Description

This undergraduate, media production seminar introduces students to the basic technologies and techniques of web programming and design. The course focuses on the core technologies of web content development: hypertext markup language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). It also develops facility with interactive media design strategies for effective communication, provides instruction in web graphics and industry-standard graphics manipulation software like Adobe PhotoShop and GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), and cultivates practical skills with project planning and management.

Instruction is organized around two web projects, a personal website and application for e-commerce. In the process of completing these projects, students plan and develop actual working web applications suitable for a professional portfolio, learn how to write and style content for web delivery, and achieve proficiency with web programming languages, Internet technology, and interactive media design practices.

Who Where When

Location: DuSable Hall 218
Time: MW 2:00-3:15pm
Instructor: Dr. David J. Gunkel
Department: Communication
Office: Reavis 112
Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:00 & by appointment
Email: dgunkel@niu.edu

Texts & Resources

  • Jon Duckett. HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites. Indianapolis, IN: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-1-118-00818-8
  • Brian Miller. Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design. Cincinnati, OH: How Books. ISBN: 978-1-4403-0842-0

These two texts are required and must be procured by all students enrolled in the course. In addition to these print publications, there are also a number of on-line resources and programming tools that students may want to consult or use in their web programming work.

Code Editors
notepad++ textwrangler droid edit html edit

Graphics Editors & Applications
gimp pixlr fookes

CSS Frameworks & Code Libraries
bootstrap pure.css codyhouse

Web Programming Info

Objectives

Students will learn and become proficient with the following interactive media production skills:
  • Web Programming - Students will learn and demonstrate facility with the two core technologies for constructing web pages and web applications: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), which describes the semantics and structure of web content, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which specifies the layout and rendering of HTML documents.
  • Interactive Media Design - Students will learn and demonstrate proficiency with page layout, different methods of developing data architecture and user interfaces, options for navigation control and interactivity, basic color and visual communication strategies, and design approaches that not only communicate but are concordant with and compliment content.
  • Project Management & Collaboration - Students will learn practical skills for working with and translating the ideas of content providers. Students will work with content experts to plan, design, and produce original websites and web applications that meet specific objectives.
  • Software & Hardware - Students will learn to operate and employ industry-standard tools for web programming and design (i.e. HTML editors, web browsers, image processing tools, presentation software, etc.) .
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - In the development of projects, students will cultivate critical thinking and problem solving skills. Each project will require students to devise a specific approach to the presentation of content. This approach will require careful analysis of the problem, articulation of project objectives, and the creation of a product that responds to and fulfills the requirements dictated by the content to be communicated.
© 2017 - David J. Gunkel