Dr Rich Boakes

← Teaching

Web Foundations 1 Y1, 20cr

Overview

Most students joining the University will have had some exposure to the Web. This unit introduces the concepts, practices and technologies that underpin website creation and maintenance. The focus is primarily on information architecture and design; supplemental to this, the management, social and ethical issues of publishing and using a global medium.

Aims

  1. To develop a measured approach to the design, construction and management of websites.
  2. To provide experience in research, presentation and writing as required to study successfully at tertiary level.
  3. To prepare for application to and employment in the IT profession.
  4. To encourage the authoring of linear and patterned notes from oral and written material (mind maps, digital collaborative note-taking).

Learning Outcomes

  1. Examine and explain existing document-centric websites (discuss how well form and content have been separated and assess semantics).
  2. Identify the information requirements of simple websites (for example, an online curriculum vitae).
  3. Construct and publish a simple website.
  4. Outline technologies and techniques for website project management.
  5. Discuss some of the major social, political, legal and ethical issues of the web (globalisation, mobility, data protection, surveillance, digital identity and e-Democracy).
  6. Research and critically evaluate a topic and present this in a referenced paper and oral presentation.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction to Basic Web Authoring: owners and audience requirements; page, site, interaction and navigation design; HTML; CSS; semantic markup; usability; incorporating multimedia; basic access control; maintenance requirements; copyright and licensing; data protection; privacy and surveillance.
  2. Validity and Standards: tools and techniques for website evaluation; accessibility; use of testing tools; use of evaluation tools; browser issues.
  3. Project Management: project and production processes; group development; roles and responsibilities.
  4. Post-industrial society and the roots of the Information Society idea: the Network Society and Web 2.0; globalisation and convergence; virtual communities, social networking and identity; mobility and mobile devices.
  5. IT Professionalism: Curriculum Vitae, Presentation Skills, Work Ethics (industrial codes of practice in IT).
  6. Tertiary Study Skills: Literature Referencing, Academic Presentation, Report Writing, Scientific Method.