Intro+to+Website+Development++57.570

=Introduction to Website Development ~ 57.570 ~ Dr. Helmut Doll ~ Summer 2011 =

__//Course Description://__ Examines the fundamental concepts of computer based learning and information systems. Specific emphasis is placed on the design, development, and authoring of interactive courseware using software such as Macromedia Dreamweaver, Javascript and HTML. Emerging technologies and their potential impact upon education and training are also studied.

1. Website Review
In this assignment review three web sites using your own criteria. This will help in formalizing your impressions of the quality of a web site and allow you to build better web sites in the future.

**Steps: **

 * 1) Research a list of 5 - 10 criteria, which you consider most important for the quality of a web site. One category should be an overall rating.
 * 2) Choose three web sites that are **of a similar type** and review them according to the criteria that you chose before.
 * 3) Write the criteria list and the reviews in paragraph or list form (about 2 pages).



2. Group Blogging Project
In this assignment each group will add content to a blog that explains their topic. The blog should address the topic, but more content is invited. Each post should include graphics to illustrate the text and links to information on the topic. My group topic was **Web 2.0** and my two assigned blogs were //What is Web 2.0// and //Wikis//.

>> A few examples of some Web 2.0 tools: blogs, wikis, voicethread, social bookmarking. >> Here is a popular image of a tag cloud showing a variety of Web 2.0 themes: >> >> 
 * **//What is Web 2.0?// **
 * To have a better understanding what Web 2.0 means, we must first start with the __first generation__ of the web — Web 1.0. When web was first developed, it was strictly ‘**read only**‘ meaning all content was static, users could only consume information. In contrast, Web 2.0 is often referred to as **‘read-write web**‘ meaning interaction and collaboration exists and thrives with this new version! Users are no longer just consumers, now they can create their own content and interact with others. There are many fantastic Web 2.0 tools that exist today – most require users to create accounts and many of them are FREE.
 * [|Web 2.0 Themes] For more detailed information, please refer to the two articles below:
 *  Wikipedia article: [|Web 1.0]
 * Wikipedia article: [|Web 2.0]

>> A wiki is a fabulous Web 2.0 tool that allows many people to collaborate on a shared website. There are many types of wikis, perhaps the most well-known wiki is [|Wikipedia], a collaborative encyclopedia. >> Wikipedia’s wiki definition: the word wiki is a Hawaiian word meaning “quick” – wiki systems are designed so the their content can be edited and changed in a quick straight forward fashion. >> Wiki’s can be utilized for a multitude of things from hosting a multilingual encyclopedia, to planning and organizing a camping trip, to elementary aged students collaborating on writing a progressive story. >> One of the best wiki hosting sites that I have used is called. Anyone can create a free account and begin creating and sharing a wiki very quickly, just as the definition implies!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">**//Wikis//**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">**What is a wiki?** One of the best explanations that I have seen was created by the good folks at Common Craft. Please click on the link below and watch this short (less than 4 minutes) video:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> media type="youtube" key="-dnL00TdmLY" height="317" width="385"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">3. Website Development Project - [|link to website]
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The goal of this assignment is to complete a sound web application, which uses advanced features of web design.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Documentation Elements
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Result of testing of the web page on at least 4 different browser versions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Asset List
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Testing for Accessibility of web page using the Section 508 test report by [|Cynthia Says]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Usability testing with rating of your site by at least two people not in class
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">HTML validator
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">CSS validator


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Overall Impression
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Content presentation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ease of navigation/site structure/links
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Errorless browsing in all browsers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Aesthetic appearance of pages
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Quality of Content: spelling, clarity, grammar
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Size of files/download times


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Technical Elements
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Use at least 2 different JavaScript features
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Correctness of HTML
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Description and keyword META tags for the the site
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Use of a linked Cascading Style Sheets to give a consistent format to all pages

__**Documentation Elements:**__
=<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> =