1. Communications

We will be communicating using e-mail, including a class mailing list that I will setup once everyone has signed in, WebTycho conferences, and Web pages. For this class you are required to originate all e-mail from our UNIX server. No other source will be accepted. Please also note that attachments will not be accepted. For e-mail address information please see the E-Mail Directory.

You will receive a 'numbered account' for this class on Nova, a UNIX server. Your first task will be to change the numbered name to you real name like so: Nova>chfn your_real_name (e.g., chfn ferd_lazarus). You will still need to log-on using your 'number' (e.g., c??450??nn) however now your real name will appear on the account in addition to the number. (Ed. Note: A revised system may be in place that automatically inserts your real name when a numbered account is generated.)

In order to further facilitate communications, setup an entry Web page named <index.html>. Create a child directory, of your home directory, on our UNIX server. Name this directory <www> and load your entry page into this directory. Use this entry or Vectoring Page to lead us to the various assignments as noted below. Be sure to include your name and Nova class e-mail address on your vectoring page and each assignment page.

When these two tasks have been accomplished send an e-mail message to me at my class address, on Nova to confirm that communications has been established. Remember that this message must originate from our UNIX server.

Value {4} points.

Metric: You have 6 days from the first day of class inclusive to complete these tasks. Failure to meet the date will cost you grade points and cause you to miss important message traffic.

2. Goals

What are your goals for this class? Please write a 200-word minimum essay on this topic.

I have goals for this class, they were enumerated earlier. If I didn't have goals, I could not teach the course. If you do not have goals, you cannot effectively learn the material to be presented. An effective way to learn is to search for answers to predefined questions. So, what are your goals for this class (besides getting an "A")?

Also how do you best learn? By reading and study, listening (not to great for a Web based class), doing and experimenting, writing and explaining? The latter two do it for me, probably to no ones surprise.

A brief autobiography, to set the stage, would also be nice.

I will try to adjust the course to satisfy both your goals and mine.

Please post your essay to the WebTycho "Goals" conference as a new topic.

Value {5} points.

Metric: You need to convince me that you have thought about your class goals, that they are real, and not what you think I want to hear.

3. Early Planning

In later modules we will address the issue of identifying Web site content in a more rigorous manner. As a starting point, however, a free-form approach is suggested here. It takes time for a design initiative to take form. It is a good idea to start the planning phase early. Consider the following:

1. What product or service do you plan to offer on your Web site to be designed for this class? Providing information to viewers can be considered a service. However the information needs to be unique in some respect. If you choose to prepare an information site be sure to explain how it will be unique.
2. What is the constituency of your intended audience?
3. What information do you plan to offer to encourage "stickiness" (i.e., compelling reasons for your viewers to spend time on your site)?

Write an essay (200 words minimum) that responds to these three questions. Post it as a new topic to the "Early Planning" conference on WebTycho. Only real products or services should be suggested, no "widgets," please. As a reality test, search the net and identify at least two sites offering similar products or services. Can't find any? Choose another product or service for your class project. (You might want to start searching for venture capital for your "failed" first choice.) Include in your essay the URLs of these sites with content similar to yours.

Value {6} points.

Metric: If your plan is convincing you will receive two points for each of the three topics.

4. Early Planning Critique

Write another essay, of at least 100 words, in which you constructively critique a classmate's Early Planning essay. Post this essay as a response to your classmate's first essay on this topic.

Value {5} points.

Metric: Five points if your critique is both unique and constructive.

5. Content

Using HTML, write and post a single Web Page on your class site that identifies the thrust of your proposed final Web site. This should be a refinement of your "Early Planning" document and include both your instructors and fellow students comment as appropriate. At a minimum you must address address the following:

1. What product or service do you plan to offer?
2. Why do you think there is a market for this product or service?
3. In terms of their demographics, who are your target customers?
4. Who is your competition?
5. What will you do to give yourself an edge over you competition?
6. What is the approximate page count?
7. What are the major topics to be included?
8. How you plan to make your site 'sticky'?
9. How do you plan to be sure that you viewers 'trust' your site? In other words, what information will you include so that viewers will believe what you say?
10. How will you be sure that your site ages well?

Let us all know when your 'Site Content' page is 'up' via a message to our class mailing list

Remember to vector us to your work via your entry page.

Value {10} points.

Metric: A point each for 10 well done responses.

6. Standards Manual

Using HTML, write and post a standards manual to your Web site. When it is 'up' lets us all know via a message to our class mailing list. Be sure to vector us here via your entry page.

This manual should be proceeded by a story board which, because of logistical difficulties in posting this sort of graphic presentation, need not be posted.

At a minimum you must address the following areas though you can and should comment on additional areas:

1. The 'look and feel' down through all levels. For a small site, 200 or so pages, there should probably be no more than four levels.
2. How links will be placed and used. They should add to your viewers experience. Be sure to comment on this.
3. Navigation through your site. You should never let your viewer get lost, no matter what he/she does. A viewer should always be able to undo whatever he/she does and always be able to find an index. If frames will be used comment on how they will be integrated into the site. Frames help with navigation, reduce the maintenance load, facilitate space parsing but can confound the uninitiated.
4. Multimedia effects - graphics, video, audio can be both good and evil.
5. Formatting use of CSS, tables and the like.
6. Accommodation of the disabled, printing, and browser variations.
7. How consistency will be maintained from page to page.
8. Use of scripts and SSI.
9. Site decoration including how typeface and color will be used.
10. Inclusion, as appropriate, items to facilitate user feedback, commerce (e.g., a shopping cart), and the like.
11. How globalization of the Net will be addressed. There is much diversity even among those who reside within the US.

Value {22} points.

Metric: Two points for each well reasoned comment up to 22 points.

7. Web Site

At a minimum your class Web site on our UMUC server must include:

1. a splash or entry page
2. an 'About This Site' page explaining the basis for the site
3. a privacy statement page
4. a copyright statement page
5. a site map page
6. 5 additional html pages on at least two different levels below your splash page for 10 pages overall minimum
7. viewer interaction (e.g., A form where your viewer can deliver information to you.)
8. two javaScripts, with you choosing the purpose (e.g., automating last update notation)
9. external, embedded and inline CSS
10. a self search capability
11. server side includes
12. multimedia (e.g., audio clips, animated graphics)

» Your site shall not include deprecated tags CSS shall be used in lieu of these tags.

» You shall test your site using Netscape 4.x, Netscape 6.x, Opera 6.x, and IE 5.x or IE 6.x. In the real world you would need to test using both IE 5.x and 6.x. However because of the difficulty in loading both browsers under one OS you may to choose the IE browser version for testing. Do indicate the one you select.

» Include a link on your vectoring page to a page that discusses how and where you have implemented each of the twelve must include functions.

Send a message to our class mailing list when your site is 'up' for review.

Value {48} points.

Metric: Two points each for the 12 must have features. Then an evaluation based on the following:

1. depth, accuracy, completeness, authority, and utility of the information presented on the site {4}
2. elegance of design and ease of navigation {4}
3. effective use of and quality of the multimedia effects included {4}
4. well done, efficient coding {4}
5. literate writing {4}