MAT165 Syllabus:

Course Description:

This course builds on the skills developed in MAT 125 and introduces the student to the more advanced tools and techniques for designing web sites using current web design and development tools.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The MiraCosta faculty believe that students who complete one or more certificates or degrees are systematic, critical, creative thinkers and clear communicators who are intellectually curious, technically proficient, professional, and aesthetically literate. To that end, the faculty has identified seven Student Learning Outcomes (SLO's) that apply directly to the high-level skills you are expected to possess in the workforce: Technical Skills, Application of Discipline Skills, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication, Professional Behavior, Aesthetic Literacy and Appreciation, and Global Awareness and Responsible Citizenship.

To achieve this goal, you are expected to achieve competency in the following course-level Student Learning Outcomes, each of which help you achieve one or more of the above outcomes:

Course Objectives:

Students will learn practices of information design and delivery for the World Wide Web and multimedia, including developing the information architecture, graphical user interface and web page design, creating and optimizing graphics for the web, designing for interactivity, and creating animation. The course will provide “hands on” experience with the tools and techniques used by designers to create effective interfaces and sophisticated web and multimedia products. Students will learn to:

  1. Design effective user interfaces
  2. Produce and program webpage designs using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
  3. Create and optimize graphics for web delivery
  4. Create and apply rollover, drop-down, and other menu functions to webpages
  5. Apply styles and templates to multiple pages
  6. Create web-based animations
  7. Use built-in behaviors to add advanced functionality
  8. Utilize web servers to manage, upload, and update web pages
  9. Evaluate web designs for usability and effectiveness

Design skills, design process, personal expression, content development, project management, and trends in visual communication as they relate to interactive media will be emphasized along with the learning of tools and techniques.

Software to be used in the class includes: Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Fireworks, and others as needed. Students will explore programming using XHTML, CSS, Javascript, and Actionscript.

Class Materials

Required Reading

Recommended Reading (Optional/Your Choice)

Optional Reading

Necessary Supplies

Grading and Evaluation

Your final grade will be based on your class projects, exercises, blog postings, and class participation.

Total Points Possible: 1,000

Grading Guidelines

A – Outstanding achievement; available only for the highest accomplishment.
B – Praiseworthy performance; definitely above average.
C – Average; awarded for satisfactory performance.
D – Minimally passing; less than average achievement for undergraduate students.
F – Failing.

An incomplete grade will only be granted for extenuating circumstances.

Project grades are based on the quality of your work in the following areas: content/concept, form, function, and technique.

Exercises & Projects

There will be four exercises to be completed during the semester to support the material covered in the lectures and demonstrations. Use the exercises to explore the technical content covered in class and work on page layout concepts.

You will create two major projects during the semester.

For details on the projects, visit the Projects page.

Your final project will follow the path of a typical job done in a design studio. You will create and submit a proposal of your idea after doing project research and surveying your client to determine his or her needs. Then you will write out the website objectives, create a flowchart, thumbnails and comps as part of the design process.

This project will be graded based on the quality of your work in these areas: The strength of your concept, the depth of your content, the functionality of the website, and the effectiveness of the techniques you used.

The Blog

There will be a variety of topics assigned each week for you to research and write about. Your blog will be available for review by all class members. Each blog topic will have a point value. The points you receive will be based on the quality of your blog postings. You may use the blog to generate extra credit points. Beyond posting on the topics suggested, you may also post about websites, tools and techniques that you discover will researching the web.

Class Policies

Lab Hours
Computer lab hours for the Library and Information Hub:
Mon - Thurs 8am - 9:30pm
Fri 8am - 3pm
Sat 10am - 5pm

Attendance and Participation
Participation in class will be considered as part of your course grade. Students are expected to attend and be on time to every class. If you decide to withdraw from the course, you must file the appropriate paperwork or risk receiving an “F” in the class.

Due Dates
All work is expected to be completed by the due dates. Unless otherwise specified, work is due at the beginning of the class period. Late work may be lowered by one letter grade for each class meeting that it is late.

Prerequisites/Advisories
MAT 125 is recommended as well as considerable computer and desktop experience and/or have taken - CIS 185 (Introduction to Windows).

Classroom Rules
All students are expected to follow the rules of the computer lab. No food or drinks are allowed in the classroom. Cell phones, iPods, and electronic devices should be turned off while in the classroom. No browsing the Internet, instant messaging, playing computer games, or writing e-mail during active classroom time.

Conduct
All students are expected to follow the administrative rules and standards of conduct detailed in the college catalog. In particular, plagiarism may result in a failing grade and other consequences. Students are expected to produce original work. A student may not use or copy by any means another's work (or portions of it) and represent it as his/her own. Quotations, photographs, or other artwork used by a student should be given appropriate credit or reference.

Disability Accommodations
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Disabled Students Programs & Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner. Their phone number is 795-6658 and they are located in Building 3000-Student Services, Room 3009, adjacent to Parking Lot 3C.

Important Dates