Comm316

Spring 2003
Professor Annette N. Markham
Thursdays 5:00-7:30 p.m., Art and Architecture Building 120 (computer lab)
Office Hours Wednesday 12-1, Thursday 2-4 p.m.

Course Description

Using hypertext theory as the foundation, this course will help students explore the potential of internet technologies to make possible the production, experience, and critical evaluation of various forms of communication.

Combining theory and application, students will explore the nature of hypertext as it is used in multiple online venues. They will participate in various online interactions to assess the extent to which expression is enabled and constrained by the specific technologies used. Critical analysis of professional and personal uses of the internet (mostly via the web) will allow students to develop criteria for good design, which will then be applied to their own particular needs and interests in the final class project, the production of their personal web presences.

No previous experience with web design is necessary. This is not a programming course but a web theory and application course. Only the very basics of HTML code will be taught by the instructor. Students will be required to attend computer center workshops to learn tools such as Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

Major objectives of the course:

Learn about the theory underlying the design, production, and consumption of computer-mediated communication.

Learn the basics of web design.

Create, design and publish a personal or professional website which may include your academic portfolio for potential employers.

Build basic and creative writing skills.

Class Format

This course will meet in a computer lab space once per week for 2.5 hours. During each meeting, the schedule will include a 15-minute web-design showcase, approximately one hour of theoretical discussion, and approximately one hour of practical application (work on computers).

Peer mentoring will be incorporated into all aspects of the class; student pairs will review each other’s work, make recommendations for improvement, and generally help each other achieve full potential throughout the course.

This is a writing-intensive course, which requires significant work outside class. Be prepared to spend time in front of your computer at home or in the UIC labs. Also, be prepared to visit the UIC Writing Center (100 Douglas Hall, 312.413.2206, open for appointments after 3 February 03) for help with expressing yourself effectively and concisely at any stage of the writing process.

Grading/Evaluation

Grades are based on the quality of work submitted and the demonstration of knowledge applied to the tasks of web design. Regular attendance and participation are expected. Participation in weekly showcases is expected. Full comprehension of assigned readings is expected.

Grades will be determined on the basis of the following assignments:

Website Justification Paper:                   15%

Website:                                              35%

Weblog:                                                10%

Peer Mentoring:                                     15%

Writing Assignments:                             15%

Online and Class Participation:               10%

ACCC Workshops:                                 select 10 percentage points from any of the above assignments

Website Justification:

This paper provides a detailed proposal for the website project, an overview of the design structure, and details of the decision-making process students have undergone in selecting their specific projects. By explaining and evaluating the range of choices available, writers will make a compelling argument for their unique combinations of theory and application. Effective examples of this assignment will detail why writers chose a particular design, how this decision was reached, and what the proposed outcomes of the website are.

Due: Week 8 for peer review.

Due: Week 9 for final submission.

Website:

Students will design and produce individual websites that exemplify their unique applications of the theories and principles discussed throughout the semester. Sites can be personal or professional.

Due: Scheduled final exam period.

Weblog:

Students will create an online journal site at the beginning of the semester using a template provided by the professor. Each week, additional journal entries will be made to this site. As the semester progresses, students will break away from the template structure to find their own voice. Active participation in this assignment requires posting weekly entries. Successful students will make at least three major revisions to the site structure during the semester. Effective sites will feature significant hyperlinks to the sites of other students and to external web pages.

Content of these weblogs is public and all participant weblogs will be linked. Students may write anything they wish, but they are encouraged to explore the theories and concepts of the class through this ‘blog. Students are expected to use this project to practice developing their own aesthetic forms of communication.

Peer Mentoring:

Students will be paired at the beginning of the semester. Throughout the semester each dyad will engage in peer mentoring. Each person will review the other’s work, encourage the other’s participation, and in other creative ways actively help the other person get an A in the course.

Writing Assignments:

In-class assignments may be given to help build specific writing skills. Attendance is necessary to participate in these assignments. Short take-home writing assignments may be given as well.

Online and Class Participation:

The class is designed to promote group learning and requires active participation in class or online, via the listserv and in the discussion boards. Students who feel more comfortable in one medium than the other should boost their participation efforts in their areas of comfort.

Surfing the web is also a part of this course; to learn good design, one often must look at many examples, both excellent and awful. Students will be encouraged to bring design examples to class to showcase at the beginning of each weekly session. Successful completion of this assignment includes presenting at least two engaging, substantive showcases over the course of the semester.

ACCC workshops

All students are required either to complete the Dreamweaver I and II workshops or to satisfactorily demonstrate Dreamweaver proficiency.

Due: Both workshops (or proficiency certification) must be completed before the end of week 4.

Additionally, students are required to complete two advanced workshops of their choice.

These might be ACCC workshops in Fireworks, Xtremelearning courses in Photoshop, or any of the UIC self-paced tutorials online, such as Web Graphics. (XtremeLearning workshops are self-paced, internet-based tutorials offered free to UIC students.)

Due: Both advanced workshops must be completed by the end of week 9.