SIMS 347 | WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION

Class Information
Date/Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Location: Library Building 245
Instructor: Adriana Ahner
Hours: By appointment only.
Website: adrianaswebclass.com
E-mail: aahner@uscupstate.edu
Skype: gudspirit7
Twitter: sims347

Required Books

Course Description
This is a basic level class that serves as a foundation for learning web design and development. The
fundamentals of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Stylesheets), will be
incorporated with Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Flash, video and other open software applications. A strong
emphasis will be placed on Wordpress, and other CMS (Content Management Systems).

In this course, you will learn:

● a brief history of the Internet – how it works.
● Internet vs. the Web
● the Web and your site – global online community
● the web browser war
● static websites vs. dynamic websites
● HTML 5 vs. Flash
● RSS, Google Analytics, SEO
● how content management systems work
● impact of social networking sites
● basic techniques of blogging
● online writing [blogging] vs. traditional writing
● how to develop a content strategy for your site
● how to implement online marketing for your site
● how to measure your site with web analytics
● mobile development
● check list for maintaining your site
You’ll learn how to construct a website from the ground up, including site planning, content strategy, page
layout, graphic creation and optimization, and the integration of multimedia elements. Students will learn
basic "hand-coding," basic HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, Flash, storyboarding, video editing, and audio
editing.
Website Construction - Syllabus Fall 2010
SIMS 347 | WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION
Objectives
This course is intended to introduce and familiarize and introduce students the basics of HTML, CSS,
web design, content management systems, social media, and web analytics. “Create, develop, and
measure your own site.”

Student Responsibilities
1. Be creative and experimental with in the parameters of each assignment, and be open and willing to
learn. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions!

2. Compliment coursework with visual research – train your eyes. Think like a visual thinker. You will
be surprised what visually inspires you! Pay attention to movies, television, books, magazines, and of
course, the Web!

3. Complete every assignment on time. Late work will be accepted due to illness or family emergency.
You must give proper documentation with date and time.

4. Participate in class discussions and critiques.

5. Do not use technical problems as an excuse to not hand work on time. If you have a problem, it is your
responsibility to contact me. Just remember a deadline is deadline.

6. Expect to spend 20 hours per week outside class on your coursework and project assignments.

Projects
Projects will build on the knowledge gained in prerequisites. A tentative schedule of assignments and
deadlines is provided. Professor reserves the right to make changes. In addition to your projects and
class assignments, participation and a written proposal will count toward your final grade.

Project grades are based on 100 point scale:

Grade Points What it means

A 100-90 Portfolio ready. Great work.

B+ 89-85 Solid concept/design/needs

refinement
B 84-80 Work is above average
C+ 79-75 Concept present, minimum
requirements met
C 74-70 Work is average with no
further exploration or interest
D+ 69-65 Work is below average,
weak in concept, design and
presentation
D 64-60 Work exhibits a lack of
attention and interest, tardies/
absences
F 59-00 Incomplete or total absence of
project; excessive absences

The participation portion of your grade will be based on your contribution during critiques, the
documentation of your design process for each project, and our input to your peers during work sessions.

List of projects, descriptions and deadlines.

Website Construction - Syllabus Fall 2010

SIMS 347 | WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION
Project Name
Your official website.
FINAL PROJECT
Creative Proposal
Special Projects:
Website Review
Social Networking Reviews
Description When it’s due
This is your website and final TBA
project. And, must submit a
creative proposal prior to this
project.
Your website proposal. Formal TBA
version. Must be in color.
Must complete your Twitter TBA
page background. You have a
choice in creating a YouTube
Channel or Facebook Fan
Page.
Review your favorite best TBA
and worst websites that
belong to the same industry.
Which one is better?
Which networking sites TBA
are best for your site?

Late Assignments
Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (this includes weekends). No assignments will be
accepted after one week. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, make arrangements to get it
turned in to avoid late penalties.

Cell Phones, Blackberries, iPhones, Androids, and other “Smartphones”

Cell phones of any kind are not appropriate in the classroom. Please turn off all cell phones before the
beginning of class. Students attending to cell phones during class will receive point deductions from those
points allocated for class participation.

Honor Code
Students are expected to adhere to the strictest standards of academic honesty. Each student should
review the Academic Honor Code printed in its entirety in the USC Upstate Student Handbook. This code
strictly prohibits plagiarism.

Inclement Weather In case of adverse weather conditions, students are to utilize their own judgment
as to the safety of traveling to class. The university does NOT close or dismiss class due to adverse
weather except in unusual circumstances. Students should listen to one of the local radio stations,
contact the university or check the website for information pertinent to altered class schedules.

Disability
In keeping with University policy, any student with a disability who requests academic accommodations
should contact Disability Services at 503-5195 to arrange a confidential appointment with the Disability
Services Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek an appointment as early in the semester as
possible, as accommodations are not provided retroactively. Letters of accommodation must be signed
and printed on letterhead from the Disability Services office. It is the student’s responsibility to provide
these letters to professors in a timely manner so that accommodations may be put in place.

Attendance
Attendance for the full class period is mandatory. The experience of working in the lab among peers and
with the instructor is a critical part of the course. Therefore, you will be allowed only 3 absences (excused
or unexcused) for the entire semester – period**.

Note will be made late arrivals and early departures. Three times tardy/or early departures count as one
absence.

Website Construction - Syllabus Fall 2010

SIMS 347 | WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION
The participation of your grade will be made lower by missing portions of the class. The final grade is
lowered a full letter on the fourth absence. The fifth absence is failure of the course and you will receive
an F for the semester.

It is not the professor’s responsibility to inform you of your absences or tardy status. This information is
available on per request basis.

I have read this syllabus in its entirety; and understand to adhere to the attendance policy listed above.

Date:____________________________________________________

Signature:________________________________________________

Website Construction - Syllabus Fall 2010