Scheduled Course Offerings
Fall 2008
Course Description
This course provides students with the skills to develop content for mobile devices (cell phones, PDAs, etc.) using wireless markup language (WML) and handheld style sheets. Particular emphasis is given to designing for small screens, including interface design, usability, and aesthetic style.
This is an advanced web design class. You should complete DMA C111 and DMA C117 before enrolling in this course. To do well in this class you should plan to dedicate between 8-12 hours per week to class activities, homework, and assignments (This assumes a 16-week Fall or Spring semester. Summer semesters are of a shorter duration, which increases the weekly workload.)
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful complete of this course, the student will be
able to:
- Develop and validate mobile content according to XHTML, CSS, and WML standards. This will be assessed with a project, scored by a rubric.
- Design and develop visually attractive, usable, and accessible mobile content that accommodates the screen sizes and hardware interfaces of mobile devices. This will be assessed with a project, scored by a rubric.
- Use Adobe Device Central to test mobile content. This will be assessed with a project, scored by a rubric.
Course Requirements
Students must have their textbook(s) and software the first day of class. If you anticipate any shipment delays from a particuluar retailer, you should find an alternate source that has the product in stock and ships overnight.
Requisite Skills
This is an entry-level course. No previous knowledge of HTML or Dreamweaver is required. Students should have strong skills in computer and internet use, however. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- opening, saving, and managing files and directories
- installing software, plug-ins, and fonts
- troubleshooting operating system errors
- navigating the Web
- researching the Web
- sending and receiving e-mail with attachments
Take this quiz to see if you are ready for an online course.
Textbook
- Studio 7.5 (2005). Designing for small screens. London: Ava Publishing.
Software
- Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 Software
If you plan to complete the Web Design certificate or degree, purchasing one of the Adobe Creative Suite packages is a better value to obtain all the software you'll need. (purchase into)
System and Connectivity Requirements
Minimum System Requirements (based on Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium. The Master Collection, which includes motion graphics and video applications has more stringent requirements.) Both Windows and Macintosh platforms are acceptable.
Students can successfully complete the course with dial-up internet connectivity. However, if students wish to participate in optional weekly live presentations, they should have access to DSL connectivity or faster. If you don't have this at home, accessing these demonstrations at a public or school library might be a viable option.
Assignments
An online class entails 4 required asynchronous student activities:
- Completing textbook reading assignments
- Reading text-based lectures
- Completing tutorials, quizzes, assignments, and project
- Participating on the class discussion board, including several collaborative critiques
An optional synchronous activity is also available:
- BreezeLive presentations. See the course syllabus for scheduled times.
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