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Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will have -
A theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

  • the characteristics of commercial web sites and the authoring/management issues associated with them;
  • the features and applicability of a range of software tools which are used in the development of websites;
  • internet standards and protocols, in particular the impact of World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards in this area;
  • a web based document as an instance of the W3C Document Object Model;
  • website usability issues;
  • the role that products such as Macromedia Flash can play in web authoring;
  • copyright related issues as they apply to web authoring.
Developed attitudes that enable them to:
  • appreciate the flexibility required in dealing with clients in a variety of situations encountered in the tendering/authoring process;
  • demonstrate a critical attitude towards assessing the success of websites;
  • demonstrate a recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of information technology in the context of the development and use of web based multimedia systems.
Developed the skills to:
  • create and manipulate digital content for websites, including basic audio and animation;
  • code web pages using standard HTML/XHTML, including tables and forms;
  • make use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to add style to web documents;
  • use JavaScript to add interactivity to HTML pages;
  • access and manipulate DOM objects in a web document;
  • write HTML embedded script code (such as ColdFusion) to produce dynamic database driven web documents;
  • produce design specification documents applicable to a web site authoring task.
Demonstrated the teamwork skills necessary to:
  • work as a member of a project team.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

In-semester assessment: 100%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
HTML/CSS Website 20% Week 7 (Friday 6pm)
Group Project 20% Week 12 (Friday 6pm)
Work Requirements 40% (5%, 10%, 15%, 10%) Weeks 4, 6, 9, 11
Concept Diary 20% (10 x 2%) Weeks 2-11

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

The unit covers the following software:

  • Adobe Dreamweaver CS4/CS5 
  • Adobe Photoshop CS4/CS5 

All software will be provided in computer laboratories (if you wish to have after-hours access, this can be arranged with ITS). Alternatively, students may use their own computer with their own copies of the software installed.

Software may be:

  • Purchased at academic price at good software retailers
  • Trial versions of software are available from publishers' websites

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Unit Introduction & Key Concepts  
2 HTML & Web Standards Concept Diary
3 CSS Formatting Concept Diary
4 Working with Colour, Images & Rich Media Concept Diary; Work Requirement 1 due Week 4
5 CSS Layout & Positioning Concept Diary
6 Website Testing, Forms & JavaScript Basics Concept Diary; Work Requirement 2 due Week 6
7 Browser Scripting with JavaScript Concept Diary; Assignment 1 due Friday at 6pm
8 Document Object Model & Web Servers Concept Diary
9 Server-side Scripting with ColdFusion Concept Diary; Work Requirement 3 due Week 9
10 Structured Query Language & Forms Data Concept Diary
11 Form Validation, File Manipulation & AJAX Concept Diary; Work Requirement 4 due week 11
12 Web Hosting, Search Engine Optimisation & Publishing Assignment 2 due Friday 6pm
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Tasks

Participation

There are an individual assessment and a group project.

Due to the nature of group work in this subject, it is expected that all students will attend 80% of classes. Failure to do so may result in difficulties with passing the unit. To apply for special consideration refer to the link provided under 'Extensions and penalties' at the end of this section.

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    HTML/CSS Website
    Description:
    A 5-page informational website designed to W3C standards.  To be undertaken individually.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Site aims

    • Definition of target audience
    • Statement of site and user goals
    • Suitability to target audience

    Technical criteria

    • XHTML validation using the W3C validator
    • Appropriateness of XHTML structure
    • Application of CSS
    • Degradability of CSS
    • File naming and arrangement
    • Adaptability to various screen sizes
    • Cross-browser compatibility

    Visual design

    • Overall visual concept
    • Appropriate use of images in design
    • Layout of page elements
    • Use of conventions and metaphors
    • Branding (colours, logos, look & feel)

    Information architecture

    • Overall site structure
    • Clear content hierarchy
    • Accessibility of navigation
    • Readability of content
    • Search engine optimisation
    Due date:
    Week 7 (Friday 6pm)
    Remarks:
    Submission by upload to Studentweb.
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Group Project
    Description:
    A commercial website for a retail company, accessing a product database.

    Work to be undertaken in a group of two or three members, with each member taking a specific role in development. 
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The final mark you receive will consist of:

    • An overall shared group mark (50%)
    • An individual mark based on your assigned development role (50%)

    Business management

    • Overall information structure
    • Organisation of files
    • Text content accuracy and proof-reading
    • Image content quality and suitability
    • Overall site accessibility

    Graphic design

    • Overall design concept
    • Company branding and logo design
    • Page layout design
    • Formatting using CSS
    • Typography design

    IT management

    • Retrieval and display of products table
    • Additional ColdFusion functionality
    • Application of JavaScript functionality
    • User input validation for forms
    • HTML validation to W3C standards
    Due date:
    Week 12 (Friday 6pm)
    Remarks:
    Submission by upload to Studentweb.
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Work Requirements
    Description:
    There will be 4 minor work requirement tasks, due at various times throughout the semester.
    Weighting:
    40% (5%, 10%, 15%, 10%)
    Criteria for assessment:

    Fulfilment of basic requirements, and completion of additional tasks.

    Due date:
    Weeks 4, 6, 9, 11
    Remarks:
    Submission by demonstration during lab sessions.
  • Assessment task 4
    Title:
    Concept Diary
    Description:
    Each week students will be assigned a research topic. Research and final findings will be presented in the form of a series of weblog entries.
    Weighting:
    20% (10 x 2%)
    Criteria for assessment:

    Each weblog entry will be assessed for:

    • Relevance of research
    • Ability to express concepts
    • Timely submission of each blog entry
    Due date:
    Weeks 2-11

Examinations

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Extensions and penalties

Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

Returning assignments

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Key educational policies include:

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

READING LIST

  • Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual, second edition By Matthew MacDonald, O'Reilly, 2008
  • Foundation Website Creation with CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript By Jonathan Lane, Steve Smith, Meitar Moscovitz, Joseph R. Lewis; friends of Ed, 2008
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