CIW Web Design Specialist

288 Hours/12 Months/Instructor Support

Course Overview:

The Web Design Specialist course (formerly titled Design Methodology and Technology) teaches you how to design and publish Web sites. General topics include Web Site Development Essentials (such as the site development process, customer expectations, and ethical and legal issues in Web development), Web Design Elements (such as aesthetics, the site user's experience, navigation, usability and accessibility), Basic Web Technologies (such as basic Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Extensible HTML (XHTML) and extended technologies, image files, GUI site development applications, site publishing and maintenance) and Advanced Web Technologies (such as multimedia and plug-in technologies, client-side and server-side technologies, and Web databases).

The initial part of your training will be online. Students will take 240 hours of the following instructor-led courses: HTML Introduction, User Friendly Web Design, Building Accessible Web Sites, Building Interactive Websites with CSS DHTML and Ajax, Microsoft Expression Web, Dreamweaver Introduction, Dreamweaver Advanced, Adobe Fireworks, and Flash Introduction

In the self-study portion of this course, you will work with popular production tools such as Microsoft Expression Web, and Adobe Dreamweaver and Flash. You will study design and development technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Extensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript, Java applets, Dynamic HTML, plug-ins, multimedia and databases. You will also explore the extensibility of design tools, incompatibility issues surrounding these tools, and the functionality of current Web browsers.

Web Design Specialist will also teach you to manage the Web site development process. You will learn about new technologies and traditional strategies involving the Web designer job role. Throughout this course, you will learn how Web sites are developed as managed projects, relate Web site development to business goals, and apply guidelines for user accessibility to Web site development. You will also consider site design from several perspectives. You will approach design from the Web user's perspective so that you can identify with user interests and needs. You will also assume the roles of Web designer and project manager, as you work through the Web site development process by evolving a Web presence site into a working prototype Web project. Hands-on labs include real-world scenarios based on a previously live version of the Habitat for Humanity International Web site. Note that students will build prototype pages using Habitat for Humanity content. This content is provided by Habitat for Humanity with
permission to use it in labs teaching site development skills. The prototype pages that students build do not necessarily represent, duplicate or simulate the current live Habitat for Humanity Web site, which can be visited at www.habitat.org.

For a schedule of start dates, please visit; http://protrain.continuetolearn.com/#

Course Outline:

HTML/XHTML Introduction:

This class is a must for anyone who will be building web pages. Although there are many graphical applications that can be used to build web pages, anyone who is serious about building high-quality web sites will need a strong understanding of HTML. All web pages are built using HTML. Students will create web pages by hand by typing HTML code to add structure and formatting to the web pages. Students will add graphics, formatting using Cascading Style Sheets, and interactivity using JavaScript. HTML is being upgraded to XHTML, so students will be learning the next generation of web design. No software is needed.

Objectives:

Students will be able to create a basic HTML document using a text editor and validate it against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes headings, paragraphs, ordered lists and unordered lists that validates against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes links to documents, images and web sites that validates against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes a table for data and a table for layout that validates against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes at least two frames that validates against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes a form and form fields that validates against XHTML standards.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create a web page that include an image and a multimedia object.
Using a text editor, students will be able to format web pages using Cascading Stylesheets.
Using a text editor, students will be able to include JavaScript code in their web pages.
Using a text editor, students will be able to create an HTML document that includes validates against XHTML standards and accessibility standards.

User Friendly Web Design

Have you found the perfect link, then it doesn't work or you get a 'Page Not Found' error? When creating or updating your web site, it is important to make sure it is user friendly. Visitors should be able to find what they need quickly and easily. Learn to create easy to follow, user friendly navigation links, check your site regularly and how to develop a quality site map which can help users quickly find any page in your web site. Make your website visitors experience a good one and they will be sure to come back for more, as well as referring others and possibly linking to you.

Objectives:

Getting familiar with your online classroom, how it works and how to get the most out of it.
Examine and learn more about the user experience when online.
Learn the importance of good web site navigation. The quality of the links on your web site, make a huge difference in offering a positive user friendly experience.
Examine the importance of creating user friendly web sites, from the home page and the linking system to the site map page.
Getting the most out of your web site, from deciding who it is being created for to making the checkout process as easy as possible and writing for the web are covered in this lesson.
This lesson is an overall review of user friendly web design including tips regarding everything covered so far as well as information about proper use of color on a site.

Building Accessible Web Sites

Create pages that are section 508 compliant. Students will learn about page layout, HTML options, tag attributes and other requirements that will help to make their pages accessible to all users. Students will need to download a trial version of a screen reader so they can experience how their pages are "viewed" by the visually impaired.

Objectives

Students will identify accessibility concerns for building web pages.
Students will use various assistive technologies to view their web pages.
Students will identify guidelines for building accessible web sites.
Students will identify sources of information on website accessibility.

Building Interactive Websites with CSS DHTML and Ajax

Even with high speed internet connections becoming more the norm, the demand is still for faster, more responsive web pages. Ajax allows you to send information to the server and refresh the content on the page without having to resubmit the entire page. In combination with CSS and JavaScript, Ajax allows you to create interactive web pages that look great and respond to the user quickly. This course will cover the basics of CSS, DHTML with JavaScript and Ajax. Knowledge of HTML is a must. You will need a tool for creating web pages. Many are available for free.

Objectives

Students will create a web page using CSS formatting.
Students will add use CSS to add text formatting to their web pages.
Students will use CSS to add layout formatting to their web pages.
Students will use CSS to add formatting to tables and lists.
Students will add DHTML to their web pages.
Students will use DHTML to learn about the browser, events and objects on the web page.
Students will use DHTML to change the CSS dynamically on their web pages.
Students will add Ajax to make their web pages dynamic.
Students will use CSS, DHTML and Ajax to build dynamic web pages.
Students will create a final project to show what they learned in the class.
Microsoft Expression Web:

Create a website for your business, organization or for your family in this website development course. This class will give you a working knowledge of Microsoft Expression Web. During this class you will create web pages that contain text, graphics, tables and lists. You will learn how to use hyperlinks and hotspots. You will create styles and layouts with CSS. You will create interactive behaviors and forms. You will complete the class in a website that is ready to publish.

Objectives:

Students will explore the Expression Web interface.
Students will create will create basic web pages and web sites from scratch and from templates.
Students will add text and learn to use formatting tools.
Students will learn to add graphics and links to their web pages.
Students will add interactive buttons, popup and status bar messages as well as jump menus to their sites.
Students will add tables, frames and borders to their sites.
Students will add forms to their sites.
Students will integrate styles and layouts into their sites.
Students will get their sites ready for publishing to the web.
Students will add finishing touches to their website.

Dreamweaver Introduction:

At the end of this class students will be able to create and manage web sites using Adobe Dreamweaver. Students will insert pictures and media objects into web pages. Students will use Cascading Style Sheets to format web pages. Students will use layers and tables for designing layout for pages. Students will manage sites using Dreamweaver's site management tools. Students will need a copy of Dreamweaver. A 30-day evaluation version is available.

Objectives:

Student will define a Dreamweaver site and create basic web page.
Students will create a page layout for a web page.-
Students will manage cascading styles sheets in their Dreamweaver projects.-
Students will create a template for their Dreamweaver website.
Students will add text and images to their web pages in Dreamweaver.
Students will add navigation and interactivity to their web pages in Dreamweaver.
Students will add Flash animation to a web page and design forms.
Students will create a website that uses data from a database.
Students will publish their websites to a web server.
Students use Dreamweaver and the skills learned in this class to create a web site.

Adobe Fireworks:

Fireworks are Adobe's tool for creating and editing images for websites. Students will learn how to edit Bitmap images, how to create Vector graphics using the vector editing tools, create and format text objects and how to optimize images for web pages. Students will also prototype a website in Fireworks. Students will need a copy of Fireworks. A 30-day trial is available.

Objectives:

Students will identify features of the Fireworks interface.
Students will use Fireworks' editing tools to edit bitmap images.
Students will select and edit parts of their images in Fireworks.
Students will create vector images using Fireworks' vector drawing tools.
Students will add masks to layers in their Fireworks projects.
Students will add text and format it in Fireworks.
Students will optimize images and prepare the image to be exported for web layout.
Students will create graphic, button and animation symbols in Fireworks.
Students will use Fireworks to prototype a website.
Students will use what they have learned in Fireworks to create a final project.

Flash Introduction

Students will create vector graphics using Flash's drawing tools. Students will create basic animations using motion and shape tweening. Students will create interactive Flash projects using ActionScript. Students will create a web-based application that reads from files and links to other pages. Students will create accessible content using Flash. Students will import sound and video into their Flash animations. Students will need a copy of Flash. A 30-day trial is available.

Objectives:

Students will identify objects created by Flash and identify the tools in the Flash application by name.
Students will create graphics and symbols in Flash.
Students will create basic animations in Flash.
Students will animate using shape tweens and inverse kinematics in Flash.
Students will use ActionScript to create interactive Flash animations.
Students will add and format text in a Flash animation.
Student will add sound and video to their Flash animations.
Students will include external content in their Flash animation projects.
Students will publish and optimize their Flash animation projects.
Students will create a final project in Flash using what they have learned.

Dreamweaver Advanced

During this course students will learn to build data-driven websites using Dreamweaver. The course starts with an introduction to the features of Dreamweaver that work with server-side scripting. Students will configure Dreamweaver to work with PHP and MySQL. Students will create a MySQL database and use Server Behaviors to display and update data. Students should be familiar with creating web pages with Dreamweaver. Students will need a copy of Dreamweaver and a webserver that supports PHP.

Objectives

Students will set up Dreamweaver for development with PHP.
Students will create web pages with basic PHP commands.
Students will create a database to use with web sites.
Students will create PHP pages in Dreamweaver using Server Behaviors.
Students will write PHP code to validate data on the server.
Students will write PHP code to send email and upload files.
Students will write PHP code to insert, update and delete records in multiple tables.
Students will use Ajax to make their pages dynamic.
Students will deploy their sites to the live server.
Students will create a final project using what they learned in the course.

Key Features & Benefits:

Supplemental Materials include the following: Lab files used to complete the course labs, handouts, answers to student exercises and quizzes, appendixes with related information
Includes an Exam Study Guide
Convenient 24x7 online access to live labs, review quizzes, exercises, practice exams, and movie clips.

Recommended System Requirements:

You can be a PC user to take our courses. You'll need a Pentium II with Internet connection and a web browser (Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher).
Basic dial-up Internet access is adequate but a high speed connection is recommended.
Depending upon the course taken by you, you can either download the free trial versions of the software from the respective sites (the links of which are displayed on our Webpages of that particular course) or you can purchase the
software from the respective software sites.
Intel® Pentium® 166 MHz processor or greater
64 MB RAM minimum, 128 MB recommended
Minimum video resolution of 800x600, with 16-bit color
Internet Connection
Connection speed of 40 Kbps minimum, 56 Kbps recommended
Windows® 95, 98, 2000, NT or XP
Valid Email address
Supported browser versions: Internet Explorer (5x - 6x), Netscape Communicator 4.7 - 7.2
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