LIBR 240-02
Information Technology Tools and Applications
Fall 2005

Debbie Faires
E-mail
Module E, SJSU
408 924-2498
Office hours via e-mail and appointment

GREENSHEET

Class begins August 24 on Blackboard. I encourage you to do a few tasks before that time:

1. Order text
2. Obtain software
3. Enroll in the Blackboard site between August 10 and 24. If you'd like, begin work on the first unit (technology preparation)

We will meet on August 30 and September 27 from 6-9pm. Location: Mod D403 on the San Jose campus. The meeting on September 27 is optional but I believe you will find it helpful. The rest of the class will be online.

This class demands a very large amount of time and work (at least 8-10 hours a week, more if this technology is very new to you). You must have ample time to devote to it if you want to be successful. If you can't make this commitment, please drop the class now so that another student can add. There is a waiting list.

Course Description

This course examines the different ways in which we can structure, store, process, access, and present information on a Web site. It emphasizes the tools of information technology.
For the Fall 2005 semester, we will focus on modular Web site design and DHTML (Dynamic HTML). Dynamic HTML uses (X)HTML, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript as the building blocks for Web sites. Students will be introduced to XML and PHP. In this class students will:

(1) Understand the client server relationship and work with a Unix server
(2) Design conceptual and practical strategies for presenting information on the Web
(3) Create content in XHTML format
(4) Design interfaces using CSS
(5) Incorporate features such as images, frames, interactive forms in a cgi directory, image maps, internal search engines, and Perl scripts
(6) Work with JavaScript, PHP, and XML
(7) Study design, accessibility, and cultural issues

Prerequisite: LIBR 202 must be completed before this semester

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course the student should be able to:

1. Identify and/or define information communities that he/she wishes to reach via the Internet.
2. Create conceptual and practical strategies for reaching various information communities.
3. Understand the modular building block techniques of modern Web site design.
4. Design professional Web sites using XHTML and incorporating tables, frames, multimedia, and principles of good graphics.
5. Understand CGI form design, image maps, JavaScript, internal search engines, and Server-Side Includes (SSI).
6. Demonstrate the use of XML and PHP.

The course supports the following objectives from the School's Teaching goal:

Upon completion of the program the student will know and be able to identify the major theories and important principles as well as demonstrate current practice in:

• Information transfer;
• The application of diverse technologies to information management.
  

Required Text:

Callihan, Steve. HTML: CSS, JavaScript, and DHTML. St. Paul, MN: EMCParadigm, 2004. ISBN: 0763816531

You should order this book directly from the publisher as soon as possible so that you have it before August 24. The best way to order is to use a credit card and call (800) 535-6865. Be sure you have the ISBN number when you call. The cost is around $44 plus $5 shipping/handling if you use a special code (which I'll post to you via MySJSU) when ordering. Otherwise it is $58.58.

Required Software:

You must have image editing software for this class. I'll be providing instructions for Photoshop Elements, a reasonably priced product you can purchase with an educational discount through the SJSU Bookstore (see details below).

Other software options include:

• Photoshop (any version from 5.5 on is fine)
• Paint Shop Pro
• Fireworks
• The GIMP (open source available from http://www.gimp.org/ )

Any of the above programs will perform the required tasks for this class (cropping, resizing, changing resolution, adding text to an image). If you already have access to one of these programs, you don't need to purchase Photoshop Elements. Note that I will have some instructions available for Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro but not for the others.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 or 3.0
Not only will you use it for the class, but you will also enjoy using it if you ever deal with digital photos. The cost is around $69 (with the educational discount) through the SJSU Bookstore.

To order:
E-mail Kim McKee
OR
Phone 408-924-1842

You must pick up the software in person (they will not mail it out) and remember to bring your student ID. I suggest that you order it in time to pick it up on August 30 before our class meeting. We won't be using the software for class until late September but I encourage you to play with it before then.

Another option to consider for purchasing this software: E-Bay or used software stores. Be sure you are getting version 2 or 3.

Recommended Text
The following is an excellent reference book. I highly recommend that you obtain it. Students have found it to be very helpful and many have said I should require it. It costs around $22.

Castro, Elizabeth. (2003). HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS (5th ed.). Berkeley: Peachpit Press.

Course Requirements

There will be weekly assignments. Each will be worth 5 points.
There will be a final project worth 30 points.
Total: 100 points

Policy on late assignments: Assignments that are up to one week late will only receive half credit. I will not accept any assignment more than 1 week late. I will not accept late final projects.

Grading Scale:

Incompletes will not be given in this class except in the case of substantiated medical need or personal/family tragedy.

If you need any special consideration due to a disability, you need to register with the SJSU Disability Resource Center and notify the instructor by the third week of classes.

It is expected that all work you submit for this class will be your own. Plagiarism is defined as representing the work of another as your own without giving proper credit. Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy to learn about University penalties for plagiarism.
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

System Requirements

You need a good computer and Internet connection for this class! Your computer must meet the SLIS Home Computing Requirements (including the free RealPlayer and Microsoft Word). In addition, you will need to have both Internet Explorer 6 and another current browser (Firefox 1.0.6, Netscape 8, Opera 8, Mozilla 1.7 ) on your computer prior to the beginning of the class. Your life will be much easier with a high-speed Internet connection but it is not a requirement.

You will need to download and install at least one other program (5.3 MB). Be sure your computer has sufficient memory available.

Blackboard

We will use Blackboard for class communication, assignment submission and grades. You should enroll on the Blackboard site between August 10-24. You can enroll early in the month and begin the first assignment. SJSU SLIS Blackboard is at http://tigris.sjsu.edu

I'll post the access code required for enrollment through MySJSU. You can access it close to August 10 by logging into http://my.sjsu.edu

Top of Page