SYLLABUS:

DMIS 27 WEB GRAPHICS
Section # 41071

Instructor: Jean McIntosh
CLASS EMAIL: jrmacks@sbcglobal.net
Class Meeting: online / weekly lessons posted each Wednesday
Chat: Mondays (see chat schedule)
Telephone: (408) 741-2435
Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 2-3:30 pm, or by appointment

PLEASE use jrmacks@sbcglobal.net as the official email for this class

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on creating artwork and web pages for the world wide web and introduces principles of interface design and visual communication.   Students will learn current production techniques and strategies for creating functional and engaging graphic interfaces.

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
Create various kinds of artwork for the web.
Understand the technical limitations & constraints of web design.
Create layouts implementing effective color, type, and graphic elements.
Develop a web site from thumbnails to a working prototype.
Experiment with design and communication principles to create web graphics.

SOFTWARE
Photoshop (CS 2), Image Ready (CS 2), and Dreamweaver will be used and demonstrated in video tutorials throughout the semester. It is helpful to have a basic proficiency in any version of Photoshop, html, or a html editor such as Dreamweaver or Adobe's Go Live. Some students use other versions of the software (v6 or CS ), but remember the materials use the above mentioned versions.

TEXTS:         
Designing Web Graphics.4 (this is an older book, however it has excellent information and there will be a quiz based on the readings from this text later on in the semester.)
by Lynda Weinman         ISBN:   0-7357-1079-1
This book is currently not available at the West Valley College Bookstore , but can be purchased at amazon.com . Get a used version if possible.

Photoshop CS 2 for the Web (HOT: Hands of Training)
by Tanya Staples
Peachpit press        ISBN: 0-321-33171-0
This book is available in the West Valley College Bookstore, and can also be purchased online at amazon.com or digital guru. Digital Guru is an excellent technical bookstore in Sunnyvale on Lawrence Expressway.

CLASS COMMUNICATION
Please plan on participating in chat. I regularly post assignments so you can see your peers work, and if i ask you to redo an assignment it is for your benefit. I look at each assignment that comes in and if i see any problem I will notify you immediately. If you have any concerns about assignments, grades, etc, please contact me and I will do my best to get back to you within 24-48 hours. I will provide direct feedback on two assignments, and the midterm. Other class communication will be facilitated by posting student's work, sending class emails, and encouraging you to communicate with each other.

MATERIALs
Sketch book, digital camera, scanner, library access, graphic applications. Lab facilities are available to all students in the Technology Center in the AAS building if you need access to software/computer lab to do the homework.

PREREQUISITES
Basic proficiency in Photoshop, Image Ready, or Fireworks is recommended.   We will go through the steps of putting a site together throughout the course of the class.   Basic understanding of html, and/or a html editor is necessary. Students needing to review html can do tutorials at: http:www.webmonkey.com. The second half of the semester students will be required to upload web pages to a freee host (such as angelfire, or geoscities) or can opt to make a blog (blogster.com). We will cover this in our lessons.

Approaching the Learning Process
Students will gain an understanding of user centered design and its implementation by participating in discussions, reading, lectures, and assignments that are built upon as the course progresses. Students may be required to rework assignments, and should continually strive to implement the concepts and information covered in the class. Design is learned by doing.

SOFTWARE
Students will need access to Photoshop, Image Ready, and a html editor. You may use other software or other versions of Photoshop to complete course work, but the course information is specific to Photoshop CS 2. Please make sure that any trial versions of software do not impede in your completion of the course. The Technology Center in AAS has all the software used in DM/IS available in both the pc and mac labs. Take your student card to the Technology Center and sign up at the front desk to use the lab facilities.

STUDENT COMMITMENT:
This course will cover a lot of material and it does require a serious commitment of time and energy both from students and the instructor. Students should have enough time in the week to absorb the following within the given deadlines: experiment with new techniques, complete assignments, read book material and pursue additional resources. It is not advised that students plan a vacation or heavy workloads during this course.

DEVELOPMENT SKILLS:
Students must be familiar with basic file management, how to run and navigate a computer, and it helps to have a basic understanding of html, and image editing. Online tutorials at www.webmonkey.com in basic html are highly recommended if you need to brush up your html.

CHAT SCHEDULE: CHAT begins week 3 - Monday Feb 13
CHAT SCHEDULE:
Feb 13 - Photoshop Chat 6:30-7:15 pm

Feb 27 - Web Graphics Chat 6:30–7:15 pm

Mar 13 - Web Graphics Chat 6:30–7:00 pm

Mar 27 - Web Graphics Chat 6:30–7:00 pm

Apr 10 - Web Graphics Chat 6:30–7:00 pm

Apr 24 - Web Graphics Chat 6:30–7:00 pm

May 8 - Web Graphics + Photoshop Chat 6:30-7:30 pm

GRADING
Grading is done by the traditional letter grade, A through F basis. 100-90%=A, 89-90%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60%=D, 59-0%=F.

The lecture part of this class is 3 hours per week. Arranged lab requires 2.4 hours per week, and students can expect to put in 3+ hours of homework (reading, doing assignments, researching ideas...) Arranged lab is time   you spend practicing software and production techniques. Additional hours will be required for the main projects.

Late mid-term and final projects will be penalized. Students must use their own material, and respect copyright laws.

GRADe breakdown
Weekly Assignments = 35 points
Mid term = 25 points
Quiz = 15 points
Final = 25 points
TOTAL = 100 points

CRITERIA FOR GRADING:
Demonstrates growth in abilities and understanding of material taught.
Meets the objectives of each assignment.
Active participation in class and projects.
Timely completion of all assignments within prescribed deadlines.
Willingness to participate and utilize critical evaluations.
Ability to meet industry level standards in quality and aesthetics.

GRADING CATEGORIES:
A: Superior Work: 100 - 90%
Consistently demonstrates a superior understanding of the principles and methodologies taught at a level well above the norm, Exceed nominal requirements of aesthetic and visual quality more than 80% of the time. Great expectations.

B: Above Average: 89 - 80%
Demonstrates on a regular basis, an above average understanding of the principles and methodologies taught. Exceed nominal requirements of aesthetic and visual quality more than 50% of the time. Potential is there more effort and understanding of concepts is needed.

C: Average: 79 - 70%
Demonstrates a basic understanding of the principles and methodologies taught. Work meets the nominal requirements of visual and aesthetic quality the majority of the time.   It's going to take some work to be successful but with the right work ethic and attitude it can happen.

D: Below Average: 69 - 60%
Demonstrates a below average understanding of the principles and methodologies taught. Work meets the nominal requirements of visual and aesthetic quality less than 50%. Reevaluation of career and educational goals is highly recommended.

F: Failure: > 60%
Unable to perform at an acceptable level in demonstrating principles and methodologies taught. Work meets the nominal requirements of visual and aesthetic quality at less than 40% of the time. This is not the right career choice.

IMPORTANT DATES:
January 30 – First Day of Instruction
February 11 – Last Day to ADD Classes
February 16 – Last day to Drop Classes Without Notation
February 20 – Washington's Day Holiday
March 27 - April 1 – Spring Break (no classes)
April 28 – Last Day to Drop Classes (12th week)
May 24 – Final due (finals week is May 22-27)