Honor’s Module IST 129 – Web Design I

Title of Honor’s Module: Advanced Web Design Techniques for Beginning Programmers

Abstract
This honor’s module is used in an Associate of Arts and Science degree of the Information Systems Technology program within the IST 129 Web Design I course. This module is designed as an individual reading, research and hands-on project to identify web design techniques beyond the required syllabus. The project includes programming assignments with added elements to challenge the student at a higher level of web design. To complete the added elements a student researches various software engineering web design methods and techniques using FrontPage 2000. The added material is available through case projects. The focus of the module includes developing good web design and layout skills. This module emphasizes a logical and sound software engineering approach to creating web sites. 

Institutional Context

This is a required course for Information Systems Technology A.A.S. majors and an elective course for students with other majors. There are numerous small businesses in the tri-cities area that require Microsoft web design that incorporate an HTML editor and a web server. 

Honor’s Module Content

The content of the Advanced Web Design Techniques for Beginning Programmers includes:

§        All the material covered in the normal Web Design I course

§        A case project associated with each tutorial that challenges the student to perform at a higher level of web design

§        Documentation to support their design skills (web pages with appropriate meta tags and programming comments)

§        Case Project files and associated web pages

§        Print out of all created pages

§        Design and implementation of advanced web design techniques

Honor’s Module Objectives

The student who participates in this honor’s module will research, plan, design, implement and test projects in Microsoft FrontPage 2000.

§        Obtain detailed specifications for a web site from a client

§        Identify the appropriate client/server software and hardware necessary to implement a web site

§        Create web pages using good, sound web design and layout

§        Create hierarchical charts that graphically depict the logical navigational structure of the web site

§        Create web pages and other related files that demonstrate advanced web design techniques (techniques that go beyond the required syllabus)

§        Create supporting image, sound and animated files to include in the web site

§        Demonstrate sound and logical techniques for debugging web pages

§        Write HTML code that demonstrates good, sound software engineering principles

§        Create the necessary supporting documentation for a web site project

Course Requirements 

§         The student completes all material required for the normal Web Design I course with a passing grade of B or better.

§         The student completes a majority of the added elements (specified as honors component) for projects during the course.

§         The student turns in for evaluation all required documentation.

§         The student meets deadlines as specified in the course.

§         The student receives a grade of B or better on the honors components.

Evaluation of Student Learning

Each project will be assigned an individual value of 50 points. This grading scale is consistent with the grading scale used in the IST 129 Web Design I course. Each project must meet good and sound coding standards (commented code, meets W3C standards), required and appropriate documentation, and web pages and associated files are complete (meet specifications) and correct (debugged). 

Expected Learning Outcome

            After the student completes this module, the expected learning outcome includes:

§        Knowledge of client/server hardware and software

§        Understanding of good, sound web design techniques and methods

§        Ability to demonstrate sound web design techniques such as design and layout of a web page, research and planning of content, implementing an efficient navigational system for a web site, and capable of testing, troubleshooting and maintaining web sites

§        Ability to create supporting documentation (client specifications and commented web pages) for a web site project

§        Ability to use HTML editors, image software, sound software, browsers, database and other associated CASE tools to create, implement and maintain a dynamic web site