How This Class Works

The Navigation Links Top and Bottom:

At the top of every page there is a navigation bar that links to the schedule and to resources you will often use for this class. The navigation buttons below take you to the topics for each week and to the instructor's comments about a topic. When you go to the page for any week's class, there will be a brief introduction, a description of the readings to be done, a self-quiz to help review material and weekly assignments for the online class. The comments about various topics do not attempt to repeat everything in the text books, but only give some other ideas and examples. Beginning with Topic 2, there will be a navigation bar on the right to help you see what pages are included for the topic and where you are on the site.

Homework Assignments:

Homework assignments will be turned in through the ListServ or your web site. In some classes there is an assignment to "discuss" a question. For those assignments you should type your contribution as an email message and send it to the ListServ for the class. When you send a message to the ListServ it goes to everyone in the class.

For most assignments, you will be asked to produce work in html code and post it on your web site. The instructor will check your web site to review what you have done and, when necessary, will send back comments through the email or ListServ.

Homework assignments for the online class are due each week by 10 p.m. on Friday evening. Assignments for the classroom version of the course are due the night before the class session. Check the schedule to see which assignment is due by which date, especially if there is any question because of holidays.

However, especially when the assignment involves a "discussion" on the ListServ, it is best to submit your comments early in the week so that everyone can think about your ideas. We have 25 to 30 people in the class, so the discussion will not really work well if everyone waits until 10 p.m. the last night to contribute!

Most classes include a quiz. You do not need to turn in these quizes as homework assignments. They are only a way for you to review material. They also sometimes point to small and important details about html. Skip them if you do not find them useful.

Getting Help:

There are several ways to get help. Please send most questions to the ListServ. If you are having problems with a topic, others in the class are struggling with the same question. Students should feel free to help each other with assignments through the ListServ or by email to individuals. All messages to the ListServ must reflect courtesy and respect for classmates so that we can make this a collaborative resource.

The instructor is also available to answer questions in two other ways. You are welcome to email the instructor privately without sending your message to the entire list. In addition, you can go to the Ohlone Palace chat room at http://chalon.ohlone.cc.ca.us:9990 to meet other students for real-time discussions about projects or problems.

Structure of the Class:

People have all kinds of experiences and interests and respond to different presentations when learning. Because of that, this class tries to offer a variety of sources and exercises for learning html. The "Readings" link for each week lists both the required and other recommended readings so that students can pursue topics as they wish. The "Resources" link provides a list of online tutorials and references. Some of the comments also direct students to material through links. Throughout the class, use whatever you find helpful and do not feel obliged to review every link and reading listed.

Grades:

If you do the basic work and produce web pages with validated html, you will get a good grade.

Students for the online class will have their grades based on:

• doing the weekly assignments for the first eleven classes (some of the assignments for advanced topics after topic 11 will be optional);
• a midterm assignment that will be explained and due the first week of April;
• the final project.

Students in the fast-track classroom class will have their grades based on:

• doing the four "tasks" listed with the schedule and
• the final project.

In both classes, participation and collaboration through the ListServ will be considered for the grade.

The web pages you do for this class as the final project will need to meet the "Guidelines for the Semester Project."

If you would like to earn extra credit, there are a few web page projects for the College or for non-profit organizations that you can do. Students who are interested in doing these should email the Instructor. Especially if you plan to become a web "professional" you may want to have this experience of working for a "client".