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for Mere Mortals
Overview
This course was designed to help you 1) understand all the skill sets that go into web development, 2) decide what part(s) of web development you will be interested in learning, 3) learn how to communcate effectively with a web development team, 4) understand how to plan your website. By beginning
your web development process with an understanding of what makes
a web site work, how to bring traffic to your site, and how to make
the site attractive and usable for your viewer, you will spend less time and money on an unproductive website.
Prerequisites
If you register for this class, it is assumed that you are comfortable using a web browser and saving files on a PC computer. If you have a Mac laptop, you are welcome to bring it to class and use it instead of the lab PCs. However, there is not time in this class for basic help with using a browser and saving files.
Textbook
Normally, I don't require a textbook in my classes because my 14+ years of experience in web development provide plenty of material. But, I do recommend books, if computer books fit with your learning style. I recommend either of the books shown here. If you go to Amazon, they have a link where you can see what the inside of the book looks like.
Note: the following schedule roughly
corresponds to our class sessions. However, based on class discussion
and questions, this schedule should be considered flexible.
Lesson |
Class
Description |
Web References |
1 |
Introduction & What's it going to cost?
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Domain Name Registrar Examples
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2 |
Design Features of a Website: User Interface
Suggested Reading about User Interface
These are design books that I have found helpful.
Nora |
How long do you have for viewers to get an impression of your website? WayBackMachine - track changes to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse site A Better "Coming Soon" - but for how long? Background images - dimension or dementia? Roll On Trucks - do line drawings work? Putting up barriers for your potential clients - all I want is a demo of your product Putting up barriers for your potential clients 2 - all I want is instructions on how to set up voicemail. |
3 |
Web site Promotion
Suggested Reading about Web Marketing
   
Text for Search Engine Optimization 
 Inbound Marketing Text for Social Networking for Business |
WebProWorld - a forum where you can ask your questions MailerMailer - a site to help you manage a newsletter list and send emailed newsletters. Food Labels - "one-man" shop - simple site development |
4 |
Look under the Hood:
File Structure and Page Structure Class Topics
Suggested Reading about Website Structure
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EXAMPLE SITES Example of a site built completely with CSS Example 2: WordPress Hosted CMS Example 3: Another Hosted WordPress site
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5 |
Graphics and Programming
(Old) Course Text references Suggested Reading about Web Programming
 
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What happens to a PNG-24 in IE6 WOW, a Site with a 300,000+ byte header Image map with JavaScript and server-side programming Why you need a software plan and site testing
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6 |
Content for your Website and HTML Why you should learn code! |
Text Areas to Plan for your Website - Even if it's Already Up-and-Running Add Feature Newspaper and Magazine Articles to your Web Site Quotes: "Industry surveys show again and again that users prefer a rich media experience to visiting a text-heavy site, and that video in particular draws them to a site, keeps them there longer, and influences purchasing decisions."
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© 2011, Nora McDougall-Collins