Class Syllabus

JT372-Web Design and Management
Fall 2009
Clark C Room 235
Sec #1: 2pm-3:50 pm Tuesday & Thursday
Instructor: Eve Fisher
E-mail: Eve.Fisher@colostate.edu

The JT372 course will provide a foundation for those who will work in developing or managing web sites. Topics covered include "hybrid" table-based layout, beginning to intermediate Cascading Style Sheets, graphics preparation, and design principles.

The course will focus on information-based organizational Web sites, rather than e-commerce sites or personal home pages. Principles of good communication will be applied rigorously. The course will make extensive use of Adobe Dreamweaver and Photoshop.

Evaluations consist of weekly assignments, an exam and two Web site projects. The first will be a personal/portfolio site and the second will be developed for an organization. The second project consists of four phases: a site specification, a preliminary Web site design and report, a usability test and report, and a final Web site design and report.

The course will be a reasonable amount of work given the broad topic; however, it will be very
difficult to catch up if you get behind in the assignments. Developing a web site takes time and
cannot be left to the end. The assignments are intended to keep you on track for completing the
course.

Assignments and Grading
Grading will be based on a point scale for each assignment. Course letter grades will be the standard A = 90%+, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, and so on. +/- grading will be applied.

Assignment - Percent of Grade

Textbooks
All course readings will come from various on-line sources. There will be no course textbook.

Policies

Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. There is a very strong correlation between attendance
and project grades, since this is a lab course and the vast majority of the material you need to
know and the techniques you need to develop in order to complete your project will be covered
in class. If you miss class more than twice or you are habitually late, it will be reflected in your
final grade. If you work efficiently, you should be able to develop your project and complete
your reports in the lab time given. Any extra time you have in the lab should be devoted to
development of your project.

Readings
It is required that you read the assignments as the class exercises will reinforce the concepts required in the readings. Your reports will require that you address the concepts presented in the readings and your project will be evaluated based on the principles in the readings. Additionally, concepts discussed in the readings will be covered on the test.

Class behavior
Cell phones are to be turned off. Web surfing, texting and checking email during class is also not acceptable. Discussion of relevant subject matter during lab time is acceptable, but please keep conversations to a minimum. Lab time is to be devoted toward exercises and your project.

Plagiarism and Falsification
Plagiarism is a violation of the fundamental principles of academic integrity. If you fail to give proper citation for a direct quote or paraphrase of another’s idea, you are engaging in plagiarism. Students submitting plagiarized assignments will receive an automatic grade of "F" for the project and a possible failing grade in the course, in addition to university disciplinary action. The following are also plagiarism/falsification: representing others’ work as your own, including the work of other students; receiving assistance from other students or individuals outside sanctioned parameters; using work completed for other classes for assignments. Additional falsification and plagiarism cases are determined at the discretion of the instructor.

Late Assignments and Incompletes
Without exception, late project submissions will result in a 10% reduction in the total score. Incompletes will not be given for the course without a legitimate reason, to be determined by the instructor. Legitimate reasons are extremely rare. Web site critiques may be turned in one week late for partial credit.

Missed Exams
 Students who do not attend an exam may not take the exam later. Only students with a legitimate absence and documentation arranged before the exam date may make up the exam. Travel plans are not a legitimate absence.

Grade Disputes
Students who wish to dispute a grade may resubmit the assignment for consideration. If the student resubmits, the assignment will be considered, which means the grade may go up, down, or stay the same. Further grievances may be adjudicated by the instructor. Grade disputes will not be discussed over email.

Syllabus Changes
This syllabus is subject to change with sufficient notice to students. All assignments, projects, due dates, and point distributions are subject to change.

Weekly Schedule
The class schedule listed on the JTC372 Web site is subject to change during the course of the semester.

Class Projects
In this course, you will develop a personal/portfolio Web site (Project 1) and a Web site for a client (Project 2). The second Web site must be for an organization. Organizations must be real or one that will actually be established. If you have an alternate idea for a project to present information on a topic, please contact me.

Class project assignments are listed on the JTC372 Web site Projects page.