Announcements

11.07.01 Remember that the class notes for weeks 5, 6, 7, and 8 have lots of little javascript examples to help you figure out parts of your projects. Also remember that I will look at your code-in-process and try to help you over the rougher bits. But you have to send me mail to let me know what you have done, where it is to be found, and what you are having trouble with.

9.14.01 Everyone should now have a directory on CROW. Please be suer you post a file called index.htm or index.html in your directory. That page should be updated with a link to each assignment as you complete it. It is also a good place to start practicing some CSS. So think of something you might want to say about yourself. Write it there. Blow-dry.

09.06.01 A reminder to students enrolled in this course. You need to subscribe to the listserve for PBDS.664.085 by visiting astro.ubalt.edu and following the directions you will find there.

This is the Web site for Publications Design 664, Hypermedia Production, taught in the fall semester of 2001 by Nancy Kaplan. Watch this space for important announcements during the term. See the Syllabus for the schedule of meetings, readings and assignments. See Requirements for a list of required texts, brief descriptions of projects, and grading policies.

Overview

Hypermedia Production is all about the invisible but powerful technologies that differentiate Web publishing from other publication media. During the semester, we will work with two vital technologies: Cascading Style Sheets and Javascript.

With basic HTML codes, developers and designers can essentially produce page layouts for a screen. With CSS (cascading style sheets), we gain greater control over the layout but no greater dynamism or responsiveness to our audience's activities or, even more importantly, to our visitors' desires. Among the Web sites we cannot build with the bare bones technologies: game sites, retail sites, and large information-rich sites. With the addition of Javascript, these offerings become possibilities. With Javascript, the kinds of feedback and interactions our sites can support are not limited to the information that can be stuffed into basic forms.

Survival Tips

As the King Lear says to his daughter Cordelia, "nothing comes of nothing; speak again." The outcome of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy proves the Lear right. In this course, nothing will come if you don't "code again." These technologies are demanding: they require persistence and humility. As those of you who managed the Intro course with me know, I'm a big believer in daily practice, in taking on a series of small projects and writing things over and over again to help the learning stick. I am also a great believer in borrowing and tinkering. If you commit yourself to doing some bit of javascript every day (or two at most), you will begin to get the better of it.

Working with Javascript is more like (ugh) programming than designing with Quark or Photoshop or Illustrator. But the payoffs are and will be great. If you master these elements, you will be in a much stronger position in a hot job market. But more than that, you will be in control of your tools rather than the other way 'round.

Expectations

Everything counts in this course. And I'm not kidding. The course material demands dedicated and persistent attention to minute details and constant practice.

Prepare for class by studying the assigned readings and working through the exercises -- even when they are not assigned and do not "count" toward the grade. Come to class on time. Use each other as resources (a sort of learn by consulting approach). Use e-mail and the discussion list to keep in touch between classes and use me only as a last resort. You'll learn more and it will stick better that way.

Use the Web itself as a resource in two ways:

• Spend time every week looking at Web sites (especially those produced by designers to impress ohter designers!). Whenever possible, check out (even save) the scripts, style sheets and DHTML codes that produced the effects you like. Study the examples you collect: figure out how they did that.
• Collect some bookmarks for Web sites offering CSS and Javascript tutorials and references. Pass good resources along to the rest of the class. It's ok to use the ones I will put on our Course Resource page, but bookmarking them in your own browser makes more sense. You can pick the ones you like best and find them again even if the course pages go away or the server isn't answering your call.

I will provide detailed lectures and demonstrations of all the technical material you are expected to master. If you miss class, it is up to you to find out what I covered and to get notes and pointers from other members of the class.

Policies

This course assumes that you are already proficient with standard HTML and have learned the ins and outs of using whatever FTP software you happen to own. I will not be covering those topics in class. If you need a refresher on HTML, please consult Hypermedia: An Introduction, an extensive and comprehenisive set of notes for writing HTML. There are also plenty of textbooks, both new and used, on the subject. Make sure you use texts that cover HTML 4.0 and later, though.

Assignments are due -- in the correct place on the server with the correct file name -- at the beginning of class. By that I mean, when class begins, not when you show up! Remember: servers tend to keep good records about things so it is easy for me to check when something was posted. I will not accept late work unless you can demonstrate some sort of emergency. Please don't ask after the fact.

About Me

Nancy Kaplan
CR 202
410.837.5319
nakaplan@ubmail.ubalt.edu

Office Hours:
Thursdays 7 PM - 10 PM and Saturdays 1:30 PM - 4 PM