9/4/01

COSC 330
WEB DEVELOPMENT
STUDY GUIDE FOR LEARNING MODULE I
REVIEW OF WEB FUNDAMENTALS
Preliminary Draft
INTRODUCTION

      The first learning module of COSC 330 is a review of content of COSC 120, Introduction to Cyberspace that is relevent to Web Design. which lays a broad foundation on which Neiderst builds the subsequent chapters on specific aspects of Web development.

COMMENTS:

  1. LM I is an edited merger of all the LMs of COSC 120 that are relevant to the Web in general, and Web development in particular.
  2. This LM covers the vocabulary and concepts necessary to discuss Web Design techniques and strategies.  The approach is to begin with basic computer concepts and then progressively narrow the focus first to the Internet, then the World Wide Web, and finally to Web development.  This lays the foundation for the study of Web Design itself, which begins in LM II, FUNDAMENTALS OF WEB DESIGN.
  3. Note that red text contained in curley brackets, { and }, are reminders to me (Tony) to incorporate things in the LM in the future.  You can ignore these.
  4. Much of the content of LM I, that not related to the Web, may seem irrelevant, but it contains information that is a prerequisite for the study of Web design.  This is "insurance" to account for the fact that not all those registered for the course have taken the prerequisite course COSC 120.  Not having completed COSC 120 does not mean that a student is unprepared for COSC 330, so LM I reviews the essential content of COSC 120 for those students. The essential knowledge and skill needed to benefit from COSC 330 include:
    1. familiarity with the Web and facility with its use,
    2. experience in creating a Web site, and
    3. experience in using an FTP client (e.g. WS_FTP) to upload HTML documents to a Web server.
    NOTE: if you do NOT have the preceding experience you will probably be handicapped (compared to your classmates) in this course, so it is essential that you talk to me (Tony) immediately.  I will analyze your situation and advise you on what to do.
  5. In addition to presenting content, LM I introduces all of the learning facilities associated with my online courses (e.g. SAQs, TPQs, FIBs, etc.).  These are explained in BASIC STUDY GUIDE and the CHECKLIST FOR COURSE ACTIVITIES, but LM I explains them whenever they are encountered for the first time.  This should avoid your being overwhelmed by the new ideas associated with my online courses.  After you have finished the first couple of sections of LM I, you should be famalirity with SAQs, TPQs, FIBs, online PreAssessments and Evaluations, and Study Guide comments and by the end of the LM you should be comfortable with their use..