following: 1. use lower-case letters 2. use the underscore “_” character instead of spaces in filenames and folders 3. no special characters in filenames 4. make sure filenames end with the correct suffix: such as .jpg, .html, and .png

10. What is frontend design?
Frontend design is the portion of the design process that relates to how designs appear in the browser. This includes graphic design, interface design, user experience, and site production.

May 9, 2012

Hi Class!

Assignment 2 grades are now posted to the Gradebook section of the smconline.org site. I posted any comments I have about your work in the Gradebook section, just click on your grade and you’ll see my comments. Please be sure to review my comments. If I didn’t mention an exercise, it’s because I didn’t have any feedback for you on that particular exercise.

Week 4 Class notes are now posted. There’s also a link to all the class notes in the right-hand column of this site.

Please note I’ve outlined the details for your Final Project. The information about the Final Project are on the class 04 notes and also on the Final Project page. Part 3 of your assignment for next week is to complete the site map and design comp for the home page of your final project.

Be sure to respond as soon as possible to the Assignment 4: Final Project Website discussion on the smconline.org site. Discussion is due by noon, Tuesday, May 15. Please post your responses by this date. The sooner you make your selection for your final project, the sooner you can get started on the site map and home page design.

The videos assigned this week total approximately 60 minutes of viewing time, so plan your time accordingly.

Thank you for completing Assignment 3. The assignment was due at noon, May 9. If you haven’t completed your Assignment 3, please do so as soon as possible and upload it to the Dropbox. I will let you know when I’ve posted your grades for Assignment 3.

May 7, 2012

Assignment 2 grades will be posted to the Gradebook section of the smconline.org site, in the next couple of days . Sorry about the delay.

If you haven’t posted a jpg of your Design comp to your Tumblr blog, make sure to do so immediately!

Also remember that you must participate in Assignment 3 Discussion by noon, Monday, May 7. If you haven’t done so already, please do it now. Check out the Assignment 3 discussion regarding critiquing your class mates’ websites on the class website here: http://www.classes.jamiecavanaugh.com/grdes65online/week-03/

Don’t forget to identify which classmate you’re critiquing and be sure to post your comments in the correct Group section!

May 3, 2012

TODAY is our first classroom meeting so please bring your Assignment 2 files with you. See you soon!

Gr Des 65 Classroom meeting
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2:00pm – 5:05pm
AET 105

April 29, 2012

Hi Class!

Do not forget — our first classroom meeting is this coming Thursday so please bring your Assignment 2 files with you.

Gr Des 65 Classroom meeting
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2:00pm – 5:05pm
AET 105

Assignment 1 grades are posted to the Gradebook section of the smconline.org site. I posted any comments I have about your work in the Gradebook section, just click on your grade and you’ll see my comments. Please be sure to review my comments. If I didn’t mention an exercise, it’s because I didn’t have any feedback for you on that particular exercise.

Please note for Assignment 2, to place all parts of your assignment in ONE folder and zip that ONE folder. Please upload ONE zip file to the Dropbox and be sure to include your name in your file names. For example: yourlastname_assignment2.zip. Thanks!

Also remember that you must participate in Discussion by noon, Monday, April 30 in order to get credit for participating. Check out the Assignment 2 discussion questions on smconline.org.

See you on at 2:00pm on Thursday May 3rd. I can’t wait to meet you all!

April 25, 2012

Hi Class!

Week 2 Class notes are now posted. There’s also a link to all the class notes in the right-hand column of this site.

Our first classroom meeting is next Thursday so please have your Assignment 2 finished before our class and bring all of it with you.

Gr Des 65 Classroom meeting
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2:00pm – 5:05pm
AET 105

If you haven’t given me your Tumblr URL, please do so right away by posting it to the comments section of this site.

Thank you for completing Assignment 1. The assignment is due at noon, April 25. If you haven’t completed your Assignment 1 , please be aware of my late work policy stated on the Course Introduction page of this site. Basically it states that assignments must be turned in on time. A late assignment may be submitted within a week after the due date with one grade drop. No assignments will be accepted after that.

This class is only 8 weeks so it’s important to keep up and turn your work in on time.

I’ll let you know when grades for Assignment 1 are posted to the gradebook.

April 22, 2012

Update: What is the best way to ask me questions?

Monday – Thursday: I’ll respond within 24 hours through the discussion board on smconline.org under the threaded discussion for either general questions or that week’s assignment.

Friday, Sat, Sun: I’l respond within 24 hours through email at cavanaugh_jamie@smc.edu.

If you need to email me about something you’d like to remain private or if your question needs immediate attention, you may email me at cavanaugh_jamie@smc.edu.

Thanks so much for posting your introductions on the smconline.org site. It’s been great “meeting” everyone and I’m really looking forward to meeting you in person at our first classroom meeting on Thursday, May 1 at 2:00pm in room AET 105. Please mark your calendars so you don’t forget!

For those who joined the class a bit late, please note that the link to the Class Notes is located in the right-hand column of this site. I don’t want anyone to miss all the good information from this week’s notes (!) …

Friendly Reminders
  • Be sure to post the URL for your Tumblr blog to the comments section (at the bottom) of the Week 01 notes. I created a Discussion topic for Tumblr questions so if anyone has a question it would be great if everyone could offer help to their fellow classmates!
  • Your Assignment 1 exercise files are due in the Dropbox on the smconline.org site by noon, Wednesday, April 25 . Please note that this is NOT entirely a self-paced course, there ARE specific due dates. The assignments are due on the dates given. So please keep up with your work and upload the assignments on time!
  • If you have any questions about any part of Assignment 1, please post it in the Discussion section of the smconline.org site.
April 16, 2012

THERE IS NO CLASS MEETING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 19.

This course is a hybrid class. In addition to the online course we’ll meet in the classroom for 3 meetings during the 8-week course. The location of the 3 classroom meetings will be AET 105. Below are the following dates. You must be present at all 3 classroom meetings.
Thursday, May 3 at 2:00pm
Thursday, May 24 22 at 2:00pm
Thursday, June 7 at 2:00pm

For those of you who have already introduced yourself— thank you! It was great hearing a little about all of you.

If you haven’t introduced yourself yet, please do so in the Discussion section of the smconline.org course site. It’s the way I take attendance for the first week of class.

PLEASE START THE COURSE BY READING THE WEEK 01 NOTES (GET TO IT BY USING THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE “CLASS NOTES” NAVIGATION) AND COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT WEEK.

Friendly Reminders
  • Please remember to post the URL (web address) of your Tumblr blog to the comments sections located at the bottom of the page on the Week 01 class notes.
  • Most of you have not taken the Class Goals survey. The survey is really helpful so I have a better idea of your existing skills and goals for the class. There is a link to the Class Goals surgery under “Exercise”  in the Week 01 class notes.
  • We are using Photoshop CS5 and Dreamweaver CS5 in this class.  If you need to purchase software for this class, I have several online resources for software at a student discount on the FAQ page of this site.
  • Your Assignment 1 is due Wednesday, April 25 at 12noon. Please refer to the Week 01 notes for details on your assignments. In addition to reading the textbook and watching the videos, you have exercises (Part 1 and Part 2) that need to be uploaded to the Dropbox on the smconline.org course site. When you upload your zip file to the Dropbox, please be sure to include your name in your file names. For example: yourlastname_assignment1.zip