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Syllabus Contents

 

Fall 2009

2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 3 units

Section 4691:
Friday 9:00 - 11:50am
room H-114
2 hours per week online - see online course information
Course Web Site: cis2.cuyamaca.net/jreed/217

Instructor:

Jodi Reed, MA
Computer & Information Science, Graphic Design
Cuyamaca College
jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu
office:  room H-115

Jodi's Fall 2009 Schedule

Tuesday 
 CIS 212 (room H-113): 11:00AM - 2:00PM

office hours (room H-115 or H-113):
10:00 - 11:00am
2:00PM -3:00am
Wednesday office hour (online):
10:00 - 11:00am
Thursday
 office hour (room H-115 or H-113):
12:00 - 1:00pm
Friday
 office hour (room H-115 or H-113):
8:00 - 9:00am

GD 217 (room H-114): 9:00 - 11:50am

Please request an appointment if you would like to see me outside office hours. I am also available by email almost every work day and usually at least one weekend day.

Topics/Themes

In this 3-unit course, students will use Adobe Photoshop and Fireworks to create Web graphics and Dreamweaver to produce web sites.  The course will cover 4 main topics:

  1. concepts - underlying principles of web graphics (resolution, bit depth, formats, compression, colors, etc.)
  2. graphics production - how to use Photoshop and Fireworks to create Web graphics and interfaces
  3. design - layout and color
  4. integration with Dreamweaver - optimizing output for the web

Prerequisites

The prerequisite skills for this class are:

These skills can be learned in CIS 212 and GD 126. 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, each student will be able to:

Grading and Assignments

You will be graded on assignments, online discussion, and tests.  Blackboard and the course schedule and assignments pages link to complete instructions, including a scoring rubric for each Web page assignment.  You will use Blackboard to check your grades, turn in assignments, take quizzes, and participate in class discussion.  Your total grade will include:

~20%

Spellman Assignments

Assignments already graded by N. Spellman.
~5%

Online Discussion

Participation in general Blackboard Forums.
~15%

Labs & Online Discussion

Labs are step-by-step guides to help you practice concepts and skills. Discussions are graded Blackboard Forums.
~5% Quizzes

Quizzes will cover videos, lecture, and textbook material. 
~45% Projects

Projects are more challenging than labs because they require you to apply design principles and production skills to create typical web elements.

~10% Final Exam The final exam will be cumulative and will draw heavily from quiz questions and textbook exercises.

Scale

A 
90-100%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations and/or shows exceptional effort, skill, or creativity
B
80-89%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations
C
70-79%, awarded for work that meets minimum expectations
D
60-69%, awarded for work that is below expectation

Due Dates, Make-ups, and Incompletes

Assignments are usually due to Moodle a week or two after they are assigned.  Due dates are shown on Moodle. After the due date, you lose 20% for each week it is late. Be sure to SAVE and BACK UP everything you do. BEGIN ASSIGNMENTS EARLY in the week they are assigned so you will have time for questions. ASSUME you will have technical problems and turn in work BEFORE the due date. I have built in plenty of time to allow for questions and technical difficulties as long as you begin on the date it was assigned.

Quizzes are available on Moodle for two weeks only, and no make-ups are allowed. 

An incomplete grade is given only when there is an emergency near the end of the semester.

Mature students meet deadlines in spite of difficulties, but there are times when personal or work situations demand a shift in priorities. Please contact your instructor if you need to discuss your situation. If you fall behind on more than 2 assignments you may be dropped from the class.

Textbooks

Visual Design textbook

 Head First Web Design
by Ethan Watrall and Jeff Siarto
ISBN: 0596520301
$32 on Amazon
Lynda.com logo

Lynda.com video instruction

We have 5 accounts to share.

This will be the only reference for Fireworks - I have not found a good Fireworks book with a reasonable price.

 

Materials

You cannot complete this class wilthout reliable access to Internet, Adobe Fireworks, & Dreamweaver CS3. Many students have the course software installed on their home computer, but you may also use campus computers.   Adobe has packages that include Dreamweaver, Fireworks (Web graphics), and Flash (animation). See Collegebuys, Gradware, or campustech.com for academic prices.

Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop are available in the new Science and Technology Mall in the 3 computer labs on the North side of the building and in the main Open Lab.  To use a lab outside of class time, you must enroll in CIS 198 or GD 198, a free, zero-unit class.  I strongly recommend that you enroll in CIS/GD 198 so you may use a campus lab if necessary. I will distribute add codes at the beginning of the semester. See the lab use policy for details. Ask a staff member for details.

You need adequate storage to SAVE and BACK UP your work.  You are responsible for your work in spite of technical problems, so be sure to back up!  Most students use a USB Flash Hard Drive.

Attendance & Participation

Though any student not participating in class for 2 consecutive weeks may be dropped from the course by the instructor, it is always the student's responsibility to drop any unattended course.  Failure to drop an unattended course will result in a grade of "F" on your transcript.  Participation in an online class means submitting assignments and taking quizzes on time, contributing to discussion regularly, and checking Blackboard & email at least twice per week.

Course Communication

Post general questions to the online discussion.  You may also send email to jodi.reed (at) gcccd.edu or stop by during office hours. 

NOTE: I must respond to many questions each day, so my responses tend to be brief. Please don't take this personally. I usually respond the same day or the next day. Please try again if you don't hear back within 2 days. I check email most often followed by Moodle discussion and then voice mail.

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class should notify me and contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. See www.cuyamaca.net/eops/dsps.asp for contact information.

Academic Integrity

When creating Graphics or Web sites, treat Web content as you would treat content from a published article or book. Stealing content is unethical, and students guilty of academic dishonesty will receive a zero for the assignment and may be suspended or expelled. It is acceptable to use brief quotes or clip art. It's not ok to copy entire web pages or style sheets or use someone else's images without permission.

Important Dates

Please mark your calendar!

August 24 Regular Day & Evening Classes Begin
September 4 Last Day to Add Semester-Length Classes
Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes Without a "W"
Last Day to Receive a Refund for Semester-Length Classes
September 7 Labor Day Holiday
September 25 Last Day to Apply for P/NP (CR/NC) - Semester Length Classes
October 16 Last Day to Apply for Fall 2009 Degree/Certificate
November 12 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes
November 13 - 14 ** Veteran's Day Holiday
November 26 - 28 ** Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
December 11 End of Second 8-Week Session
December  14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21 Final Examination Days

This course adheres to the policies outlined in the Cuyamaca College catalogue. For further information, see Academic Policies stated in the catalog.