module specification

This module will provide students with a detailed understanding of the contexts and practice of
internet publishing and will introduce them to the production of a website.
The course will examine questions of internet technologies, social context, and the
production process.

SEMESTER: Spring
PREREQUISITE: None
ASSESSMENT:Website (50%) + 2,000 word Report (50%)

None

The aims of the module are:

• To gain experience of the principle techniques involved in web design within a professional context
• To survey and critically analyse the language conventions and technical constraints involved in web design
• To analyse the role of usability, accessibility, technological progress and experimental practice in web design and to locate them within the context of current debates on the web, communications and society.

This module will provide students with a detailed understanding of the contexts and practice of internet publishing and will introduce them to the production of a website.
The course will examine questions of copyright and legal issues, internet technologies, and the production process.
The module aims to identify the nature of the web as a medium and introduces a range of design concepts. In particular it focuses the key issues of usability and simplicity on the web and the implementation of web based multimedia with the advent of broadband consumer networks. It also focuses on a range of technical skills including basic text formatting; working with images and interactive programming.
An indicative programme of study covers the following:

? Web site design - Students learn about the design opportunities and constraints that exist for the creation of web pages

? Web coding and uploading - Students learn about the mark-up language that is used to format web pages and the techniques involved in creating and checking code. They will also learn about the issues involved in placing websites online

? Web Scripting - Students learn about the programming languages that are used to add dynamic content to web sites

? Web animation - Students are introduced to software for creating dynamic and efficient animation for the Web

? Multimedia web integration- Students learn to incorporate multimedia objects into web pages

? Students are introduced to the current research, debates and techniques relating to usability design and accessibility of web sites

? Students carry out a project that includes the techniques and skills developed in the module. The project enables students to explore ideas about the nature of the Web and to develop good web design practice.

This module will be delivered through a combination of modes of delivery. Each week there will be a two hour lab session and a one hour online lecture. In addition support to individuals and smaller groups will be provided through weekly tutorial sessions. Key to the delivery of this module is availability of open access facilities for the development of practical work.
A framework that encourages mutual student support will be developed. This will be in part achieved through the structuring of project work. Online discussion forums will also be made available and students will be encouraged to participate in wider developer support forums.
A comprehensive range of supporting documentation for the computer applications that this module is concerned with will be made available in a range of formats including internet based tutorials and illustrated user guides.

On successful completion of this module post-graduate students will be able to:

1. Use and evaluate a wide range of software tools and production techniques to create a
web site
2. Design web sites that meet the needs of users and balance usability and accessibility with
technical innovation
3. Research and analyse web development practice in a social context.

The assessment methods will test the development of students’ understanding of web design theory particularly in the context of meeting the needs of users and wider debates on developing social capital. They will also test the level of student's understanding of web authoring technology.
They will also provide evidence of the rationale for the work that students have created and highlight their understanding of how usability, accessibility and management of technical innovation impact on web site design This will test learning outcome 2. The uploading of the site and submission of source files on disk will provide evidence of the level of technical expertise that students have gained). This will test learning outcome 1.
The 2000 word report will provide evidence of individual student's ability to analyse issues in web design in relation to their own work. This will test learning outcome 3.

Required Reading:

Tom Negrino, and Dori Smith (2008).
Dreamweaver CS4 for Windows and Macintosh:Visual QuickStart Guide. Peachpit Press.

Jeffrey Zeldman (2006). Designing with Web Standards (2nd edition), New Riders.

Patrick Lynch, Sarah Horton, Sarah Horton. (2009). Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites, Yale University Press.

Joshua Porter (2008). Designing for the Social Web (Voices That Matter), New Riders.

Background reading:

Susan M. Weinschenk (2008). Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click? (Voices That Matter), New Riders.

Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin. (2007).
About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design (3rd Rev Ed edition). John Wiley & Sons.

Norman, D. (2005) Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things. Basic Books.

Seely Brown, J. & Duguid, P. (2002) The Social Life of information. Harvard Business School

Fletcher, A. The Art of Looking Sideways, Phaidon Press, 2001s