12 November 2009
10 November 2009
5 November 2009
3 November 2009
29 October 2009
27 October 2009
22 October 2009
20 October 2009
15 October 2009
Today's Topic: HTML Forms
An introduction to HTML forms and other methods for capturing user choices on a web page.
13 October 2009
Today's Topic: HTML Tables & Frames
In the future, this class meeting will focus on basic instruction on HTML.
For fall 2009, the class will be an open lab to work on your midterm sites.
8 October 2009
css tips & tricks site
The "24 Ways" sites for 2005 and 2006 have a lot of really nice tutorials on nifty effects for your web site, most of which involve CSS.
6 October 2009
1 October 2009
29 September 2009
24 September 2009
22 September 2009
17 September 2009
Today's Topic: UNIX Basics
In this class we'll tackle two concepts that are central to web publishing.
The first is file addressing--relative versus absolute paths. This has its roots in the Unix operating system, but is also important in HTML, particularly when building complex sites. You'll learn the difference between relative and absolute addresses, and how to construct relative paths.
The second is permissions--how to allow selective access to files and directories for reading, writing, and execution.
15 September 2009
Today's Topic: FTP & Telnet/SSH
Your web pages will be published on RIT's main web server, which uses the Unix operating system. You'll have to learn how to prepare your account for web use generally, and for the class projects specifically. That means creating files and directories, changing permissions, and editing files on the server.
We'll be connecting to the RIT server using the Terminal application in OS X. On Windows-based lab PCs, you'll want to use the PuTTY application. On your own PC, you can do telnet from the Start-->Run command box, or you can download PuTTY or any of a number of other Telnet/SSH clients.
We'll also be looking at FTP, which stands for File Transfer Protocol. We'll be using this to move files and folders from the local computer your working on to your web space on RIT's GIbson server.
10 September 2009
Today's Topic: Web Accessibility & Usability
Closely related to the topics of standards and appropriate coding is the topic of web site accessibility. We'll talk about different kinds of accessibility, the reasons for building accessible web sites, and some techniques for making sure sites are accessible to all users.
Usability and accessibility are connected, but not the same thing. Usability addresses a wider range of site design components, and builds on information architecture as well as standards and accessibility.
Today in class I'll show these videos:
- The Science and Art of User Experience (Google) (captioned)
- Paul Boag on Accessibility (not captioned)
8 September 2009
Useful Tools for Web Development
HTML Editing Software
Mac Users: BBEdit or Coda - both are free for demo but must be purchased for ongoing use
About.com has a good list of free HTML editors for Macs, but I haven't tried any of them myself. (Komodo Edit looks quite promising, though.)
PC Users: HTML Kit, which is free
All Users: Amaya - free
Firefox Addons
Today's Topic: Course Overview & Web Standards
We'll review the course web site, including the syllabus and the course outline. We'll also talk about my expectations of students in this class--assignments, participation, exams and grading.
Then we'll talk about web standards--HTML, XHTML, and CSS. We'll cover the HTML standards development process, existing HTML and XHTML standards, problems with existing standards, and browser support for standards. We'll also discuss the issues surrounding separation of presentation and content, and the importance of CSS in standards-based, flexible, and accessible web development.
27 August 2009
Welcome!
This will be where I post readings, assignments, and information about the class. The only exceptions will be copyrighted readings, and the gradebook, both of which will be in myCourses.
Use the menu at the top to navigate to specific sections (like the syllabus and the course outline), and the calendar on the left to find materials related to a specific class meeting date.
