Graphics for the Web (CGR-205)

Instructor:

Brandon Rubenstein, M.Ed.

Phone:

215-460-1040

Email:

brubenstein@faculty.camdencc.edu

Class Meetings:

Monday (10:00 AM to 1:20 PM)

Office Hours:

By appointment

Prerequisites:

CGR-113 (Web Page Design I)

• BrandonRubenstein.com/cgr205 for general Information & course syllabus
• Edmodo site for submitting assignments and quizzes. (Group: kwvyjb)

All course materials will be posted to and submitted through the Edmodo site. Please check this site and your Camden County College email account on a regular basis for course announcements and communications.

Students are expected to be present and on time for class. Attendance is necessary for the best learning experience. Students are expected to attend all classes and strictly adhere to the project due dates. Students are responsible for obtaining any information or class work that is missed during any absence.

Students are allowed one unexcused absence. If a student has more than one unexcused absence, his or her grade for the course will be reduced one letter grade. If a student has three absences, he or she will not get credit for the course.

Note that an excused absence is defined as one that is the result of a condition or circumstance beyond the student’s control, such as illness, family crisis or emergency, or some other serious and important personal circumstance. An absence will only be excused if there is documentation verifying the circumstances that caused the absence.

Readings are assigned to correspond with each week’s lecture. Students are expected to complete each week’s assigned readings before the next class session. Readings are intended to supplement classroom lectures; quizzes and projects will assess knowledge acquired from both lectures and readings.

If you will be observing any religious holidays this semester that will prevent you from attending a regularly scheduled class or interfere with fulfilling any course requirement, you will have an opportunity to make-up the class or course requirement. You must make these arrangements by informing your instructor of the dates of your religious holidays within two weeks of the beginning of the semester.

Cell phones, pagers, and any other electronic devices must be turned off during class unless your instructor grants special permission. Texting during class is not acceptable. Computers may be used only for classwork; checking e-mail and other internet use is not acceptable during course period. Students who disregard this policy will be asked to leave class for the day.

Attention and participation are an important component of this class. When students sleep during class, they do not participate and miss important information. Sleeping during class will not be tolerated. Students who disregard this policy will be asked to leave class for the day.

• Attend all classes
• Use formal writing and language in all emails to me (this means complete sentences, correct spelling and grammar; no “text” language, i.e. =) or TTYL!)
• Care about your work
• Make progress in the medium
• Help, cooperate, and collaborate with your classmates
• Take risks
• Make mistakes
• Ask for help

• You will be treated with respect and professionalism.
• I will come to class prepared and make every effort to make each class a valuable learning experience.
• I will be accessible to you. I am always happy and willing to meet with any student.
• I am available to help you review course material, understand assignments, or prepare for tests. Please attend office hours or make an appointment outside of office hours if you need extra help.
• I will happily discuss grades with individual students up to one week after the assignment or quiz is returned.
• I will return all graded material in a timely manner.
• I will respond to all student emails and contact within 24 hours of receipt.

• Lecture
• Group discussion and/or assignment review
• Walkthrough – a software tutorial of Adobe Fireworks
• Tools of the Trade – reviewing software, plugins, and tools used in web design
• Overview of next week's assignment

Project 1 requires you to identify and analyze two websites that you think should be redesigned. The websites should be 'bad' websites according to the principles of beautiful design that we discuss in class. You will justify your choice of sites by explaining the principles each site violates. Group discussion and review will be used to select one site for focus in Project 2 and the Final Project .

[ Instructions ][ Google Forms Checklist ]

Project 2 requires you to pitch your ideas for redesigning the site selected in Project 1. Your pitch will include wireframes of your proposed redesign of the site with justification given for design choices that apply the principles of beautiful design discussed in class. The wireframes should be simple in appearance with detailed notes.

The final project will be a complete, interactive prototype of your redesigned site. The prototype will include content, color, and be ready for converting to a live site using HTML/CSS in a future course. All graphics should be created in Fireworks, include optimized graphics, and apply the principles of beautiful design.

Points in this category will be granted based on attending class and participating in group discussions and assignment reviews. Each class is worth up to 12 points.

Homework assignments are based upon skill set covered in that day’s tutorial and will be due by 11:59 PM the night before the following class. Each homework assignment is worth up to 15 points. Each homework must be .zip’ed and turned in via Edmodo.

Each class session will begin with a Box Out exercise designed to kickstart your imagination and train your brain to work within constraints and deadlines. Each Box Out is due 20 minutes after class starts and is worth 10 points. Box Outs will not be accepted after the deadline.

The first project requires you to identify and analyze two websites that you think should be redesigned and justify your choices. Project 1 is worth 100 points and due Sunday, March 4, by 11:59 PM.

The second project is your wireframe pitch (sketches and notes) for the redesign of a site selected in Project 1 by applying the principles of beautiful web design. Project 2 is worth 160 points and is due Sunday, April 1, by 11:59 PM.

The final project is to use Adobe Fireworks to create a prototype of your redesigned website that uses optimized graphics and applies the principles of beautiful web design. The Final Project is worth 250 points and is due Sunday, May 6 at 11:59 PM.

As stated on page 18 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook, “All students are expected to do their own work. All forms of academic dishonesty are absolutely forbidden. Students who cheat, plagiarize or commit other acts of academic dishonesty will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. This may result in an automatic grade of F for an assignment and/or for the course. Academic dishonesty also may be subject to additional penalties as determined by the College in accordance with sanctions for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. (See page 41 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook.)”

Instances of academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, will be dealt with appropriately.

As stated on page 47 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook, “Computer software, documents or files protected by copyright are not to be copied from or into any College computing resources except as permitted by law. Additionally, the number of copies and the distribution of copies must adhere to copyright restrictions and/or provisions.”

Adhering to copyright laws is of particular importance in this course due to the nature of web design and publishing. All material in student projects and websites must be original material generated or created by the student.

The Disability Services Office provides academic support services for Camden County College students with physical, visual, psychiatric and learning disabilities. Since 1988, the office has assisted thousands of students with academic advisement, career counseling, tutoring, readers, scribes and program accommodations. The office also sponsors selected bridge sections of basic skills and college-level courses.

Camden County College is committed to complying with the spirit and the letter of legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Section 504, which is listed on page 29 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook.

For further information, contact Director Joanne Kinzy, at (856) 227-7200, ext. 4430, or visit the Disability Services Office in the Otto R. Mauke Community Center, Room 100. For more information on physical and program accommodations, consult the Camden County College Disabilities Guide available through the Disability Services Office, the Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, Otto R. Mauke Community Center, first floor in Blackwood, (856) 227- 7200, ext. 4506; and the Compliance Office, Wilson Hall West Room 102, in Blackwood, (856) 227-7200, ext. 4752.

The process of removing a course from a student schedule can be done prior to the start of classes for the session enrolled or during the ADD/DROP (schedule adjustment) period. Refer to page 17 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook for more information.

This syllabus is intended as a guideline. It is the prerogative of faculty members to change the course during the term at his/her discretion in the interest of responding to an individual class need. If a change is made to the course, communication will be made in several ways – via Emodo, in class, email, and a revision to the syllabus if needed.

All assignments are due the following Sunday at 11:59 PM.
All readings are to be completed in preparation for the next class.