cuin 7330: project-based digital media for...
TRANSCRIPT
CUIN 7330 Project-Based Digital Media for Education
Summer Semester 2007
Section 07866
400-800PM Tuesdays
Room 315A Farish Hall
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Houston - College of Education
Instructor Bernard R Robin PhD
Office Location Room 343 Farish Hall
Office Hours Tuesdays - 100 pm to 400 pm
Also available for telephone calls video conferencing and in-
person meetings at other times by appointment
Email brobinuhedu
Telephone 713-743-4952
Course Description and Instructional Strategies
CUIN 7330 is a graduate level course in the Instructional Technology Program at the
University of Houston The major focus of the course is on the use of advanced principles
of information design to create large-scale instructional digital media projects The
course is designed as a theoretical and applications-based experience for students who
have completed the introductory instructional technology courses understand basic
Internet concepts such as web protocols and HTML and have some experience with
digital media tools and resources and want to learn more about designing developing
and evaluating educational projects including how to successfully deliver multimedia-
rich educational content to a variety of audiences The course will build upon existing
foundations of web design and HTMLmdashthe HyperText Markup Language publishing a
website multimedia and the web cross-browserplatform coding issues with attention to
user interface design and web usability and accessibility
The course is based upon a constructivist learning approach in which students work
collaboratively to develop creative solutions to real-world design problems During the
course a range of topics will be explored that are related to the design and development
of a large-scale educational web project and supplemental instructional materials
developed to support the site A mixture of demonstration discussion and hands-on
experiences related to the weekly topics will take place in which
Students use prior knowledge they bring to class
Knowledge is constructed uniquely and individually in multiple ways through a
variety of authentic tools resources experiences and contexts
Learning is both an active and reflective process
Social interaction introduces multiple perspectives through reflection
collaboration negotiation and shared meaning and
Learning is mediated by the learner
Course Format
Course activities will take place both in class where students will participate in face-to-
face discussions and conduct topic-related activities as well as online where students
will participate in virtual discussions via an online discussion forum Students will work
in small collaborative groups to complete weekly reading posting and hands-on
assignments throughout the semester Each class session during the semester will include
a web page that presents the information covered in that weeks class a description of a
hands-on lab activity and the assignments for the next class
Prerequisites for this Course
It is assumed that students entering this graduate-level course have some computer skills
and are familiar with the process of designing instructional materials Students who enroll
in this course should have some basic familiarity with the web and web editing software
Experience designing and developing simple web pages is helpful however advanced
technical skills are not required for this course Introductory or advanced skills in HTML
are not the focus of this course The focus instead will be on many of the associated skills
that are needed to construct comprehensive educationally-relevant online resources such
as organization of information navigation writing for the web graphic design and page
layout accessibility and usability issues and evaluating the educational value of web
resources Other courses in the Instructional Technology program are offered for students
who wish to gain beginning andor advanced web design skills Please contact the
instructor for more information or to discuss which additional courses may be best suited
for you
Time Requirements
Course topics will be demonstrated and discussed in class however additional time
outside of class is required to complete weekly assignments and the final semester
project A good rule of thumb is that students should expect to spend approximately 1 to
2 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class Since the class meets for 3 hours per
week students should plan to spend approximately 3 to 6 hours per week completing the
reading posting and hands-on assignments for that week Additionally an attempt will
be made to allow some class time to be used for team members to meet and work with
other members of their groups
Course Philosophy
Courses in the Instructional Technology (IT) Program in the College of Education
prepare instructional technology professionals for diverse leadership responsibilities in
Pre-K-12 settings school district technology administration higher education training in
industry settings and instructional design and development of all levels of instructional
materials The IT Program at the University of Houston can be distinguished from IT
programs at other institutions through our unique philosophy based on a strong
commitment to the broad representations of community individual learning and the
collaboration that strengthens the two This philosophy is in accordance with the College
of Educationlsquos conceptual framework Collaboration for Learning and Leading
Relationship to the College of Education Conceptual Framework
Collaboration is cooperative activity characterized by dialogue and shared effort
Participants will collaborate with peers in classroom activities projects and
presentations
Learning implies knowledge skills and dispositions gained through systematic study
and the modification of behavior as a result of training and experience Learning in this
course is emphasized through the meaningful use of instructional technologies and
authentic assessment techniques Participants will prepare a portfolio demonstrating their
learning in this course
Leading involves initiating and promoting positive change Leading is highlighted in this
course as participants prepare and make presentations demonstrating how technologies
can be used to support learning
The design curriculum and instructional flow of CUIN 7330 is aligned with the learner-
centered proficiencies and principles of the Conceptual Framework of the College of
Education ―Collaboration for Learning and Leading In CUIN 7330 as with other
courses in the IT program this framework allows students to collaborate with each other
with faculty members and with members of the community to discover and investigate a
variety of challenging educational objectives that take advantage of innovative and
meaningful ways to use of technology in education
Specific Goals and Objectives of this Course
This course like all courses in the Instructional Technology program in the College of
Education prepares instructional technology professionals for diverse leadership
responsibilities in Pre-K-12 settings school district technology administration higher
education training in industry settings and all levels of instructional design and
development The IT program at the University of Houston is distinguished from IT
programs at other institutions through our strong commitment to the broad
representations of our community individual learning and the collaboration that
strengthens both
The primary goal of the course is to introduce students to the collaborative process of
designing and developing a community-based educationally relevant web site Students
in this course will gain an understanding of many of the critical issues involved in
working with local organizations to design and develop a comprehensive method for
disseminating online content that will be of interest to students teachers administrators
and researchers as well as members of the general community Students in this course
will explore a wide range of topics related to the design production and evaluation of
large scale educational web projects including
Working in a collaborative environment to design and create online materials
Choosing the best technological tools to create educational web resources
Information architecture and design
How organizations determine how to present their content online
Managing project deadlines
Testing for web site usability
Understanding and planning for we site accessibility issues
Evaluation of web sites as educational resources
At the end of CUIN 7330 each student will be able to demonstrate that they can apply
appropriate technology tools and theories for enhancing their own professional learning
and productivity They will use technology in communicating collaborating conducting
research and solving problems In addition they will plan lead and participate in
activities that encourage lifelong learning and will promote equitable ethical and legal
use of computer technology Students in CUIN 7330 will continually assess their own
growth as they seek to create coherent representations of the knowledge linking new
information with existing understandings in creative meaningful ways Relevant
authentic learning tasks will be explored in a motivating learner-centered environment
Learning will be facilitated through both face-to-face and online interactions among the
classroom community To ensure that diverse student preferences for learning and
expression are honored a variety of learning modes and assessment strategies will be
utilized including whole-class discussions and debates face-to-face and online
collaborative group work individual readings and the design development and
evaluation of instructional materials situated in authentic contexts
Additionally each student should be able to demonstrate that they can use computers and
other technologies in research problem-solving and product development Students will
use a variety of media presentation and authoring packages plan and participate in team
and collaborative projects that require critical analysis and evaluation and present the
products they develop during for the course
Specific competencies for this course are aligned with the International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Facilitation Standards Activities and
assignments in this course attempt to meet the following
TF-IA Demonstrate knowledge skills and understanding of concepts related to
technology
TF-IB Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay
abreast of current and emerging technologies
TF-VA Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional
development and lifelong learning
TF-VB Continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make
informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student
learning
Attendance and Participation
Regular class attendance is expected as is appropriate and informed class participation
Because of the collaborative nature of this course students are expected to work within a
team environment where each participant contributes to the development process based
on their individual areas of expertise Students are also expected to actively participate
virtually in online discussions both with members of their own team and with other
students and facilitators in the course
Required Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course Readings for this course will come from
articles published on the web and from handouts given out in class To access the online
readings you will need to have access to a computer that is capable of connecting to the
Internet as well as a recent version of a common web browser (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox)
Your web browser should be configured so that you can access multimedia content
online Below are links to some of the more popular browser plug-ins and helper
applications that may be downloaded for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view PDF files)
RealPlayer (to hear RealAudio and view RealVideo files) Be
sure to look for the link to the Free Real Player not the free trial version of the
version of RealPlayer you must purchase
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Learning is both an active and reflective process
Social interaction introduces multiple perspectives through reflection
collaboration negotiation and shared meaning and
Learning is mediated by the learner
Course Format
Course activities will take place both in class where students will participate in face-to-
face discussions and conduct topic-related activities as well as online where students
will participate in virtual discussions via an online discussion forum Students will work
in small collaborative groups to complete weekly reading posting and hands-on
assignments throughout the semester Each class session during the semester will include
a web page that presents the information covered in that weeks class a description of a
hands-on lab activity and the assignments for the next class
Prerequisites for this Course
It is assumed that students entering this graduate-level course have some computer skills
and are familiar with the process of designing instructional materials Students who enroll
in this course should have some basic familiarity with the web and web editing software
Experience designing and developing simple web pages is helpful however advanced
technical skills are not required for this course Introductory or advanced skills in HTML
are not the focus of this course The focus instead will be on many of the associated skills
that are needed to construct comprehensive educationally-relevant online resources such
as organization of information navigation writing for the web graphic design and page
layout accessibility and usability issues and evaluating the educational value of web
resources Other courses in the Instructional Technology program are offered for students
who wish to gain beginning andor advanced web design skills Please contact the
instructor for more information or to discuss which additional courses may be best suited
for you
Time Requirements
Course topics will be demonstrated and discussed in class however additional time
outside of class is required to complete weekly assignments and the final semester
project A good rule of thumb is that students should expect to spend approximately 1 to
2 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class Since the class meets for 3 hours per
week students should plan to spend approximately 3 to 6 hours per week completing the
reading posting and hands-on assignments for that week Additionally an attempt will
be made to allow some class time to be used for team members to meet and work with
other members of their groups
Course Philosophy
Courses in the Instructional Technology (IT) Program in the College of Education
prepare instructional technology professionals for diverse leadership responsibilities in
Pre-K-12 settings school district technology administration higher education training in
industry settings and instructional design and development of all levels of instructional
materials The IT Program at the University of Houston can be distinguished from IT
programs at other institutions through our unique philosophy based on a strong
commitment to the broad representations of community individual learning and the
collaboration that strengthens the two This philosophy is in accordance with the College
of Educationlsquos conceptual framework Collaboration for Learning and Leading
Relationship to the College of Education Conceptual Framework
Collaboration is cooperative activity characterized by dialogue and shared effort
Participants will collaborate with peers in classroom activities projects and
presentations
Learning implies knowledge skills and dispositions gained through systematic study
and the modification of behavior as a result of training and experience Learning in this
course is emphasized through the meaningful use of instructional technologies and
authentic assessment techniques Participants will prepare a portfolio demonstrating their
learning in this course
Leading involves initiating and promoting positive change Leading is highlighted in this
course as participants prepare and make presentations demonstrating how technologies
can be used to support learning
The design curriculum and instructional flow of CUIN 7330 is aligned with the learner-
centered proficiencies and principles of the Conceptual Framework of the College of
Education ―Collaboration for Learning and Leading In CUIN 7330 as with other
courses in the IT program this framework allows students to collaborate with each other
with faculty members and with members of the community to discover and investigate a
variety of challenging educational objectives that take advantage of innovative and
meaningful ways to use of technology in education
Specific Goals and Objectives of this Course
This course like all courses in the Instructional Technology program in the College of
Education prepares instructional technology professionals for diverse leadership
responsibilities in Pre-K-12 settings school district technology administration higher
education training in industry settings and all levels of instructional design and
development The IT program at the University of Houston is distinguished from IT
programs at other institutions through our strong commitment to the broad
representations of our community individual learning and the collaboration that
strengthens both
The primary goal of the course is to introduce students to the collaborative process of
designing and developing a community-based educationally relevant web site Students
in this course will gain an understanding of many of the critical issues involved in
working with local organizations to design and develop a comprehensive method for
disseminating online content that will be of interest to students teachers administrators
and researchers as well as members of the general community Students in this course
will explore a wide range of topics related to the design production and evaluation of
large scale educational web projects including
Working in a collaborative environment to design and create online materials
Choosing the best technological tools to create educational web resources
Information architecture and design
How organizations determine how to present their content online
Managing project deadlines
Testing for web site usability
Understanding and planning for we site accessibility issues
Evaluation of web sites as educational resources
At the end of CUIN 7330 each student will be able to demonstrate that they can apply
appropriate technology tools and theories for enhancing their own professional learning
and productivity They will use technology in communicating collaborating conducting
research and solving problems In addition they will plan lead and participate in
activities that encourage lifelong learning and will promote equitable ethical and legal
use of computer technology Students in CUIN 7330 will continually assess their own
growth as they seek to create coherent representations of the knowledge linking new
information with existing understandings in creative meaningful ways Relevant
authentic learning tasks will be explored in a motivating learner-centered environment
Learning will be facilitated through both face-to-face and online interactions among the
classroom community To ensure that diverse student preferences for learning and
expression are honored a variety of learning modes and assessment strategies will be
utilized including whole-class discussions and debates face-to-face and online
collaborative group work individual readings and the design development and
evaluation of instructional materials situated in authentic contexts
Additionally each student should be able to demonstrate that they can use computers and
other technologies in research problem-solving and product development Students will
use a variety of media presentation and authoring packages plan and participate in team
and collaborative projects that require critical analysis and evaluation and present the
products they develop during for the course
Specific competencies for this course are aligned with the International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Facilitation Standards Activities and
assignments in this course attempt to meet the following
TF-IA Demonstrate knowledge skills and understanding of concepts related to
technology
TF-IB Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay
abreast of current and emerging technologies
TF-VA Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional
development and lifelong learning
TF-VB Continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make
informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student
learning
Attendance and Participation
Regular class attendance is expected as is appropriate and informed class participation
Because of the collaborative nature of this course students are expected to work within a
team environment where each participant contributes to the development process based
on their individual areas of expertise Students are also expected to actively participate
virtually in online discussions both with members of their own team and with other
students and facilitators in the course
Required Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course Readings for this course will come from
articles published on the web and from handouts given out in class To access the online
readings you will need to have access to a computer that is capable of connecting to the
Internet as well as a recent version of a common web browser (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox)
Your web browser should be configured so that you can access multimedia content
online Below are links to some of the more popular browser plug-ins and helper
applications that may be downloaded for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view PDF files)
RealPlayer (to hear RealAudio and view RealVideo files) Be
sure to look for the link to the Free Real Player not the free trial version of the
version of RealPlayer you must purchase
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
commitment to the broad representations of community individual learning and the
collaboration that strengthens the two This philosophy is in accordance with the College
of Educationlsquos conceptual framework Collaboration for Learning and Leading
Relationship to the College of Education Conceptual Framework
Collaboration is cooperative activity characterized by dialogue and shared effort
Participants will collaborate with peers in classroom activities projects and
presentations
Learning implies knowledge skills and dispositions gained through systematic study
and the modification of behavior as a result of training and experience Learning in this
course is emphasized through the meaningful use of instructional technologies and
authentic assessment techniques Participants will prepare a portfolio demonstrating their
learning in this course
Leading involves initiating and promoting positive change Leading is highlighted in this
course as participants prepare and make presentations demonstrating how technologies
can be used to support learning
The design curriculum and instructional flow of CUIN 7330 is aligned with the learner-
centered proficiencies and principles of the Conceptual Framework of the College of
Education ―Collaboration for Learning and Leading In CUIN 7330 as with other
courses in the IT program this framework allows students to collaborate with each other
with faculty members and with members of the community to discover and investigate a
variety of challenging educational objectives that take advantage of innovative and
meaningful ways to use of technology in education
Specific Goals and Objectives of this Course
This course like all courses in the Instructional Technology program in the College of
Education prepares instructional technology professionals for diverse leadership
responsibilities in Pre-K-12 settings school district technology administration higher
education training in industry settings and all levels of instructional design and
development The IT program at the University of Houston is distinguished from IT
programs at other institutions through our strong commitment to the broad
representations of our community individual learning and the collaboration that
strengthens both
The primary goal of the course is to introduce students to the collaborative process of
designing and developing a community-based educationally relevant web site Students
in this course will gain an understanding of many of the critical issues involved in
working with local organizations to design and develop a comprehensive method for
disseminating online content that will be of interest to students teachers administrators
and researchers as well as members of the general community Students in this course
will explore a wide range of topics related to the design production and evaluation of
large scale educational web projects including
Working in a collaborative environment to design and create online materials
Choosing the best technological tools to create educational web resources
Information architecture and design
How organizations determine how to present their content online
Managing project deadlines
Testing for web site usability
Understanding and planning for we site accessibility issues
Evaluation of web sites as educational resources
At the end of CUIN 7330 each student will be able to demonstrate that they can apply
appropriate technology tools and theories for enhancing their own professional learning
and productivity They will use technology in communicating collaborating conducting
research and solving problems In addition they will plan lead and participate in
activities that encourage lifelong learning and will promote equitable ethical and legal
use of computer technology Students in CUIN 7330 will continually assess their own
growth as they seek to create coherent representations of the knowledge linking new
information with existing understandings in creative meaningful ways Relevant
authentic learning tasks will be explored in a motivating learner-centered environment
Learning will be facilitated through both face-to-face and online interactions among the
classroom community To ensure that diverse student preferences for learning and
expression are honored a variety of learning modes and assessment strategies will be
utilized including whole-class discussions and debates face-to-face and online
collaborative group work individual readings and the design development and
evaluation of instructional materials situated in authentic contexts
Additionally each student should be able to demonstrate that they can use computers and
other technologies in research problem-solving and product development Students will
use a variety of media presentation and authoring packages plan and participate in team
and collaborative projects that require critical analysis and evaluation and present the
products they develop during for the course
Specific competencies for this course are aligned with the International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Facilitation Standards Activities and
assignments in this course attempt to meet the following
TF-IA Demonstrate knowledge skills and understanding of concepts related to
technology
TF-IB Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay
abreast of current and emerging technologies
TF-VA Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional
development and lifelong learning
TF-VB Continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make
informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student
learning
Attendance and Participation
Regular class attendance is expected as is appropriate and informed class participation
Because of the collaborative nature of this course students are expected to work within a
team environment where each participant contributes to the development process based
on their individual areas of expertise Students are also expected to actively participate
virtually in online discussions both with members of their own team and with other
students and facilitators in the course
Required Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course Readings for this course will come from
articles published on the web and from handouts given out in class To access the online
readings you will need to have access to a computer that is capable of connecting to the
Internet as well as a recent version of a common web browser (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox)
Your web browser should be configured so that you can access multimedia content
online Below are links to some of the more popular browser plug-ins and helper
applications that may be downloaded for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view PDF files)
RealPlayer (to hear RealAudio and view RealVideo files) Be
sure to look for the link to the Free Real Player not the free trial version of the
version of RealPlayer you must purchase
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
The primary goal of the course is to introduce students to the collaborative process of
designing and developing a community-based educationally relevant web site Students
in this course will gain an understanding of many of the critical issues involved in
working with local organizations to design and develop a comprehensive method for
disseminating online content that will be of interest to students teachers administrators
and researchers as well as members of the general community Students in this course
will explore a wide range of topics related to the design production and evaluation of
large scale educational web projects including
Working in a collaborative environment to design and create online materials
Choosing the best technological tools to create educational web resources
Information architecture and design
How organizations determine how to present their content online
Managing project deadlines
Testing for web site usability
Understanding and planning for we site accessibility issues
Evaluation of web sites as educational resources
At the end of CUIN 7330 each student will be able to demonstrate that they can apply
appropriate technology tools and theories for enhancing their own professional learning
and productivity They will use technology in communicating collaborating conducting
research and solving problems In addition they will plan lead and participate in
activities that encourage lifelong learning and will promote equitable ethical and legal
use of computer technology Students in CUIN 7330 will continually assess their own
growth as they seek to create coherent representations of the knowledge linking new
information with existing understandings in creative meaningful ways Relevant
authentic learning tasks will be explored in a motivating learner-centered environment
Learning will be facilitated through both face-to-face and online interactions among the
classroom community To ensure that diverse student preferences for learning and
expression are honored a variety of learning modes and assessment strategies will be
utilized including whole-class discussions and debates face-to-face and online
collaborative group work individual readings and the design development and
evaluation of instructional materials situated in authentic contexts
Additionally each student should be able to demonstrate that they can use computers and
other technologies in research problem-solving and product development Students will
use a variety of media presentation and authoring packages plan and participate in team
and collaborative projects that require critical analysis and evaluation and present the
products they develop during for the course
Specific competencies for this course are aligned with the International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Facilitation Standards Activities and
assignments in this course attempt to meet the following
TF-IA Demonstrate knowledge skills and understanding of concepts related to
technology
TF-IB Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay
abreast of current and emerging technologies
TF-VA Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional
development and lifelong learning
TF-VB Continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make
informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student
learning
Attendance and Participation
Regular class attendance is expected as is appropriate and informed class participation
Because of the collaborative nature of this course students are expected to work within a
team environment where each participant contributes to the development process based
on their individual areas of expertise Students are also expected to actively participate
virtually in online discussions both with members of their own team and with other
students and facilitators in the course
Required Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course Readings for this course will come from
articles published on the web and from handouts given out in class To access the online
readings you will need to have access to a computer that is capable of connecting to the
Internet as well as a recent version of a common web browser (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox)
Your web browser should be configured so that you can access multimedia content
online Below are links to some of the more popular browser plug-ins and helper
applications that may be downloaded for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view PDF files)
RealPlayer (to hear RealAudio and view RealVideo files) Be
sure to look for the link to the Free Real Player not the free trial version of the
version of RealPlayer you must purchase
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
TF-IA Demonstrate knowledge skills and understanding of concepts related to
technology
TF-IB Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay
abreast of current and emerging technologies
TF-VA Use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional
development and lifelong learning
TF-VB Continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make
informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student
learning
Attendance and Participation
Regular class attendance is expected as is appropriate and informed class participation
Because of the collaborative nature of this course students are expected to work within a
team environment where each participant contributes to the development process based
on their individual areas of expertise Students are also expected to actively participate
virtually in online discussions both with members of their own team and with other
students and facilitators in the course
Required Materials
Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course Readings for this course will come from
articles published on the web and from handouts given out in class To access the online
readings you will need to have access to a computer that is capable of connecting to the
Internet as well as a recent version of a common web browser (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer Netscape Navigator or Mozilla Firefox)
Your web browser should be configured so that you can access multimedia content
online Below are links to some of the more popular browser plug-ins and helper
applications that may be downloaded for free
Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view PDF files)
RealPlayer (to hear RealAudio and view RealVideo files) Be
sure to look for the link to the Free Real Player not the free trial version of the
version of RealPlayer you must purchase
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
QuickTime Player (to view QuickTime movie clips and
QTVR files)
Macromedia Flash Player (to view Flash movies)
Windows Media Player 10 (to view Windows Media movie
clips and hear Windows Media audio files)
Computer Familiarity and Email Access
Regular use of a computer will be essential for this course Whether you have a computer
at home or are planning to use a computer in one of the computer labs on campus the
most important thing is to have a place you are familiar with where you can use a
computer can install software and save files Both Windows and Macintosh computers
are available in the College of Education CITE computer lab and at other labs on campus
The computers in Room 315A where our classes will be held should have all of the
software needed for this course You can find information about how to set-up an account
that will allow you to access the computers in the CITE Lab by going to the College of
Educations My Advisor system at httpmyadvisorcoeuhedu and selecting the
CreateReset Your Account link
Students enrolled in this course must also have a functioning e-mail account If you do
not already have a reliable e-mail account or are unhappy with your current e-mail
service for any reason you may apply for a free University of Houston e-mail account
Information about obtaining a UH email account may be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpemail_id=6
Required Software
You will need to purchase a copy of FrontPage 2003 for Windows for this course
The University of Houston has a Microsoft Site License for the campus One major
advantage of this license is that students are eligible to purchase some software that has
in the past only been available to faculty and staff Faculty staff and students may
purchase software for off-campus computers for the cost of approximately $700 per CD
After each product below you will find the number of CDs in parentheses More
information can be found at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=32
Software available for purchase by UH students includes
Office 2004 for Macintosh (2)
Office 2003 for Windows (3)
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
FrontPage 2003 (1)
Office XP Professional (3)
Windows XP Professional Upgrade (2)
For more information go to the UH website at
httpwwwuheduinfotechphptemplatephpsoftware_id=4
All Microsoft products are sold at the Cougar Byte the University of Houston computer
store For questions regarding purchasing call 713 743-5310 or email Charles Hoffman
Important Note You must have a Cougar 1Card to purchase these products and you will
not receive the boxed version just the software on a CD
Data Storage
Due to the large size of the projects created in this course some files you work with may
be quite large Storage space on a College of Education server will be available for
students in this course however you may also want to have your own back-up copies of
files you are using this semester Zip disks are being phased out by the CITE Lab and we
are recommending that students transfer their critical work to either recordable CDs or
other reliable large-capacity storage options such as portable external hard drives
Students are encouraged to purchase a USB Flash memory device such as the ones
shown below which make it easy to move files from one computer to another A
minimum of 512 megabytes is suggested although having more storage space is always
preferable
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Course Calendar and Class Topics
Class 1 Tuesday January 17 2006
Welcome and Introductions
Overview of the Course and the Course Website
History of CUIN 7330 Overview of Previous Web Projects
Why We Use Microsoft FrontPage in this Course
In-Class Activity Discussion of Student Needs Weekly Topics and Final
Semester Project Ideas
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o We Are the Web
httpwwwwiredcomwiredarchive1308tech_prhtml
o Seconds Out Round Two
httpeducationguardiancoukprint038585332827-10869900html
o What Is Web 20
httpwwworeillynetcomlpta6228
o E-learning 20
httpelearnmagorgsubpagecfmsection=articlesamparticle=29-1
Posting Assignment 1
o Post a message in which you introduce yourself and briefly discuss any
experience and expertise you already have in web design and
development including areas such as
1 experience using basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags
2 created a basic web page with a program like FrontPage or Dreamweaver
3 created hypertext links on a web page
4 created tables on a web page
5 created and modified graphics for a web page
6 created graphic hot spots (image maps)
7 optimized graphics for the web
8 added audio to a web page
9 added video to a web page
10 have created a blog
11 have created a webcast or podcast
12 experience using RSS
13 experience using CSS
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
14 experience using XML
15 experience using web tracking software
16 written technical information
17 written andor published in a newsletter magazine journal or book
18 created a web-based form
19 created interactive web components with JavaScript
20 created interactive web components with Authorware
21 created interactive web components with Flash
22 created database web components with ColdFusion
23 worked on a professional web project for a client
24 managed a web or other technology project
25 conducted web usability studies
26 conducted web accessibility studies
27 collectedanalyzed web usage statistics
28 have developed curriculum or lesson plans
29 have been or are currently an educatorteacherinstructor
30 any other skills you think are noteworthy that have not already been
identified
o IMPORTANT NOTE 1 There are no right or wrong answers for this
assignment--it is simply a way to gather information about where students
are in terms of their previous experiences related to website design and
working on technology projects IMPORTANT NOTE 2 Also please
include your current email address in your introduction in case there are
important messages that need to be sent to you during the semester
Posting Assignment 2
o After completing the Class One Reading Assignments on Web 20 select
at least one thing you found interesting and relevant to our in-class
discussion about the current state of the web Then post a message in
which you discuss what you found and why you feel it is relevant to our
work this semester
Hands-On Assignment 1
o As we begin thinking about the design and development of new web
projects it may be helpful to review some of the earlier web projects that
we discussed in Class One created by students in previous semesters To
review the projects go to
httpwwwcoeuheducoursescuin7330class1class1htmlprojects
Write a brief report in which you discuss at least one thing you like on one
of the sites one thing you dont like on one of the sites and one suggestion
for how something you dont like might be improved on one of these sites
Be sure to include in your report which site(s) your comments refer to and
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
which specific pages you are describing--it will be helpful to include the
URL of the pages you are discussing Be prepared to discuss your findings
in the next class
Class 2 Tuesday January 24 2006
Review Assignments from Class 1
FrontPage Basics
o Working with Graphics
o The Use of Tables and Cells
o Setting Page Properties
o Hyperlinks Anchors and Bookmarks
o Interactive Buttons and Web Components
o Thumbnail Images Image Maps and Rollover Images
In-Class Activity Hands-On Practice Using FrontPage
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Relevant Factors in the Selection of Computer Programs for Course Web
Site Design
relevant-factorspdf
o Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Web Sites
httpwwwtechsouporgprintprintpagecfmarticleid=72amptopicid=0amptyp
e=npostory
o Introduction to Usability
httpwwwusabilityfirstcomintroindextxl
Posting Assignment 3
o Next week we will begin looking at website usability In preparation for
that you should begin thinking about what specific items should be
considered as you are designing and creating web materials For this
posting assignment select a few issues that you feel are most important
and discuss how these items may affect the web materials you will be
designing this semester The list on the Class 2 webpage may be helpful as
you begin to think about all of the different components that are involved
in designing creating and evaluating the usability of a website
Hands-On Assignment 2
o Select an educationally-relevant topic and create a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some of the elements that were discussed and
demonstrated in class (such as formatted text tables graphics image
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
maps thumbnail gallery rollovers etc plus any other components you
wish to add that we have not yet covered in class) Be sure that all of the
pages contain hyperlinks so that it is easy to navigate between pages In
addition try to add a graphic identity to the pages by choosing specific
colors text styles buttons graphics and other elements that are repeated
throughout the pages--and most importantly that support the educational
theme of the pages and does not detract from the primary message your
are trying to convey through the website
o Finally save or upload these pages to your directory on the Discover
server and then submit a brief report in which you discuss the pages you
created and include the URL of your first page
Class 3 Tuesday January 31 2006
Review Assignments from Class 2
Adding Media Elements to a Web Page
o Adding Audio
o Adding Video
In-Class Activity Exploring New Web Tools
o Google Tools
o Other Search Options
o Wikipedia
o Blogs
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o If Higher Education Listened to Me
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0550pdf
Posting Assignment 4
o Conduct some research on the web to find examples of how students
andor instructors are using blogs in an educationally-meaningful way
Then post a description of what you found and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of trying to something similar at the University of Houston
Hands-On Assignment 3
o Select a topic related to some of the topics we have been discussing during
the first few weeks of this course and use at least three different Internet
search tools listed on the Class 3 webpage to search for information on
that topic Post a message that includes a description of the topic you
selected which search tools you used and discuss what you found
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
including the similarities and differences in your results Please monitor
the postings so that you do not search on the same topic as other students
Class 4 Tuesday February 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 3
Web Site Usability
In-Class Activity Finding Web Usability Examples and Non-Examples
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Lee Annes Usability Page
httpdiscoverycoeuheducuin7330spr06lakortus
o Interview with Sarah Horton (author of Access by Design A Guide to
Universal Usability for Designers)
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_horton
Comments
httpwwwdigital-webcomarticlessarah_hortoncomments
o Browser Compatibility Tutorial
httpwwwnetmechaniccombrowser-phototutorialhtm
Posting Assignment 5
o Continue examining the College of Education web site
httpwwwcoeuhedu and try to find several things that you feel could be
improved on the site This can include any of the topics we discussed in
this weeks class (the graphic look of the site the layout and categorization
of information the readability of text specific navigation options etc) or
other issues that you feel are important but were not discussed Post a
message in which you discuss your suggestions and be sure to include the
URLs of the pages you mention so that they will be easy to find
Posting Assignment 6
o Use the College of Education web sites search option
httppathfindercoeuhedu and try to locate several different pieces of
information you think current or prospective students would be looking for
and see how easy or difficult it is to find useful information on those
topics Then post a message in which you discuss what you searched for
what you found and whether or not you were satisfied with the results
Hands-On Assignment 4
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
o At this point all students should have created a series of at least 3 web
pages that contain some text images hypertext links and some type of
audio or video media For this weeks hands-on assignment you should do
one of the following
Review the web usability guidelines (found on this page andor on
the web) and then check the web pages you created to see what
modifications you can make to your pages to improve the usability
You should try to come up with at least 4 different things you can
do that will make your pages more useful and easier to navigate
or
Review the web usability guidelines (found on the Class 4
webpage andor on the web) and then check the web pages you
created to see if there are any instances where you did not adhere
to one of the principles of web usability
Then submit a brief report in which you provide specific details of
what you found and what changes you did or did not make to your
pages as well as why you made these particular decisions about
your web pages
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 5 Tuesday February 14 2006
Guest Speaker Dr Marshall Schott Director of Educational Technology and
University Outreach at UH
Review Assignments from Class 4
Real-World Web Usability
In-Class Activity Selecting Project Topics
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Usability Testing Basics
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsbrandemkt_stratprintphp826491
o One Day Usability Testing
httpwwwclickzcomexpertsarchivesebizprod_managearticlephp830
171
Posting Assignment 7
Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class regarding
the Faculty Toolkit we have been asked to develop after you have had some time
to think about the project In particular try to add to the discussion in the areas of
o The Audience - Who is the Sites Primary and Perhaps Secondary
Audiences
o The Goals of the Site - What is the Expectation of Visitors to the Site
o Best Practice in Education - Where Will These Examples Come From
o Are there Other Issues You Can Think of that Have Not Been Mentioned
You may find it helpful to review Jennifers beginning site on Podcasting as you
work on this assignment Its at
httpwwwclassuheduclassidtTutorials_HelpPodcasting
Hands-On Assignment 5
Begin working on your selected topic(s) and start conducting some research to
collect the following information
o Brief Definition - what is it
o Requirements - whats needed to use it
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
o Best Practice in Education - examples of how this technology is being
used in education
Then submit a brief report in which you include what you have found so far
that can be used to answer address these items
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 6 Tuesday February 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 5
Website Accessibility
In-Class Activity 1 Exploring Web Accessibility Tools
In-Class Activity 2 Working on the Faculty Toolkit
o Defining the Audience
o Defining the Goals of the Site
o How to Demonstrate Best Practices in Education
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Interface Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecominterfaceaccesshtml
o Page Design Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecompageaccesshtml
o Graphics Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomgraphicsaccesshtml
o Multimedia Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecommultimediaaccesshtml
o Typography Accessibility from the Web Style Guide
httpwwwwebstyleguidecomtypeaccesshtml
Posting Assignment 8
o To continue the conversation we had in this weeks class post a message
in which you discuss your reaction to the issue of website accessibility Is
it important Do we really need to pay attention to accessibility guidelines
for the University andor the state of Texas Is there more to this issue
than what we covered in class And what role should accessibility play in
our design of the Faculty Toolkit What do you think
Hands-On Assignment 6
o As we discussed in class each section of the Toolkit will include a
consistent set of drop-down menus on that sections main page Using the
menu structure of Jennifers Podcasting site as a guide begin to create an
outline of what menu items your topic should include
o Begin collecting graphics that can be used on your pages Google Image
Search and other image search engines may be a good place to look for
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
images In addition you should look at the following sites that offer free
images Creating Online at httpwwwcreatingonlinecomstock_photos
has free images for personal or commercial use and stockxchng at
httpwwwsxchu another free stock photo site
Begin creating a color scheme for your section of the Toolkit again based
on the layout of the Podcasting site That site uses a combination of 3
different colors one color for the background of the page and two darker
colors for the horizontal bands at the top and bottom of the page For this
part of the assignment select at least three different 3-color designs that
might be used in your section of the Toolkit You may wish to use the
Infohound Color Schemer (httpinfohoundnetcolour) that Lee Anne
mentioned in class or another similar resource you find
Then submit a report in which you discuss what you found and created and bring
all materials with you to class next week
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 7 Tuesday February 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 6
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Designing Menus
o Collecting amp Creating Graphics
o Defining a Color SchemeGraphic Identity
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Theres Something in the Air Podcasting in Education
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypdfERM0561pdf
Posting Assignment 9
o Post a message in which you continue the discussion we began in class
regarding copyright and educational fair use See if you can find any
examples of how other educators or educational institutions are dealing
with this issue and include the results of your investigation in your
posting
Hands-On Assignment 7
o As we discussed in class use the test-colorhtm page that was created to
develop a series of pages on your selected topic You may change the
colors of the pages to any combination you like but you should create at a
minimum a main menu page for your topic with a brief description and
either text or graphic links to the various sub-pages of your site You
should also try to locate copyright-free graphics that can be included on
your pages and replace any earlier graphics you found on non-copyright-
free web pages
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the link to your work so
that your main page and sub-pages may be viewed
Class 8 Tuesday March 7 2006
Review Assignments from Class 7
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Discussion of Content Text
o Style Sheets
o Links and Navigation
o Copyright Issues
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Reading Assignment
o Educause is a non-profit association that promotes the intelligent use of
information technology in higher education The organization publishes
EDUCAUSE Review (httpswwweducauseeduappserindexasp) a bi-
monthly magazine that includes articles on current trends and
developments in information technology on college and university
campuses
The JanuaryFebruary issue of Educause Review is online at
httpswwweducauseeduappsererm06erm061asp
Archives of articles for the past several years are available online at
httpswwweducauseeduappserarchiveasp
For this weeks reading assignment select at least one article from either the current
issue or from the archives that provides information about use of technology in higher
education especially by faculty
Posting Assignment 10
o Describe the article you read for this weeks reading assignment and
discuss your reaction to the article especially as it relates to your work on
the Faculty Toolkit project this semester
Hands-On Assignment 8
Continue working on your component of the Faculty Toolkit by completing the
following
o make sure that all of the pages on your topic are created and include
navigation links
o modify the color stylesheet to create the main page and sub-pages you will
need for your topic and finalize the colors as we went over in the class
o use and modify the menu stylesheet for the main page and sub-pages you
are creating on your topic to finalize all of the pull-down menu items
Then use the Online Submission System to submit the URLs to your site If you
are unable to upload the material to the Discovery server please bring it with you
to class so that it can be uploaded from there and submit a brief note indicating
that is what you did
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 9 Tuesday March 21 2006
Review Assignments from Class 8
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Clarifying Content Text
o More with Style Sheets
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Reading Assignments
Posting Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Posting Assignments
Hands-On Assignment
o There will be no new assignments for this week so that students will have
a chance to get caught up on assignments that have not been yet been
completed Please review the previous class web pages and make sure you
have completed all of the Hands-On Assignments
Class 10 Tuesday March 28 2006
Review Assignments from Class 9
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Questions for Our Client
o Determining a Stopping Point at Semesterlsquos End
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment Explore the following websites
o Massachusetts Institute of Technology
httpwebmiteduteachtech
o University of California Davis
httpftgucdavisedu
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
o Alleghany Community College
httpwebdevccacedutalkintoolkithtm
o University of California San Diego
httporpheusucsdedufacguideait
o Claremont McKenna College
httpitsclaremontmckennaeduFSGuide
Posting Assignment 11
o Prepare a list of questions about your section of the Faculty Toolkit for Dr
Schott who will visit our class next week
Hands-On Assignment
o This is not a graded assignment but in order for you to make progress on
your final semester project you should continue working on your
component of the Faculty Toolkit and focus on collecting content on your
topic Bring the material to class next week and we will spend time in
class modifying the content before adding it to the website
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 11 Tuesday April 4 2006
Review Assignments from Class 10
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
o Visit from Dr Schott ndash Questions from Students
Adding Audio Interviews
Other Decisions about Toolkit Format
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Balancing the Learning Equation Exploring Effective Mixtures of
Technology Teaching and Learning
httptechnologysourceorgarticlebalancing_the_learning_equation
o What is the Best Model for Producing a Technology Transformed
Faculty
httpwwweducauseeduirlibrarypowerpointSER0560pps
o Blogging as a Course Management Tool
httptechnologysourceorgarticleblogging_as_a_course_management_to
ol
o RSS The Next Killer App For Education
httptechnologysourceorgarticlerss
o Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
httpwwwmarcprenskycomwritingPrensky20-
20Digital20Natives20Digital20Immigrants20-20Part1pdf
o Overcoming Educators Digital Immigrant Accents A Rebuttal
httptechnologysourceorgarticleovercoming_educators_digital_immigr
ant_accents
Posting Assignment 12
o Review all of the components being created for the Faculty Toolkit (links
are above) and look for items that should be added to the list of
consistency standards we addressed this week Then post a message in
which you describe what you found including the specific page and
location and briefly discuss why you feel each new standard should be
implemented
Hands-On Assignment 9
o Using the Other Decisions about Toolkit Format on the Class 11 webpage
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
modify the pages you are creating so that they comply with these
standards Additionally you may make other changes to the pages based
on either material you find or that are discussed on this weeks Posting
Assignment
Class 12 Tuesday April 11 2006
Review Assignments from Class 11
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o Blogs as a Tool for Teaching
httpwwwstevendkrausecomacademickrause-blogs-chepdf
o Blogging and RSS mdash The Whats It and How To of Powerful New
Web Tools for Educators
httpwwwinfotodaycomMMSchoolsjan04richardsonshtml
o What is a News Aggregator
httpdavenetscriptingcom20021008whatIsANewsAggregator
o Blogging Clicks With Colleges - Interactive Web Pages Changing Class
Participation
httpwwwuheduednews2005wpost20050320050314wikiblogshtml
o Engines Of Our Ingenuity Podcasts
httpwwwnprorgrsspodcastpodcast_detailphpsiteId=5183222
Posting Assignment 12
o This is a continuation last weeklsquos posting assignment Continue to look for
items that should be added to the list of consistency standards we have
been discussing Then post a message in which you describe your ideas
about implementing new standards and briefly discuss why you feel each
new standard should be implemented
Hands-On Assignment 10
o Continue working on the text that will go on each page of your section of
the Toolkit We will spend time in next weeks class reviewing this
information and providing feedback on each section
Also as we discussed in this weeks class there are many interesting and
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
hopefully useful articles on the web that visitors to the Faculty Toolkit
might find interesting For this part of the assignment conduct some
research to come up with a few good articles on your topic that can be
added to an Additional Resources section of your pages Once you select
which articles you think should be included create a list that includes the
following information
Name of the Article
Name of the Author(s)
Author Affiliation (University business government agency etc)
URL of Article
A brief description (in your own words) of what the article is about
and the major points it makes
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Class 13 Tuesday April 18 2006
Review Assignments from Class 12
In-Class Activity Continued Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Reports
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Posting Assignment
o No new assignment this week
Hands-On Assignment
o Continue your work on the Faculty Toolkit
Class 14 Tuesday April 25 2006
Review Assignments from Class 13
In-Class Activity Finalizing Work on the Faculty Toolkit
Discussion of Final Semester Project Presentations
Assignments for Next Class
Reading Assignment
o None
Posting Assignment 13
o In place of the final posting assignment for this course I am asking that
you please email me (brobinuhedu) the answers to the following
questions
Question 1
What do you feel were the biggest challenges you faced while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 2
What do you feel were the greatest accomplishments you had while in the
course and while working on the project
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Question 3
What do you feel were the biggest disappointments if any you had while
in the course and while working on the project
Question 4
What were the most significant things you learned from being in the
course and from working on the project
Question 5
Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about the
course and your work on the project
Question 6
What grade do you think you deserve for your participation in this course
And if you would like to discuss why please do so
Hands-On Assignment
Try to complete work on your section of the Faculty Toolkit
Complete a brief one-two page final project report that describes your work on
the Faculty Toolkit and addresses the following elements
o What was your major goal for this project
o What tradeoffs if any did you have to make in your design
o What if anything would you do differently if you had to do it all over
again
o What work remains to be done
o What suggestions can you make that will help the next student or group of
students who will continue work on this project
Class 15 Tuesday May 2 2006
Final Project Presentations
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades for this course will be based on a 100 point system as described below
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
13 WEEKS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS -1 point for each
class discussion worth a maximum of 13 points
Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions as new topics are
introduced and weekly reading and hands-on assignments are reviewed
10 HANDS-ON ASSIGNMENTS -3 points for each hands-on assignment worth a
maximum of 30 points
Grades for the weekly assignments are based on two principal factors
(1) your knowledge and understanding of the topic as demonstrated in the completion of
the assignment and
(2) the extent to which your work takes into account the needs of the project you are
developing Please make sure that you carefully read the description of each weekly
assignment and follow all of its requirements
13 POSTING ASSIGNMENTS -1 point for each posting assignment worth a
maximum of 13 points
Student participation in online discussions is another important component of this course
So please make an effort to complete the posting assignments on a timely basis
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT -worth a maximum of
24 points
Each student will be graded on the final project component that is completed by the end
of the semester Each individual team members grade will be based on the degree to
which the work satisfies the requirements of the project as assessed by the instructor and
in meeting the requirements of the client
Final Semester Project Rubric
FINAL
PROJECT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Usability Guidelines
We Covered in the
Course
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is of
excellent quality
and needs no
further work before
it can go live
The overall
appearance
navigation
and usability
of your
section of the
website is
good but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of
your section of
the website is
fair but would
benefit from a
set of revisions
before it goes
live
The overall
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website is poor and
must have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
There are major
problems with the
appearance
navigation and
usability of your
section of the
website and the
site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Adheres to
Accessibility
Guidelines We
Accessibility
guidelines have
been used in a full
and comprehensive
Most
accessibility
guidelines
have been
Some
accessibility
guidelines have
been used in
Few accessibility
guidelines have
been used in your
section of the
There are major
problems with the
accessibility of
your section of
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Covered in the
Course
manner in your
section of the
website and it
needs no further
work before it can
go live
used in your
section of the
website but it
could be
improved with
minor
revisions
before it goes
live
your section of
the website but
would benefit
from a set of
revisions before
it goes live
website and must
have a
comprehensive set
of revisions before
it goes live
the website and
the site cannot be
improved without
a complete re-
design or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Clearly Written and
Meaningful Content
Is Included on Your
Section of the
Website
All of the content
in your section of
the website is
clearly written and
meaningful
Most of the
content in
your section
of the website
is clearly
written and
meaningful
Some of the
content in your
section of the
website is
clearly written
and meaningful
Little of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful
None of the
content in your
section of the
website is clearly
written and
meaningful or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Graphics Included
on Your Section of
the Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the graphics
in your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
graphics in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
graphics in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Multimedia
Components
Included on Your
Section of the
Website are
Meaningful of High
Quality and Have
Been Optimized for
Web Delivery
All of the
multimedia
components in your
section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
Most of the
multimedia
components in
your section
of the website
are
meaningful of
high-quality
and have been
optimized for
web delivery
Some of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for
web delivery
Few of the
multimedia
components in
your section of the
website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery
None of the
multimedia
components in
your section of
the website are
meaningful of
high-quality and
have been
optimized for web
delivery or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Meets the
Needs and
Requirements of the
Client
All of the material
in your section of
the website meets
the needs of the
client
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
meets the
needs of the
client
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to meet the
needs of the
client
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs of
the client
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
meet the needs
and requirements
of the client or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website Is
Appropriate for
Audience
All of the material
in your section of
the website is
perfectly matched
to the intended
audience
Most of the
material in
your section
of the website
is nicely
matched to the
intended
audience
Some of the
material in your
section of the
website seems
to be matched
to the intended
audience
Very little of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended audience
None of the
material in your
section of the
website seems to
be matched to the
intended
audience or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
Your Section of the
Website
Demonstrates
Creativity
Your section of the
website reflects that
you went above
and beyond the
material covered in
this course and
added major
elements to the site
that increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as a
digital resource
Your section
of the website
reflects that
you included
some
unexpected
elements to
the site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness
as a digital
resource
Your section of
the website
reflects that you
included a few
unexpected
elements to the
site that
increase its
functionality
usefulness and
overall
effectiveness as
a digital
resource
Your section of the
website has other
problems that must
be addressed
before creative
design issues can
be evaluated
Your section of
the website does
not demonstrate
any creative
thinking or no
work was
submitted
3 points 2 points 1 point 5 points 0 points
FINAL SEMESTER PROJECT PRESENTATION AND REPORT -worth a
maximum of 20 points
Students will be graded on their ability to describe their individual contribution to the
overall project in a written final project report In addition students will be graded on a
final project presentation to the class outlining the results of their work in a thorough and
professional manner
Final Semester Project Presentation and Report Rubric
PROJECT
REPORT Excellent Proficient Average Poor No Credit
The Project Report
Describes the
Purpose of the Final
Project
The report is well
organized very
well written and
describes the
purpose of the
project in a
thorough and
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
purpose of the
project
The report
describes the
general purpose
of the project in
an adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the purpose of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the purpose or
report is not
submitted
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
thoughtful manner
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Process of Creating
the Final Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
process of creating
the project in a
thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
major points
of the process
of creating the
project
The report
describes the
process of
creating the
project in an
adequate
manner
The report only
partially describes
the process of the
project andor there
are inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the process or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
The Project Report
Describes the
Challenges Faced in
Creating the Final
Project
The report is well
organized clearly
written and
describes the
challenges faced in
creating the project
in a thorough and
meaningful
manner
The report is
well written
and clearly
describes the
challenges
faced in the
project
The report
describes the
challenges
faced in
creating the
project
The report only
partially describes
the challenges
faced in creating
the project andor
there are
inaccuracies or
major oversights in
the document
No attempt is
made to describe
the challenges or
report is not
submitted
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
The Final Semester
Project is Presented
to the Class in a
Professional and
Thorough Manner
The presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and all
elements of the
project are clearly
explained All
questions about the
project are
answered in a
thoughtful and
professional way
The
presentation is
conducted in a
professional
manner and
most elements
of the project
are explained
Some
questions
about the
project are
clearly
answered but
not all
The
presentation is
conducted in an
adequate
manner and
some elements
of the project
are clearly
explained but
not all
Questions about
the project are
only briefly
answered
The presentation is
conducted in a
careless manner
andor most
elements of the
project are not
clearly explained
Questions about
the project are only
briefly answered
There are major
problems with the
presentation or it
is not done
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point 0 points
Factors that May Affect Your Grade
The punctuality with which you complete assignments is a considerable factor in your
grade for this course and assignments are expected to be completed on time and
submitted by the due date as indicated on the weekly class web pages Penalties for late
assignments will be assessed
Also be advised that the instructor will not continually prompt you to catch up when you
fall behind Collaborative project-based courses such as this one offer students a unique
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
opportunity to work on real projects and interact with real clients As such there are real
deadlines and real items that students agree to deliver the same as in an actual
employment situation In exchange for this opportunity students assume a greater
responsibility to be self-motivated and organized and when working as part of a
collaborative team carry their fair share of the workload
Feedback from the Instructor During the semester the instructor will offer feedback on submitted assignments Some
of the feedback will be in person via e-mail or in some cases as part of the in-class
discussion Some of this feedback will be through general observations about the material
submitted by everyone Other feedback will be more individualized and will principally
be in response to each students or student teams work on their project component In
addition students are invited to request additional feedback when questions or difficulties
with your project arise or if you have any questions or concerns about the course
Problems that May Occur in the Course
Students do not follow the assignment instructions Please read the assignment
instructions carefully If you have any questions about what is required please
contact the instructor for clarification
Students find it difficult to catch up if they fall behind Keep in mind that the
semester may seem long but in reality the time goes by very quickly This course
is based on real work for real clients with real deadlines It will require a great
deal of work on your part as do many graduate level courses Incomplete grades
are not normally given at the end of the semester It is expected that all work
negotiated with the client and approved by the instructor will be completed by the
end of the semester
Work that is submitted at the last minute usually negatively impacts the
quality of the work and thus negatively affects the grade
Unanticipated events occur that may limit the amount of time a student can spend
working on assignments If this occurs students should communicate with the
instructor as soon as possible to determine a workable solution
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally students enter a course thinking that they can take an incomplete if they
decide they will not be able to complete the course requirements on time Keep in mind
the University of Houston guidelines regarding a grade of incomplete state ―The grade
of Ilsquo is a conditional temporary grade given when the student is passing a course but for
reasons beyond his or her control has not completed a relatively small part of his or her
requirements A more complete description of these guidelines can be found at the back
of each semesters class schedule booklet Please remember that after one year a grade of
I in a course automatically becomes an F if the unfinished work has not been
completed If you have any questions please contact the instructor for more information
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
All students in this course must abide by the University of Houston Academic Honesty
Policy which is described in the University of Houston Student Handbook at
httpwwwuhedudoshdbkacadachonpolhtml
This policy defines academic dishonesty as Employing a method or technique or
engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is
not permitted by the university or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements
Students are expected to do complete and submit own original work Plagiarism is a
serious offense and students in this course as in all IT courses face serious consequences
if they submit work that is not their own If you are uncertain about what does or does not
constitute as plagiarism please discuss your concerns with the instructor
The University of Houston currently has an institutional license for Turnitincom a
plagiarism detection software program that may be used by the instructor in this course
Turnitincom assists faculty in detecting work that has been plagiarized from Internet
sources or from other students enrolled in the same course More information about
Turnitin is avaiable online at httpwwwturnitinorgstatictourtour_masterhtml
Violations of the University of Houston Academic Honesty Policy may result in failure
of an individual assignment andor referral to the department chair for consideration of
additional action which may include failure of the course and suspension from the
university
Student Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that the university make
reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities as defined in the act Students
who feel they need assistance under the ADA guidelines should approach the instructor
to discuss such consideration early in the semester When possible and in accordance
with 504ADA guidelines we will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them Please call the UH Center for
Students with DisABILITIES at 7137435400 for more assistance (See
httpwwwuheducsd)
Standards Course
Objectives
Instruction and
Activities
Assessment Assessment
Criteria
Evidence that
the Standard
has been Met
TF-IA Demonstrate
knowledge
skills and
understanding
of concepts
related to
technology
Students gain a
solid
foundation in
the following
areas working
in a
collaborative
group
Class Lectures
and
Demonstrations
Participation in
Weekly Class
Discussions
including
Weekly
Hands-On
Assignments
Weekly Posting
Assignments
Completion of
See Grading
Criteria for
Hands-On
Assignments
See Grading
Criteria for
Posting
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for attending
class and
participating in
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation
TF-IB
Demonstrate
continual
growth in
technology
knowledge and
skills to stay
abreast of
current and
emerging
technologies
TF-VA Use
technology
resources to
engage in
ongoing
professional
development
and lifelong
learning
TF-VB
Continually
evaluate and
reflect on
professional
practice to
make informed
decisions
regarding the
use of
technology in
support of
student
learning
choosing the
best
technological
tools to create
educational
web resources
understanding
how
organizations
determine how
to present their
content online
managing
project
deadlines for a
client testing
for website
usability and
accessibility
and evaluating
web sites as
useful
educational
resources
Discussion of
Weekly
Readings amp
Review of
Hands-On and
Posting
Assignments
Continuous
assessment and
feedback from
instructor on
weekly
assignments
the Final
Semester
Project
Final Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Assignments
See Final
Semester
Project Plan
Script and
Storyboard
Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project Rubric
See Final
Semester
Project
Presentation
and Report
Rubric
class
discussions
85 of
students will
receive
between 24
and 30 points
for completing
weekly Hands-
On
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 10
and 13 points
for completing
weekly Posting
Assignments
85 of
students will
receive
between 18
and 24 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project
85 of
students will
receive
between 16
and 20 points
for completing
the Final
Semester
Project Report
and
Presentation