Interactive Learning and Design |
Interactive Learning and Design |
In this course you will do two related things: research using the resources offered by the Internet and the presention of the results of your research on the World Wide Web.
- Publishing your work on the Web is a central part of the course, if you do not feel comfortable with making your work public you should consider withdrawing from the class.
To start you need to get Web space on the PSU Personal server where you can
post your files. Here is where you apply:
Application for a Web Space Account
The class will begin with learning how to use Web browsers, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, the Web search engines and creating a small site which will be posted to your Web space. During the first four weeks everyone will also begin define a major research topic
While you are beginning your research we will learn about Hypertext Markup Language, HTML. You will be using it to present the results of your research to others on your Web site.The primary software, if you chose to use them, will be Macromedia Dreamweaver and Allaire HomeSite. A text editor, like NotePad or SimpletText, is also always an acceptable way to assemble your sites.
After that, during weeks six and seven, you will learn to use ways of working with images using three different software programs - Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
Week eight will be an overview of more advanced tools and techniques for the presentation of information on the Web, including: Cascading style sheets, XML, Java script, XSL and DHTML
This will be followed in week nine with a discussion of some major figures in the Internet community and of ethical questions raised by the uses of the Internet. This discussion will continue for several weeks as it relates to the other work we are doing.
Week ten will be an introduction to animation using Macromedia Flash.
After that you will be doing research and publishing it on the Web. You will discuss your work and theirs with the other members of the class. Participation in the discussion of your and other students work a major component of the class and is required.
The course will conclude with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses, the pleasures and difficulties, of research and publication on the Internet
