OEGR275 Web Design and Development II

Instructor: Doug Bocaz-Larson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 290-1331/287-6656
Office: 124
Office hours/Tutoring: M/W 6:45-8:15 and Tu/Th 5:30-6:45/8:00-8:15

Description
The emphasis of this course is on design (how to make a nice looking, user-friendly website). You must start with a website or have a great deal of experience with web design and be able to create a page quickly (within first week). The idea is to make a website so people will use it over and over. Official Description: Creating and managing complex Web sites using advanced techniques and tools. Prerequisite: OEGR 230.

Experience Required
OECS260 Intro to HTML or OEGR230 Web Design and Development I must be successfully completed before taking this course. To begin this course, you must have a working web site or have the skills to produce one quickly.

Text
Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug ISBN: 0-7897-2310-7

Instructor Availability
I will be happy to work with you in a computer lab at NMSU-Grants at scheduled times. Please call my cell phone (505-290-1331) or my office (505-287-6656) or email me ([email protected]) for questions or to arrange a time to me. Email is actually the quickest way to reach me followed by leaving a message on my cell phone. I check my office phone the least often. Feel free to ask questions anytime. Most importantly, turn your assignments in on time and don't get behind.

Deadlines
Students must meet the deadlines in order to receive full credit for assignments, quizzes, and projects. You will be given until the Monday after the assignment deadline to turn in the assignments for full credit. After that point, 10% will be taken off for each week the assignment is late up to 40%. The final deadline is not flexible. No late assignments will be taken after the final deadline for the course.
Final deadline for all 1st 4 week assignments – Feb. 3, 2005
Final deadline for all 2nd 4 week assignments – March 2, 2005
Failure to meet the above deadlines may result in your being dropped from the course by the first 4 week deadline or a failing grade on the 2nd 4 weeks.

Important Dates
Jan. 13 Classes Begin
Jan. 17 MLK
Mar. 21-25 Spring Break No Class
Last day to drop (1st 8 week)
Mar. 7 Last day of class (1st 8 week)

Grading scale
100-90% A
89-80% B
79-70% C
69-60% D
below 59% F

Words of Wisdom
When you take a course about computers, you get out of it what you put into it. Computers are constantly changing and you must be constantly learning to keep on the cutting edge. A class in computers will help you get started, but it is up to you to go that extra mile to become an expert. Working with computers is like learning a musical instrument. You don’t become a good musician without practice. It is the same with computers. If you don’t practice and develop your skills on your own, then you’ll never be a true techie. No computer class can teach you everything you need to know on a topic. Computer courses are a jumping off point to a journey, not a destination.

Important Notes to Students
If you have, or believe you have, a disability that interferes with your performance as a student in this class, you are encouraged for academic reasons to discuss this on a confidential basis with your instructor and/or The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator in the Main Office or by calling 287-7981. If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit from the premises in case of an emergency, you are urged, for safety reasons, to notify the ADA coordinator.
Any student found guilty of academic misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions: cheating; plagiarism; unauthorized possession of examinations, reserve library materials or laboratory materials; unauthorized changing of grades on an examination, instructor’s grade book or grade report; nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filing out applications or other college records; or violation of computer use policies. The following disciplinary actions and sanctions may be imposed for any of the above infractions of regulations: disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, dismissal, expulsion.

Getting Started with WebCT
If have never taken a web course, please do the following.
1. Go to: http://salsa.nmsu.edu
2. Click "Create Your ID" on left side of screen
3. Enter your social security number and your date of birth.
4. Click Continue and follow directions.
5. When you are done, email your instructor (Doug Bocaz-Larson) at [email protected] so you can be added to the course.
6. Please allow for 24 hours between the time you create your idea and the time you can enter the course.
7. Return to http://salsa.nmsu.edu, enter your username and password and click the link to your course.
(If you have any questions you can email me at [email protected], call my cell 290-1331, or my office 287-6656)

This is a preview of the upcoming Spring schedule of assignments.
This schedule will be updated on Jan. 13, 2005

Introduction
1) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Introduction: In the discussion, 1) Explain your background with web design, 2) Give the URL of a website(s) you have created.
2) In your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug, read the Introduction on pages 3-9.
3) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Design Consultant: You have two roles in this class: web master and design consultant. Most of you are probably familiar with the term web master, but what does a design consultant do? How can looking through these eyes improve your website?
4) Consultant Activity: Pretend that I have hired you as a design consultant. I want you to create a completely new computer science department website for our campus. First, you’ll want to come up with an overall design. We’ll work on this design throughout the semester and I’ll give you the information you need to create the website. Find some other college/computer science websites that you like (and maybe don’t like – we can learn from bad ones too). Post the addresses of a couple websites and say what you like (or don’t like) about them and discuss why (or why not) these are good models.
NOTE: If I use the computer science website you create, you do not have to do the final exam in this course.
DEADLINE: Tuesday, January 18

Chapter 1 – Plan for Change
1) Read Chapter 1 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Simple Web Pages: Why is it important to make a web page simple?
3) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Think Too Much: What are some ways website makes us think too much? Find an example of a website on the internet that makes us think too much to find things or discuss how your website might make people think too much.
4) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Easier To Use: What are some ways websites make it easier to find things? Find an example of a website on the internet that is easy to navigate or discuss how your website is easy for people to navigate.
5) Ease of Use Activity 1: What would make an easy to use Computer Science website? What information do you think should be available to students right away? Create the introductory page to the computer science website. I have attached information for you to use on the website. Which would be good to use? Which should be saved for later?
6) Ease of Use Activity 2: You will now make some pages to your website. Make a change to your website that makes it easier to use. When you are done, post your website address here and then explain what you did.
DEADLINE: Thursday, January 20

Chapter 2 – Using the Web
1) Read Chapter 2 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Using the Web: What are people thinking when they come to a website? Do a search for a website on a topic you are interested in. Make sure you have never visited that website before. Record your all thoughts when you visit the website. If you liked the website, what do you think made you like it? If you didn’t like the website, what do you think made you not like it? Would any of these ideas help you with your website?
3) LAB #1: For the labs in this class you have a choice. You can either come to room 124 and complete the Option 1 Lab or you can do the Option 2 Lab on your own. You may complete the Option 1 Labs in room 124 on Mon/Wed from 6:45-8pm or Tue/Th from 5:30-6:45pm.
§ Option 1 Lab: Macromedia Flash (Get an introduction to Macromedia Flash and create a simple web animation)
§ Option 2 Lab: JavaScript (Find some JavaScript you would like to add to your website on the internet or in book. You may check out JavaScript books from the NMSU-Grants Library or from my office)
Post your finished project or the URL where it can be viewed.
DEADLINE: Monday, January 24

Chapter 3 – Hierarchy
1) Read Chapter 3 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Hierarchy: What is hierarchy? Why is it important?
3) Hierarchy Activity: Let’s look at the computer science website. How will you organize it? What will be the hierarchy? I’ve provided a few more items for the website. Work these new items into the website and decide how to organize it. Post your results.
4) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Clear Areas: Is your main page divided up into clear areas? Is it obvious what is clickable? Is it too busy?
5) Clear Areas Activity: Fix your main web page so it has clear areas, clear what is clickable, and less busy. Also determine if it is clear what is clickable and if the most important links stand out or are they lost in the shuffle? Post a link to your changed main page and explain what changes you made.
DEADLINE: Tuesday, January 25

Chapter 4 – Usability Testing
1) Read Chapter 4 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Understanding Your Website: Show your website to someone you know. See if there is anything on the page that doesn’t make sense. What did the person notice?
3) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Usability Testing: Post the address of your website here. You will then look at someone else’s website and see if there is anything that you don’t understand. Please be sure to observe the rules of netiquette when posting your findings. Remember to be kind in your postings. We are doing this to be helpful and constructive. Feel free to email your findings first if you are afraid you might be sounding too blunt. Make some changes to your website based on suggestions from the discussions.
4) Usability Activity: Add the new additions to the computer science website. Have someone test your website for usability and make the changes accordingly.
5) LAB #2:
§ Option 1 Lab: Macromedia Flash (Use Flash to try and create an animated introduction to your website)
§ Option 2 Lab: JavaScript (Find some JavaScript on the web or in a book that creates a dynamic introduction to your website)
DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 26

Chapter 5 - Information
1) Read Chapter 5 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Information: Is more information or less better on a web page? When presenting information, what is the best way to do it?
3) Information Activity: Go through a web page on your website. Do you have too much happy talk? Try to cut down the information as much as possible and still have it make sense. Please post the URLs for both the before and after examples of the website.
4) Computer Science Information: Look at the information so far on the Computer Science website you are creating. Is there too much information that isn’t needed? Is there not enough information? If you’re not sure, have someone else take a look who doesn’t know about the computer science program and see if they understand.
DEADLINE: Thursday, January 27

Chapter 6 – Navigation
1) Read Chapter 6 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Navigation: Find a website you visit often. How are you able to navigate this site? What kind of menus does it use? Was it easy to navigate the first time?
3) LAB #3:
§ Option 1 Lab: Adobe Photoshop (Use PhotoShop or another graphics program to create a logo for your website)
§ Option 2 Lab: JavaScript: (Find JavaScript to display your website title in a dynamic way)
4) Navigation Activity 1: Answer the questions from page 87 in your book about your website. If you weren’t able to answer all the questions, what are your plans to address the issue or do you feel that it is necessary to fix it?
5) Navigation Activity 2: Answer the questions from page 87 in your book about the Computer Science website you are creating. If you weren’t able to answer all the questions, what are your plans to address the issue or do you feel that it is necessary to fix it?
DEADLINE: Monday, January 31

MIDTERM Activity
As an experiment, try a completely different way to navigate your website. Set up a new structure. Add breadcrumbs to the new one and try to find a JavaScript menu to use. Keep the old as well for comparison. Post the URLs for both your new website and the old.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 2

Chapter 7 - Taglines
1) Read Chapter 7 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Website Message. What is the message of your website? Develop a tagline (motto).
3) Menu Activity: Find a JavaScript and try creating a rollover menu for your website or the Computer Science website.
4) LAB #4:
§ Option 1 Lab: Adobe Photoshop (Use PhotoShop or another graphics program to add a tagline to your website logo from Lab #3)
§ Option 2 Lab: JavaScript: (Find JavaScript to make your tagline dance somewhere on your page such as the bottom of the browser window)
DEADLINE: Monday, February 7

Chapter 8 – Suggesting Changes
1) Read Chapter 8 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) Computer Science Activity: Look at each other’s websites so far for the Computer Science department. Make five suggestions to each other for changes. Please be positive and helpful. Talk about how to make the changes. Don’t just point out what is wrong. For example, say “move the navigation menu to the top of the page”, but don’t say “it took me an hour to figure out where the navigation menu was. No one can use this website like this.”
3) NMSU-Grants Activity: Pretend we are making a new website for NMSU-Grants. Look at the current website (http://grants.nmsu.edu). What do you like? What don’t you like? Read all the suggestions from students and vote for the best idea that someone has. Would any of these suggestions be helpful for your website?
FINAL EXAM PREVIEW – you will actually make changes to NMSU-Grants website for the final exam.
DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 8

Chapter 9 – Importance of Testing
1) Read Chapter 9 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Importance of Testing. What is the importance of having a website tested?
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 9

Chapter 10 – Testing Report
1) Read Chapter 10 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) Testing Report Activity 1: Have one or more test out your website in person. Record responses (verbal and visual). Visual responses are things you observe from the test subject. Do they seem confused about how to navigate? Do they appear bored or frustrated? Create a one page report from the testing (see page 173). You may complete this activity in room 124 as a lab.
3) Testing Report Activity 2: Have one or more test out your website in person. Record responses (verbal and visual). Visual responses are things you observe from the test subject. Do they seem confused about how to navigate? Do they appear bored or frustrated? Create a one page report from the testing (see page 173). You may complete this activity in room 124 as a lab.
DEADLINE: Thursday, February 10

Chapter 11 – Usability Testing #2
1) Read Chapter 11 in your text, Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
2) In the WebCT Discussion area, go to the discussion called Usability Testing #2. Post your website address and computer science website you created. Please review all the websites that are posted when you post your website address. You do not need to review any websites posted here after March 3, 2005. Try to give helpful suggestions on how to make the websites as user friendly as possible.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 16FINAL WEBSITE
Make some of the suggested corrections from the Usability Testing #2 discussion and post your website address and the Computer Science website when it is complete.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 23

FINAL EXAM
Select a page or a section of the NMSU-Grants website (http://grants.nmsu.edu) that you believe needs improving. Make the changes to the website and put this online at a different location.
OR
Find an instructor who doesn’t have a web page on the NMSU-Grants website (http://grants.nmsu.edu/facultywebs/facultyweb.html), meet with them to find out what they would like on a single web page and create the page.
DEADLINE: Monday, February 28
DEADLINE FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS: Thursday, March 3