William M. Pegram
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Revised: August 21, 2017

Northern Virginia Community College - Annandale Campus

ITE 170 - Multimedia Software, Fall 2017 (3 credits)

Sections
005N: Monday 3:30-6:10pm CT 228
003N: Wednesday 12:30pm-3:10pm CT 228
006N: Wednesday 7:30-10:10pm CT 228
Instructor: Dr. William M. Pegram, wpegram@nvcc.edu

Web Site for Class: www.billpegram.com (also at www.nvcc.edu/home/wpegram but not updated as often; PowerPoints available on Blackboard

Prerequisite: ITE 115 (because it provides a limited introduction to HTML and to FTP).

Course Description:

The course will have several aspects:

  1. An introduction to HTML, CSS and FTP, building on the HTML/FTP knowledge now taught in ITE 115
  2. A hands-on introduction to multimedia software, in particular Dreamweaver (the leading web authoring/HTML editor) and to a much less extent, Fireworks (computer graphics).
  3. Concepts relating to web design, web graphics, HTML, CSS and tools, web animation, and copyright and fair use.

The goal is roughly 50% tools and 50% concepts.

Required Textbook

Basics of Web Design - HTML5+CSS3,  Fourth Edition, Terry Felke-Morris, Pearson, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-444433-8, 2017. Available in the bookstore (rent hard copy $44, rent digital $38.99, buy digital $65.99). I could not find a lower price online currently for the fourth edition, but the third edition is available online for rental for less. The current version is preferred, but previous versions are acceptable.

Recommended Textbooks

(1) Dreamweaver CC: The Missing Manual: Covers 2014 release by David Sawyer McFarland and Chris Grover, ISBN-13: 978-1491947203, December 2014: There is free online access to this book or a very similar book through the NVCC Library. Go to the NVCC library site, www.nvcc.edu/library. Select: books and eBooks tab, select: eBooks link, select Safari Tech and Business Books. You may have to enter your nova id and password at this point if you're not already signed into NOVA. You can type in the name of the book -- choose the Second edition.

The Basics of Web Design book is by far the most important book of the two books.

Software

The assignments in the first half of the course will be done with a text editor such as Notepad or Notepad++ (Windows) or Sublime Text (Windows and Mac). These are free downloads and are available on many campus computers.

In the second half of the course, you will find it convenient to do homework assignments with Dreamweaver. In 2013, Adobe announced a major change.  Instead of users paying a lump sum amount to own the software, users would now pay a monthly fee to use the software and instead of yearly new versions, changes would be introduced into the rental version on a continual basis.   This rental version is termed Creative Cloud. More recently, Adobe shortened the length of trial versions from 30 to 7 days.

Here are some alternatives for accessing Dreamweaver outside the classroom:

  1. Computers 12-23 in the open lab in CT122 have the CC software.
  2. Some or all of the computers in the open area on the first floor of the CA building have the Dreamweaver CC software.
  3. There are 7 day free downloads of Dreamweaver CC, Fireworks 6 (there is no CC version of Fireworks), and other Adobe programs.. You can have a separate 7 day period for each of the programs. See www.adobe.com/creativecloud/catalog/desktop.html?promoid=KRUVM
  4. Purchase of software - Because you are students, you are eligible to purchase the Creative Cloud suite at greatly reduced prices - currently $19.99/month with a minimum 12-month commitment (https://creative.adobe.com/plans?plan=edu) (very few students do this)
  5. Use of an older version of the software

At some point, either during the course or after it, if you do not have access to Dreamweaver, you may wish to use Microsoft Expression Web which is available as a free download at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36179 This is a discontinued product and no further versions will be developed.  However, since tests will be geared to Dreamweaver and because Dreamweaver will be more important to your future web work, use Dreamweaver whenever possible.

Homework

Late homework may be penalized and beyond some point will not be accepted.

Inclement Weather Policy:

Frequently asked questions about closings can be found at www.nvcc.edu/emergency/closing/faq.html In cases of class cancellation, students must go to Blackboard for specific communication and instruction for the course.

Attendance:

If you miss class, please check the class website for any changes to the schedule, including new assignments.  You are welcome to attend class in the other sections on an occasional basis, subject to capacity constraints. Which sections discuss the material first will depend on holidays, class cancellations, etc. so check the current version of the schedule page. I will keep the sections together in terms of content.

My plan is to have no class on Wednesday, October 25 since there is an extra Wednesday class in the schedule and I plan to be out of town..

Office Hours Schedule/Tutoring:

Immediately after class in the classroom or by arrangement through email. The Open Computer Lab in CT 122 is providing some instruction on Fridays in basic computer use and document and folder creation - see https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YSR0JYM25WhpCIahjT_ZPWnUtJAmnYwb0b5pKLZaNsw/viewform They can also provide some help in basic web page creation and FTP, using CoreFTP and Dreamweaver. Their hours are M-Th 9:30am-8PM, Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm. Sunday closed.

Communication with Instructor:

In addition to office hours, most class periods will have time for one-on-one questions with the instructor.  Asking questions in this way is generally more efficient than email.  

Required Email Address

I will email you at the email address on my class list which is your VCCS email address unless you specify a different address in Nova Connect. If you do not check this address frequently, I would recommend you set it up for automatic forwarding to an email address you do check more frequently. I will show you how to specify a different address in Nova Connect and to specify a forwarding address. Please remember to include your name and section in all emails to me.

Grading Policy:

Your grade will be a function of two to three tests (60%), homework and projects (40%). Practically all of the grading of homework and tests will emphasize mastery of concepts and the ability to do a task according to the requirements and directions rather than artistic ability or creativity.

Academic Integrity

On homework assignments and projects, students may ask for and receive some assistance from others, unless otherwise directed by the instructor.  Yet those helping a student should avoid "doing the work" for the student. 

No assistance is permitted on exams and quizzes and your use of the computer may be monitored. The college policy on student conduct is found at www.nvcc.edu/students/handbook/conduct.html

Cheating may be reported to the Division Dean and the Annandale Judicial Affairs Officer.

Dropping and Withdrawal from the Class:

Thursday, September 7th is the last day to drop a 16 week class and get a tuition refunds (use NovaConnect) or to switch to audit (which requires my signature).   Tuesday, October 31 is the last day to withdraw without grade penalty in a 16 week course. The award of W after the last day to withdraw REQUIRES official documentation and the Dean's signature which is very difficult to get..

Classroom Conduct

Sustained talking during lecture is extremely distracting to the instructor and to other students. During hands on instruction where we are all coding together, it is appropriate to ask me to repeat what I said or briefly ask your neighbor if you don't see where to click, etc. However, if I've moved onto another topic, it's better for everyone concerned if you move on as well, and then deal with the issue later.

Learning Environment

NVCC is a place for learning and growing.  You should feel safe and comfortable anywhere on this campus.  In order to meet this objective, you should: a) let your instructor, his/her supervisor, the Dean of Students or Provost know if any unsafe, unwelcome or uncomfortable situation arises that interferes with the learning process; (b) inform the instructor within the first two weeks of classes if you have received a special needs or disability accomodation that may affect your performance in this course.

Fire/Emergency Evacuation Procedures

In case of emergency, please follow the emergency procedures as discussed on the first day of class. Students should familiarize themselves with both the primary and secondary routes that are to be used, in case you need to evacuate the building, as well as other evacuation or shelter-in-place procedures to be followed.

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