Is an online class right for me?

Students frequently underestimate the amount of time an online class requires. Online courses require self discipline and an independent spirit. The advantage of an online course is the flexibility of your study schedule. But you need to set aside time each week to keep up. Expect to dedicate about 6 hours a week to this class. If your design skills are not strong, if your Photoshop skills are thin, and especially if you do not understand File Directory Structures, FTP and basic HTML you will likely be spending more than 6 hours a week.

The materials for this course are communicated by the Lesson pages online and the class CD. It is important to read these each week.

You must check your email often

Don't hide from the class. It is important to read your email often. You need to check it at the very least, once a week. I will be sending out at least one email weekly instructing you on the current week's work. I will communicate with you by email if you have submitted things wrong. You can communicate with your fellow classmates by the message list.

Computer equipment - you need access to the following:

• Internet Account: one will be provided for you on Gracie, the CIS Department server. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE GRACIE TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK.
• Email account: please use the same one throughout the course. CHECK IT OFTEN
• Fairly powerful computer (486/Pentium or Macintosh Power PC with the rock bottom minimum of 128 MB of RAM). Ram is cheap right now, you will be much happier with 192 or 256 MB of RAM. I use 512 and still push it sometimes.
• Modem or DSL or Cable Internet Access
• Web Browser: Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer (use a recent version that can support JavaScript and forms)
• Photoshop/ImageReady (version 6 with ImageReady 3 required)

If you do not have all this at home, the CIS department provides several computer labs including:

1. CIS Lab - Maggini Hall 3rd floor
2. BCL Lab - Maggini Hall 2nd floor
3. PET Lab - Petaluma Center

These labs all have Macs and PCs, which contain Netscape and IE as well as HTML editors and graphics software. We have zip drives, scanners, color printers, and laser writers as well.

Get to know the website well

Take some time before you start the class to get to know the website. Learn how to navigate all its parts. Thoroughly explore the Homework page, it is the most important part of the site. You will submit all your homework by these forms. There are 2 submissions each week, your Lesson work done in Photoshop and uploaded to your site and either a Surfing Form or a Quiz. The example pages are a valuable tool to give you inspiration and direction.

Check the Check List pages before submitting your homework

Click on the examples to see an illustration of the assignment

Students frequently scan the homework assignment too briefly or they misunderstand what is required of them. Later, they realize that they forgot part of the assignment or need to redo it because it was done wrong. Read the assignment carefully. There are example pages that show what the assignment should look like. You will find the links to these pages on every Examples page of each Lesson and next to each assignment on the Homework page. The Check List pages are there to help you see that you have completed everything correctly. There are links to the Check Lists next to each assignment on the Homework page.

This is a hybrid class, equal parts layout and Photoshop techniques

You don't need a design background to take this class, but design will be an important part of the class. You cannot separate the art of layout from the process of creating web pages. Part of your grade each week will be based on how you completed the required elements, and part will be based on how successful your layout is. Beginning designers can be successful in the class. Where appropriate, I will have examples showing good design and sometimes bad examples to show you what to avoid. Look on the Lesson Examples pages for these.

Don't Get Behind

If you run into trouble, email me. I may be able to troubleshoot the problem. If you would like one-on-one attention, you can come to the lab during my lab hours. Other instructors can help you with Photoshop and ImageReady. Please be careful not to fall behind in this class as it is hard to catch up. If you fall too far behind, I will have to drop you.