Joining an online class can be a bit overwhelming, this page was created to give you a guideline for how this online class works, and what to do the first week.
Step 1: Get your materials
The class textbook is : Stylin' with CSS:
A Designer's Guide (2nd Edition) (Paperback) by Charles Wyke-Smith (Author). amazon link
Required DVD: Online student are required to purchase a DVD or use the one in the Santa Rosa or Petaluma lab. Classroom students do not need to use the DVD.
The DVD has video demonstrations and written instructions for each lesson within the course. The name of the DVD is Cascading Style Sheets, and is self-published by Linda Hemenway. It can be purchased at CCNow - buy DVD online, or in the campus bookstores. When at the bookstore you need to ask for the DVD, it won't be displayed on the shelf.
Step 2: Visit the class Web site
The URL is http://www.santarosa.edu/~lhemenw/css
Once you have found this page bookmark the following pages:
home page, assignment page, grades page
You also need to read over the syllabus and the getting started page.
Step 3: Submit your week 1 homework
The following assignments are due the first week of class:
check in part 1 - using this form you will create a username and password which you will use all semester to submit homework and check your grades
check in pt 2 - by completing this form you will introduce yourself to the class so we can all begin to get to know each other
download - First locate an HTML Editor, software which I recommend include: Notepad (Windows), HomeSite (Windows) Dreamweaver (both), TextEdit (Mac), BBedit (Mac).
Next you need to obtain an account on the SRJC Web server "student". Many of you may already have an account on this server. To check click here. If you have an account, great, if you do not you can begin the process of getting an account by the student account request form. Detailed instructions regarding how to get and use a "student" account can be found on the class DVD in the "Begin" lesson.
Now you need to obtain FTP software, I recommend SSH Client for Windows users and Fugu for Mac users. See the DVD "Begin" lesson for instructions on how to obtain this software.
Finally everyone needs to download the Web Browser "Firefox". We will be using this browser to view the web pages which are styled using CSS. We will also use Internet Explorer, after the first 8 weeks of the class have passed. Firefox does a better job of interpreting CSS code so we will use it in the begriming of the class.
After you have located an HTML Editor, obtained a student account, obtained FTP software and downloaded Firefox fill out the form listed above to receive points for this assignment.
Step 4 - Read my description of a "typical" week.
I will send out 2-3 email messages per week, please check your email daily to ensure that you are reading the class email and understanding the class expectations.
I typically send out a note on Monday explaining what is happening in the coming week.
Work is typically due on Wednesday. I try to send out an email reminder about the upcoming homework on Tuesday or Wednesday, but may not remember that every week.
Once the work is graded (within 3-5 days) I send out a note announcing that the gradebook has been updated. It is the student's responsibility to send me an email if your work was not graded, if late work needs to be graded, or if you have a question about your grade.
Step 5 - Read my recommendations for succeeding online
Here is a chart which shows the reading and DVD lessons that are used each week:
Week 1 - TEXT- no reading || DVD - begin lesson
Week 2 - TEXT- Chapter 1 XHTML Giving Structure to Content || DVD - XHTML lesson
Week 3 - TEXT- "How CSS Works" pages
28 - 45 || DVD
- CSS
[pages - 3 types of styles
- cascade sampler ]
Week 4 - TEXT- "How CSS
Works" pages 45 - 64 || DVD
- CSS
[pages universal selector
- upload & validate]
Week 5 - TEXT- "Stylin Fonts & Text" || DVD - Font and Text lessons
Week 6 - TEXT- Positioning Elements || DVD - position [pt1] lesson
Week 7 - TEXT no reading || DVD - position [pt2] lesson
week 8 - midterm
Week 9 - Tools TEXT- no reading || DVD - tools lesson
Week 10- TEXT - Basic Layout (pgs 136-158) || DVD - layout [pt1] lesson
Week 11 - TEXT no reading || DVD - layout [pt2] lesson
Week 12 - TEXT- Basic Layout (pgs 158 - 173) || DVD - layout [pt3] lesson
Week 13 - TEXT no reading || DVD - CSS layout lesson
Week 14 - TEXT Creating Interface Components || DVD - Tables & Forms lesson
Week 14-16 - TEXT- Creating Interface Components || DVD list navigation and pop down lessons
Week 17 - TEXT - no reading || DVD adv. navigation lesson
Week 18 Final Projects shared