Home | Syllabus | Class Gallery | Message Board | Grades | FAQ
Assignments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Resources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

HTML 1 - Assignment 1

Welcome! This week you will familiarize yourself with the class web site, critique a web site, and get prepared to upload your first web page (next week.) Here is a list of the week's assignments:

  • check-in - 2 pts.
  • introduce yourself on the message board - 3 pts.
  • write a web site critique - 5 pts.
  • obtain your student server account - 2 pts.
  • download file transfer software - 3 pts.

Preparation:

  1. Online Lecture:

    I use software called Elluminate, provided to all the California community colleges free of charge, to record my lectures. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done. After this first week you will be able to participate during the recording if you like. To view the online lectures, you simply click on the links provided each week. There is a process you have to go through each time you use Elluminate. After you click on the link, you will have to agree to download the necessary software. I would like to give you specific instructions on what to do, but every browser has a different sequence of steps, so just agree to everything that is asked of you and trust the process. Within a minute or less the Elluminate interface will appear and you will be able to view the lecture.

    Note that you can pause the lecture, adjust the volume, and even move to a different part of the lecture using the "scrub" tool on the timeline. Rather than use the timeline, however, it works a little better to use the bookmarks I have included whenever I start a new topic. The bookmarks are accessed by clicking on the down arrow alongside the words at the very bottom of the screen - then choose "Show Recording Index". Whenever you see an entry named Custom, in the details you will see a label that I add to describe the topic at that point in the recording.

    Every once in a while a student will have trouble downloading the software. The problem is almost always because your computer does not have the proper version of Java. Click on the Support button for Help. If you can't get the problem resolved, please email me, come and see me during my office hours, or attend my face-to-face meeting for online students on Tuesday, January 25th from 3:30-5:00 in Maggini 2812.

    HTML 1, Week 1 - Class Orientation
    HMTL 1, Week 1 - World Wide Web Basics
    HTML 1, Week 1 - Downloading SSH/FTP Software for PC Users
    HTML 1, Week 1 - Downloading FTP Software for Mac Users (recording is from last fall but the process has not changed)

  2. Text - No reading required this week, but you might want to get a head start by reading the Intro and Chapter 1.

  3. Week 1 Handout - Helpful Hints When Working on the Web

  4. WWW Basics - PowerPoint presentation covered in online lecture (.pdf format)
    WWW Basics - PowerPoint presentation covered in online lecture (.txt format - accessible)

    Note: my handouts and PowerPoint presentations have been converted to .pdf and .txt format so that everyone can easily view them. If the PDF link does not automatically open the file for you, you should download the most recent version of the free Adobe Reader. Click here to be connected to the download site.

For Credit: (15 points total)

  1. Check in - 2 points

    The easiest way for me to develop and maintain a class mailing list is for you to "check in" to the class through the CATE system that is maintained by the college. Please check for your section number first and then go to either:
    Section 5398 or
    Section 5399
    scroll to the bottom, and click on the "Class check-in page" link. During this process you are required to make up a username and password. Don't strain your brain thinking up good ones because they will never be used again. I don't use the other parts of the CATE system for my HTML classes.

  2. Introduce yourself - 3 points

    Click on the "Message Board" link at the top of the page. I am sharing the message board with many other instructors from the Computer Studies department, and you can read posts on any of the boards, but you have to register in order to post messages. You register only once, setting up a username and password. IMPORTANT -you must use a username that I will recognize if you want credit for your posts, first and last name in is your best bet. This process places a cookie on your computer that recognizes you the next time you access the Message Board. However, if you use a different computer, you will have to log in using the username and password you used to register.

    Go to the HTML section toward the bottom of the page and be sure and select the CS 50.11A link that has Massell listed as moderator. You will see the first topic, "Week 1 - Introductions". If you click on that link you will see my message and any others that have been posted in response. At the end of the postings you will find a box ready for you to post your own introduction - if you have registered. You can talk about your work, your computer experience, why you are interested in learning HTML, etc. -- whatever you would like your classmates to know about you. For full credit you must write at least three sentences.

  3. Critique a web site - 5 points
    1. Go to the following URL:

      http://www.santarosa.edu/~lhemenw/busweb/examples-main.shtml

    2. You will see that this is a page that displays links to web sites that SRJC students have made. Look at several of the web sites that are linked to from this page, pick a site that interests you, and write responses to the following questions. (One word or short phrase answers will result in less than full credit. Let me hear what you think about the site.)

      Name of site:

      URL of site:

      Do the pages load quickly?

      Is information concise and easy to read?

      Is site easy to navigate?

      Are pages interesting? Why or why not?

      Do the graphics and colors enhance or detract from the site?

      Would you understand the site if the graphics were missing?

      Any other comments?

    3. Submit your work to me in an email, and remember to copy and paste your write-up into the body of the email because I accept no attachments. Use "HTML 1 1.3" (week 1, assignment 3) as the subject. Be sure to include your name in the body of the email, and mail it to cmassell@santarosa.edu.

  4. Establish your account on the student server - 2 points

    The name of the server to which we will be uploading our web sites is "student". You must upload the pages that you will be creating in this class to this server. In order to establish your account, go to http://student.santarosa.edu, click on the "Application for Student Account" link, and follow the instructions. Your account should be automatically established immediately upon completion of the application.

    Note on Usernames and Passwords:
    1. You will be told what your username is when your account is created. Normally your username is your first initial and last name, lower case, up to a total of eight characters. If you have a common last name, you may get a slightly different username.
    2. Your password is your first and last initials, capitalized, and the last five digits of your Social Security number (not your student id.)
    3. This is your REAL username and password. Don't confuse them with the username and password you established for the Message Board.

    When your account has been established, send me an email with the subject "HTML 1 1.4". In the body of the email simply type your account username and your password. I must have your username in order to set up the Class Gallery (so we can see each others' work), but some people do not like to reveal their passwords, and I respect that. The only reason I ask for it is that having the password handy allows me to troubleshoot more quickly. Frequently I need to look at the files you have on the server in order to figure out why something isn't working.

  5. Download and install the required ftp/ssh software - 3 points

    Note: The online lecture will help you with this step. It's easy if you've downloaded software before but intimidating if you haven't.

    You'll need to download two applications onto your computer in order to be able to accomplish two important tasks: (1) you'll need an "ssh" application so that you'll be able to configure your account on the student server so that it can serve as your web site, and (2) you'll need "ftp" software so that you'll be able to move your web pages from your local computer over to the student server. Note that task (1) will only need to be performed once at the beginning of the class, whereas task (2) will be done each time you want to make a change to your web site or upload a new file.

    Don't worry if it seems like we're getting ahead of ourselves here. For this week I just want you to get these applications on your computer so that you'll be all ready to roll next week.

    When you have finished downloading your applications, send me an email with the subject "HTML 1 1.5". In the body, just type the words "download successful" and your name.

    Windows Users: If you use the following link, both applications will be downloaded to your computer in a single download. Click here, SSH Secure Shell Client for Windows, and you will be asked to save the file. This downloads the software to your computer, either on the desktop or in your downloads folder, depending on how your computer is set up. When you double-click on the .exe file, an iinstallation wizard will open and take you through the process of installing the 2 applications. Unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise, you should just click on the "next" or "yes" button at each step. When the wizard finishes, you will see two new icons on your desktop, one labelled "SSH Secure Shell Client" and one labeled "SSH Secure File Transfer". You're done, so send me an email!

    Mac Users: (These instructions assume you are using OS X. If you are still using OS 9, please let me know.) You do not need to download an ssh application because you can use the application named "Terminal" that is already on your computer (more about this in Week 2). For ftp we will be using an application named "Fugu". To download this application, go to http://rsug.itd.umich.edu/software/fugu/download.html, and then click on the link "Fugu-1.2.0-English.dmg". If you are asked whether to open or save the file, choose "save". After this, you may have to double click on the icon that was downloaded, or it may open automatically, depending on how your computer is configured. In either case, you'll have to select "agree", and then the icon for Fugu will appear on your desktop. You should probably move it to your Applications folder, and also to your dock.

    Let me repeat myself for emphasis: When you have finished downloading your applications, send me an email with the subject "HTML 1 1.5". In the body, just type the words "download successful" and your name.

    Note: if you already have FTP software that you use and are comfortable with, you may use that software instead. However, note that the student server accepts only secure connections. If you aren't sure if your FTP software is secure, you should download the recommended software. Also, if you use your own software, I won't be able to support you if something goes wrong. If you decide not to download the recommended applications, just type "using alternative FTP software" instead of "download successful" in the body of your email.

Return to Top

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict