Hypermedia Production, Fall 2000: Course Requirments

These are small-scale exercises intended to help you master JavaScript, CSS, and DHTML. Details of each assignment will be given out on the Web site. You will post your work in your personal directory on the student server.

Topic Reports

Each content development group will assign a reading for the class that focuses our understanding of the group's research subject. The group is responsible for photocopying the reading or distributing on paper and via e-mail any URLs. Readings should be brief (under 30 pages) but substantial. Group members will have 15-20 minutes of class time to discuss the reading. All group members are expected to take part in the discussion.

Content Project

Each class member will join a content development group, usually consisting of three people. Groups will create content for the research publication. Three types of content are required:

An information/commentary piece (sometimes called a white paper) outlining the issues and implications of your subject for a general, educated audience.
An interview with an expert, entrepreneur, or opinion leader. I can suggest interview subjects for most topics.
A resource article (annotated sourcelist) providing useful background reading for those unacquainted with the subject.

You may also choose to present a fourth content type: a practical demonstration or proof of concept, which is essentially a scaled-up technical assignment showing some important feature of your subject. With my permission you may offer the proof of concept in lieu of the interview. If you like, you may also present this fourth project as an additional part of your work.

Since there are three required content assignments and (ideally) three members in each group, you may choose to divide the work accordingly. Groups may also request that all work be held in common and assigned a single grade.

III. Deadlines

Technical Assignments: Except for the first assignment (see the syllabus), all technical assignments are due at the beginning of the class indicated. If you skip part of class to complete the assignment, I will not accept your work. Without a pre-arranged exception, late technical assignments will not be graded.
Topic Reports: You must distribute any printed material or URLs the week before your Topic Report is due. If you must reschedule the report date, do so at least two weeks in advance. Missed reports may not be made up.
Content Project: All work must be complete by Wednesday, December 15. Each group is also scheduled for one critique during the semester. The critique is not graded, but you should have substantial content and design work ready for the occasion.
Exceptions: I am reasonably understanding about unforeseen problems and emergencies (note: these do not include off-season vacations), but if possible you should ask for exceptions to a deadline well in advance.

IV. Required Texts

Three books are assigned for the course and have been placed on order with the Bookstore:

Ladd and O'Donnell, Using HTML 4 etc. This will be our technical reference. About $42 at Amazon. You may have bought this book for Hypermedia: An Introduction or some other course. The assigned edition is the Platinum (copyright 1999; printed 12/98). Earlier editions may be substituted as long as you are aware that your text is out of date.

Locke, Levine, Searls, and Weinberger, The Cluetrain Manifesto (2000). About $16.00 at Amazon. One chapter is excerpted on the Web. We will be reading the whole book, so buy it.

Scott McCloud, Reinventing Comics (2000). About $16.50 from Amazon. The Bookstore may not be able to obtain stock, so try local comics stores. This is more than a brilliant follow-on to McCloud's Understanding Comics: it's an indispensable essay about the way changes in technology affect a particular publishing enterprise, and by extension, the whole industry.

V. Additional Policies

I expect you to read the statement of general academic policies which apply to all my classes.