Course overview

Digital Media Workshop I focuses on the science and art of editing and design required in today’s world of online journalism. The class is taught in a hands-on workshop atmosphere in an electronic classroom. Students will learn to use the following software: Photoshop, notepad, an HTML editor (Dreamweaver), MS Word and MS Excel. Students will also be required to report and write original works of journalism, which will be included in personal and team projects.

Goals

To provide students with an overview of HTML, online journalism and online storytelling. To enhance students’ editing, design and computer skills.

Grading and attendance

Each of three “final projects” is worth 30 percent of your final grade. The other 10 percent is based upon attendance. Perfect attendance equals 10 points; one absence equals 9 points; two absences equals 6 points; three absences equals 3 points; more than three absences equals 0 of possible 10 points and means you will struggle to achieve a passing grade and hurt your teammates in the workshop atmosphere. Please be considerate.

This is a journalism class, so a late assignment is the equivalent of missing a deadline. For each week an assignment is late, one full letter grade will be deducted.

You will be asked questions and be asked to demonstrate your progress during the term. Your answers and participation level go toward the final grade.

Textbook

"HTML for the World Wide Web" by Elizabeth Castro

Supplemental handouts from “Web Style Guide” by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton (refer to the book’s website at www.webstyleguide.com)

WEEK 1 Monday, Sept. 9

Welcome and syllabus overview.
Guidelines for computer use and file storage, including FTP and how to upload computer files to a Web server.

Brief introduction to HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), the standard language used for World Wide Web sites.
Your first Web page. Everyone creates an individual Web page in class tonight. It’s the first step toward the completion of Project I – personal Web site.
Assignment due Sept. 23: Read textbook chapters 1 (HTML Building Blocks), 2 (Starting Your Web Page) and 3 (Text Formatting).

WEEK 2 Monday, Sept. 16

No class – Holiday

Thursday, Sept. 19 -- Last day to add/drop semester-length class

WEEK 3 Monday, Sept. 23

Analysis of local, national and international newspapers and magazines online. What works and what doesn’t. Discussion of how the World Wide Web has changed publishing and created a competitive career field. How newspapers, magazines, TV and radio have reacted. A discussion of the future of publishing, on paper and the Internet.

The anchor tag. Create links to sites you find for your assignment below.

Assignment due Sept. 30: Read textbook chapters 7 (Links), 4 (Creating Web Images) and 5 (Using Images).

Assignment due Sept. 30: Research and link from your personal Web page to the home pages of three (3) newspaper Web sites, two (2) magazine Web sites and one (1) E-zine site that are examples of quality design work. Be prepared to discuss these in class Sept. 30.

WEEK 4 Monday, Sept. 30

Student discussion of links to news Web sites from Sept. 23.
PhotoShop for the Web – creating and using images online.
The process: acquire the image, crop, adjust resolution, adjust size, adjust levels, sharpen, compress, and prepare IMG tag and ALT attribute.
The terms: GIF vs. JPG, Web-safe colors, dithering, download speed.
Online resource: http://builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/0-3883-8-4892140-1.html

Assignment due Oct. 7: Add at least three images to your Web page. Create a second Web page with reciprocal links to each.

Assignment due Oct. 7: Read textbook chapter 6 (Page Layout).
Assignment due Oct. 7: Read Web Style Guide: The Process (http://www.webstyleguide.com/process/index.html)

WEEK 5 Monday, Oct. 7

In-class workshop time – designing your personal Web site. So far, you have created a few pages. Now it’s time to design the hierarchy, linking structure and content that turns pages into a site.
Review “The Process”
Your personal Web site will consist of a “home page” and a minimum of three interior pages. The site should say something about who you are. First draft due in class Oct. 14. Final due Oct. 28.
Assignment due Oct. 14: Read textbook chapter 9 (Tables).
Assignment due Oct. 14: Choose your three favorite Web sites. Create an HTML page with the names of those sites, links to those sites and a description of what you like about each. Include images.

WEEK 6 Monday, Oct. 14

HTML: page layout and tables

In-class demonstration of how tables work and how to manipulate them.

Assignment due Oct. 21: Read textbook chapter 8 (Lists).
Assignment: Begin brainstorming for your Web project. An executive summary with a “home page” sketch is due Nov. 4. Final project is due Nov. 25.

WEEK 7 Monday, Oct. 21

Continued: HTML page layout and tables

Continued: In-class demonstration of how tables work and how to manipulate them.

Continue individual projects in class.

First draft of personal Web site is due. Time for one-on-one critique and feedback. Final is due Oct. 28.

Assignment due Oct. 28: Read textbook chapter 10 (Frames).

WEEK 8 Monday, Oct. 28

Personal Web site final due. Please turn in paper with your name, contact information and Web site URL.

In-class demonstration of effective uses of frames.
Assignment: Executive summary of individual reporting site with a “home page” sketch is due Nov. 4. Final project is due Nov. 25.

Assignment due Nov. 4: Use tables in your team Web pages, either ones you have already designed or new ones. Turn the table borders on so that we can see them. Assignment due Nov. 4: Read textbook chapter 18 (JavaScript).

Assignment due Nov. 4: Implement lists and frames somewhere on your site.

WEEK 9 Monday, Nov. 4

Executive summary of individual reporting site with a “home page” sketch is due. Final project is due Nov. 25.

Continue individual project in class.

In-class demonstration of JavaScript.
In-class demonstration of slicing an image into pieces (page 314-315) for use of JavaScript rollovers.
Announcement of three-person project: Storytelling. You and your partners will design a site that tells a story. Consider interactivity. Allow users choices and options. Grade is based on creativity, clarity, design and a good story. Final project is due Dec. 9.
Assignment due Nov. 11: Implement JavaScript somewhere on your site.
Assignment due Nov. 11: Read textbook chapters 13 and 14 (Cascading Style Sheets)

WEEK 10 Monday, Nov. 11

In-class demonstration, discussion and implementation of Cascading Style Sheets (including handouts from “Web Style Guide” and other online resources)
Continue individual project in class.
Three-person team project in class.

Assignment due Nov. 11: Read textbook chapters 11 (Forms) and 19 (Extras).

WEEK 11 Monday, Nov. 18

In-class demonstration of forms, view source (page 310), mailto links (page 313), counter (page 312).
Continue individual project in class.
Continue three-person team project in class.

WEEK 12 Monday, Nov. 25

Continue three-person team project in class.

Individual reporting project due. Please turn in paper with name, contact information and Web site URL.

WEEK 13 Monday, Dec. 2

Continue three-person team project in class.
In-class demonstration on producing animated GIFs

WEEK 14 Monday, Dec. 9

Three-person team Web project due.
Full demonstration by each team.
Please turn in paper with names, contact information and Web site URL.

Projects

1 – Personal website

Due Oct. 28

Produce a site that describes you – personal history, favorite places and things, resume, personal photos, friends, activities, academics, links to outside sites

2 – Individual reporting

Due Nov. 25

Produce a site that emphasizes writing, journalism and research. NO photos. Writing only. Tell an original story, whether it’s hard news or feature. It should illustrate generous amounts of research, using links to sources rather than bibliography. Final product can be displayed in chapter format, chronological format, subject format or other.

3 – Storytelling