Description
and
Course
Objectives

Blackboard Web Site for Class

Class Discussion Board

Peer Evaluation for Group Project - Due December 6 by 5:00

This course is designed to introduce you to the quickly emerging area of interactive communication. Most of the content will focus on the World Wide Web as an evolving communication medium. Lectures, guest speakers, assignments, and exams will provide you with the understanding and skills to be critical consumers and quality publishers of Web content and other interactive media.

As you begin the course, you should be comfortable browsing the WWW with either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer. By the end you will understand the basics of HTML, Photoshop, Web site construction and have acquired the skills necessary to construct individual as well as client sites.

All students will be required to have an e-mail address. Most of the correspondence between the professors and students will be via email.

Internet and Web News

Details

Instructors

David Cook
Information Technology Services, NOA 5.302, 232-3782
dcook@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

TA: Cynthia Kolb
Office: UA9 4.116H
cdkolb@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: T,TH 11:00 - 12:30

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Tentative
Schedule

Please note that dates listed for assignments and exams are tentative and are subject to change.

Week 1-2

Background on the Web; browsing and searching skills.

Finding and recognizing quality web pages, critique some web pages and analyze the layout and components. After the first two weeks we want you to be able to find things and develop a more critical eye for Web pages.

Assignment 1 - Due September 10

Notes and Handouts for Weeks 1-2

Web Design Guidelines
Web Design and Etiquette Tips
Web Style Guide (from Yale)

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Week 3 - 4

Web page construction basics using HTML; this will also cover the basic UNIX commands needed to serve pages on the UT Austin campus.

Assignment 2 - Due September 19

Notes and Handouts from Weeks 3-4

HTML Example from September 5
Example 2 from September 10
Example 3 from September 12
HTML Example from September 5
Learning to Publish
Publishing Web Pages on Webspace
A Beginner's Guide to HTML
John December's HTML Station
HTML Tables

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Week 5 - 6

Foundations and theory of interactive communication and media. We will also discuss Web policy issues such as security, privacy, and copyright and analyze Web log files to measure site usage.

Assignment 3 - Due October 1

Notes and Handouts from Week 5 - 6

Web Metrics PowerPoint Presentation
Interactive Communication PowerPoint Presentation(Powerpoint file)

Getting Started with Microsoft Excel

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Week 7 - 12

Web graphics - discuss different web file formats, browser safe colors, and scanning. Image manipulaton with Adobe PhotoShop and creation of client-side image maps.

PhotoShop 3 Lab Exercise/Instructions and Files

Image Map Example from October 17

Image Map Example from October 15

pics.html example from October 3

pic2.html example from October 3

Sample Exam 1
Exam 1 will be in class on Tuesday, October 8. Make sure you bring a blue book.

Assignment 4 - Due October 31

Exam 2 - In class on Thursday, November 14
Practice Exam 2

Assignment 5 - Due November 12

Notes and Handouts for Weeks 7 - 12

Scanning
Creating Clickable Image Maps
Getting Started with Adobe PhotoShop
Web Graphics

Digital Media Collection
UT Graphics available for personal use

Frames

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Week 13 - 15

Class does not meet at regular times. Groups will be required to meet with Dr. Wilcox about their group project.

Last day of class final projects due and presented in class

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Method
of
Evaluation

Class Attendance and Participation - 10%

Exams - 20%

Individual Assignments - 35%.

There will be 5 individual assignments that will be submitted by e-mail or as Web pages. These assignments will cover technical aspects of Web creation and concepts of Interactive Communication.

Web Page Project - 35%

This will be a group project that will consist of a Web site. In addition to the grade you receive on the group project, you will be evaluated by members of your group regarding your participation in the project.

There are no extra credit projects -- the only way to earn a grade in this course is by doing well in these four areas.

Make-up and Drop Policy

Any student who misses an assignment or quiz during the semester for any reason whatsoever will not be allowed to make-up the missed assignment. Assuming university policies permit, a student may drop COM 314 with a passing grade through the day before the first exam. After that point students who drop the course receive whatever grade they earned in the course at that point in time.

Grading

Grades on the exams and individual assignments are an important part of your course grade. Students with questions about their grade must contact the instructor immediately. Grades will be discussed only during the week immediately following their return. After that grade changes will not be discussed -- no exceptions.

Note that although students are encouraged to discuss projects with others in the class, students may only turn in their own, original work. Finally, following instructions is an important part of responding to these projects and no late assignments will be accepted for any reasons whatsoever.

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Net Resources

Additional Readings