Section #32659
January 30 - May 27, 2017
You may take this class totally online!!!
No classroom attendance required.
Course Description and Objectives
In GCMW 102 you will learn the basics of Web design: how to create your pages, how to optimize your graphics for use on your pages and how to upload your pages to a server so that they will be available for everyone to see. We will use the state-of-art Web Design tool used most often by Professionals, Adobe Dreamweaver. In addition we will cover such topics as how to create interactive Web forms, how to find a host, how to register a domain name, and how to get your site listed in the search engines.
Software Requirements:
For work at home, this class requires Adobe Dreamweaver CC .
After you enroll in class, you are eligible for Academic Prices on software. (Note: When you purchase this software at academic prices, you are getting complete versions of the programs. You need not worry about reduced functionality. The difference between the Academic version of Dreamweaver and the Full version is in the licensing. The academic version is only licensed for academic or private use. The regular version is licensed for commercial use.) Adobe is also offering good prices on bundles many of the popular Adobe products such as Photoshop and Illustrator. One of the best places to purchase an academic version of the Adobe software is at Foundation for California Community Colleges.
Other software that you will need are the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and an unzipping (decompression) program such as the free Stuffit Expander to unzip files.
Waiting List
If you are on the waiting list, or would like to be on the waiting list, you should email the teacher so that she can contact you if there are openings. The teacher's email address is: jfontanella@palomar.edu.
If you are on the waiting list, check your status frequently. They automatically enroll students from the waiting list if there are openings in the class. Sometimes they also start a new section and enroll all of the students from the waiting list.
Required Text
Adobe Dreamweaver CC 2017: The Professional Portfolio Series - by Inc. Against The Clock, 978-1936201938
We are lucky that Against the Clock is keeping up with all of the changes in Adobe Dreamweaver. I'ts recently undergone quite an update to its interface, so it's great to have a book that will match what you will be seeing on the screen. This book is available at Amazon, and in the Palomar Bookstore. You can also get it from Against The Clock publishers at their site. The publisher has both a print copy and a less expensive ebook copy. The ebook is protected with Adobe DRM, however, so you'll have to have an app that can read that format, plus an adobe account.
There are many e reader apps, but very few that can handle the Adove DRM format, so be sure that you look for that in the description. Apps that can handle the Adobe DRM format are available for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac operating systems.
One android e reader app that is free, and that can read the Adobe DRM format, is called "Pocketbook." I liked that one better than the Bluefire Reader suggested by Against the Clock. Before you decide on getting the ebook, I strongly suggest that you try out the apps with a free ebook to be sure that they work for you, and that you enjoy reading this way.
You will need the textbook for the 3rd week of class.
- Amazon Link
- Against the Clock Publishers Link - Try this code. It might give you a 10% discount: BK2017.
- Palomar Book store
Some Class Topics:
- Orientation to the Online Classroom
- Understanding how HTML works
- Introduction to Dreamweaver Site Setup and FTP
- Basic Pages in Dreamweaver
- Creating Links
- Using Cascading Style Sheets to Format Text in Dreamweaver
- Using Cascading Style Sheets to Layout Your Pages
- Images for the Web
- Image Optimization for the Web
- Adding Multimedia to your pages
- Using Templates
- Managing Your Site
- Creating Interactive Forms
- Adding Functionality with Javascript
- Adding Advanced Features with jQuery
- Uploading Files to the Remote Server
Class Format:
Units will consist of teacher notes for background information, hands-on tutorials for learning the programs, and assignments for applying and practicing the new target skills. Students will upload their assignments to the student server.
Prerequisite Skills:
This is a beginning class in Web page design. No previous experience is expected. However, to be successful in this class, you will need to have had experience in using a computer to perform basic tasks. Most of all, you will need good computer file management skills. This means that you understand how to set up folders, how to save files within those folders, and how to find, rename, move and copy files to new locations on your computer. This is just basic computer knowledge. Nothing difficult. Learn to do this before attempting this class, because Web design involves a substantial amount of file management.
Logging on to the class site:
Connections to our online Web site will be activated at http://palomar.blackboard.com on January 30th, the first day of the semester.
Username: Students registered for this class will use their nine-digit student identification number for their UserID to login. Be sure to type in all 9 digits.
Passwords: For your password, use the same password that you use on eServices.
Problems Logging In: If you are experiencing problems, please contact the Academic Technology department for help.
eServices Email Address: Be sure to check your email address on eServices. Keep it updated so that if a teacher wants to send you some information, she will be able to. You can add a non-Palomar address, and then mark it as your "Preferred" email address. That way you can receive your Palomar email at the address that you use most often. Also, if you are unsure of your password for Blackboard, you can use the "Forgot Password" link, and the password will be sent to your preferred address.
Once you are logged on to the system, click on the link to the Page Layout for the Internet, GCMW 102 class. Then read the Announcements that you will see on the first page. They contain instructions on what to do. You don't have to log in at any particular time of day. During the course you will be logging in frequently, but at times that are convenient to your schedule. You will have an assignment due at the end of the first week of classes, so it is important that you do login during the first few days of class.
No-Show Policy and Drops:
I sometimes have a long waiting list for this class. It would be a shame for someone to take up a space in the class if they are not intending to complete the course work, when someone else is waiting to get in. Therefore, anyone who does not login to the class site and complete the first unit (easy assignments which don't require any special text book or software) by the end of the first week will be considered a NO-SHOW and might be dropped so that I can let in students from the waiting list. If you are having computer problems, there are many computer labs on campus that have internet connections that you can use. If some other circumstances prevent you from doing this, be sure to email me to let me know what is happening. You might also be dropped if long periods of time have passed without communication from you such as participation on the discussion board or submission of assignments.
Check Back Often:
This page will be updated to reflect any changes in information about the class. Please check back often.
Applying to Palomar and Registering for the Class
You can apply to Palomar College Online and register for the class. Please go to: Eservices - Apply to Palomar.
Your application to Palomar College is free. When you apply, you will be given a student ID number. Once you have your student ID number, you will be able to register online for classes.
Register at: https://eservices.palomar.edu/psp/pals9prd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG&