Computer Applications and Web Design

While I'm Away This Week and Website Requirement Revision

2010-01-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

You are to be working your website while I am away this week.
I have made some revisions to your website requirements due to the fact that we have had some of our class time cut short with the film crew last week and the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday next week.
You are now required to have a minimum of 250 words per web page.
YOUR WEBSITE IS NOW DUE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH.

Vote for My Friend Peter Darchuk

2010-01-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have been friends with Peter Darchuk since High School. Peter and I began 'The Danny Nutter Show', a public access variety show in Seattle, for 2 years. He has since moved on to L.A. to begin his film career and is currently enrolled in the Ultimate Filmmaker Competition.

I would appreciate you voting on this after we watch it this morning, and please send it on to any friends or family to have them vote on it as well.

Click HERE to watch and vote.

Your Website Project and the Rest of the Semester

2010-01-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

For the rest of the semester you are to be working on making your website the best it can be. If you finish early, make a copy of your website project and make changes to your pages, to see how a different version of it might look.
This could yield some more attractive results and I will give you extra credit for making these changes and experimenting with new design methods on your final website.
Your website is due by Monday, January 25th.

Storyboarding Your Website

2009-11-20T11:52:00.001-08:00

Do NOT take this process lightly!!!
It is very important, and a REQUIREMENT, that you carefully plan out and storyboard EACH of the 9 (minimum) web pages for your website.
With the exception of your Homepage, EACH of your web pages must have a minimum of 400 words of textual element on the page.
You must be able to inform the users of your website. Pictures and graphics do not do this alone. You must find relevant information that pertains to each of your 8 subtopics, and use this information on your webpages.
EACH of your web pages also must use a table AND contain a minimum of 4 images on all 9 web pages.
Today, if you have finished your previous 'Shoes' website assignment, and I have checked you off, begin to look online for images and information regarding your website.
Create a 'Root Folder' in Dreamweaver for your website, along with an 'Assests' folder to place photos and graphic files into.
You can begin to gather and save any relevant information into a 'Word' or 'Text Edit' document. Also, you can begin to save photos and images into the 'Assets' folder in preparation for building your website.

YOU CANNOT BEGIN TO BUILD YOUR WEBSITE UNTIL I HAVE CHECKED OFF ALL 9 STORYBOARDS!

Creating a Linked Page for Your 'Shoes' Website

2009-11-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

You will be required to create a linked web page from your 'Shoes' homepage.
You will pick one pair of shoes from the brand of shoes that you've chosen for your 'Shoes' website.
In your Navigation Area on your Homepage, you will create a link to this 2nd web page.
Your second web page will be required to have the following elements:

1. A Header at the top of the web page.
2. A Navigation Area that is in the same location as your 'Shoes' Homepage.
3. At least 3 photos, or graphic images.
4. You must include upwards of 100 words of information regarding the Shoes that you have chosen to feature for this 2nd web page. (Make sure to entice your target audience to buy this shoes. You will need to research this Make and Model of shoe, in order to give this target audience the information and details they would need to ultimately want to buy these shoes.)
5. Make sure to use appropriate color schemes that you have learned about thus far in class to tie these to web pages together. (Using your color picker in Dreamweaver, sample the colors used in the shoe's design to create a background color that ties in with the color of the shoe, or use appropriate color schemes that you have learned about thus far in class. Will your web site use Analogous or Complimentary Schemes?)

The Criteria for Success with this website is to be using effective Elements of Design to visually stimulate your target audience, while also providing them with effective information that will make them want to purchase these shoes.

I will be checking off your 'Shoes' Homepage on Wednesday. Your entire 'Shoes' Website, including a Homepage, and a linked Secondary web page, will all be due on Friday, November 20th.

Out for Today, Friday the 13th (Scary!)

2009-11-12T19:04:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone.
I re-injured my back and I'm out again today.
"Doh!"
Since I'm not here to show you what to do for the next step of your Dreamweaver assignment, I'm going to have your substitute show you yet another film.
I will make a 5 question EXTRA CREDIT quiz for you to take on Monday that covers material in the movie.
Enjoy the movie! When it's finished, complete your 'Shoes' homepage. If you've already finished, begin to think about what the second page of your 'Shoes' website will be about and what it will look like.
You will be required to show me 2 Storyboards next Wednesday. One for your 'Shoes' homepage, and one for your 2nd webpage for your 'Shoes' website.
NOTE: YOUR NAVIGATION AREA ON YOUR 'SHOES' WEBSITE WILL NEED TO BE IN THE SAME AREA ON YOUR HOMEPAGE AND YOUR SECOND PAGE!!!

Storyboarding and Creating a Homepage for Shoes

2009-11-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

Storyboard and create an Homepage for your favorite shoes, or favorite brand of shoes.
(Example: My favorite make and model are Tiger Asics.)

Here are some things to think about when you creating/storyboarding the Homepage for your shoes website:

1. What type of target audience and demographic would wear the shoes that you are advertising? Are they shoes for Hikers, Bikers, Business Men/Women, Skateboarders, Walkers, Runners, Fashionistas?
2. How will you effectively market to this demographic?
3. What Elements of Design could you use to in your marketing scheme to attract the attention of our Target Audience?
4. What will the Layout of your Homepage look like?
5. Where will the Cells of your Table be located?

Your Storyboard and Homepage are due next Wednesday November 18th.

Chapter Tutorials for Dreamweaver

2009-10-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

You will be required by next Friday 11/6, to have the Dreamweaver 'Skills Reviews' for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 completed and checked off.
Make sure to take note of the bold words in both chapters and become familiar with them. Words and phrases are important to your understanding of the Dreamweaver software that you will using over the course of the rest of the semester.

Analyzing a Website Based on the Principles of Design

2009-10-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today, you're going to take the elements that you learned from your reading on Monday and break down 2 websites of your choosing, and describe to me how those websites utilizes the following Principles of Design.

Which of the following Principles of Design do these sites use, and how?

1. Line - Horizontal or vertical? What type of mood is created?
2. Shape - Is there more positive or negative shape, being used on this website?
3. Texture - Does the website look tactile?
4. Value and Color - Is the site light or dark? What type of color scheme is used? Monochromatic? Complementary? Analogous? Triadic?
5. Space - Illusion of space and depth? Overlapping? Perspective?
6. Movement - Does the website have, or convey movement?
7. Balance - Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, or Radial?
8. Emphasis - Does the website have a focal point? What is it? Is it emphasized by using contrast, isolation, or placement?
9. Unity - Does the website use proximity, repetition, or continuation?

Use 'Word' or 'Text Edit' to type up descriptions of 2 websites using the Principles of Design as part of your lexicon.
This assignment is due by the end of class on Friday.

If you finish this assignment today, you can begin on the Chapter 1 tutorial in the 'Dreamweaver CS3' workbook. You will need to complete the Chapter 1 'Skills Review' by next Friday's class. (You can find the files for Chapter 1 on my 'Public' folder on the Staff server. The name of the folder is called 'Dreamweaver Files'.)

The Principles of Design

2009-10-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

After you have emailed me your topic and 9 subtopics for your website, click on the link below and read through the short articles regarding each of these topics concerning 'Principles of Design'.

* Line
* Shape
* Texture
* Value & Color
* Space
* Movement
* Balance
* Emphasis
* Unity

Click here to get to today's reading assignment.

You will be responsible for this material on Wednesday, when we'll have a quiz based on this information. Into taking notes? Do it! Do it now!

Emergency Photoshop Project: Cleanscapes Poster Competition

2009-10-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Cleanscapes Poster Competition

“Every day, approximately 60 tons of garbage are collected in the City of Shoreline and buried in the King County Landfill. Roughly 75% of that garbage could have been recycled, or better yet, not created in the first place.”

As part of the Community Waste Reduction Rewards program, CleanScapes is promoting education outreach projects in the Shoreline School District: a poster competition and a waste reduction newsletter. Information on the Community Waste Reduction Rewards program and links to other Waste Reduction resources can be found in the flyer attached to this email.

Poster Competition:

· Students will create a poster promoting the Community Waste Reduction Rewards program. Be sure to read the attached flyer for information on this program and links to other waste reduction resources.

· Submissions should be no larger than 10”x13” and can be any form of visual art including a painting, drawing, mosaic, photography, waste reduction logo, etcetera. Any 3D artwork must be submitted in a 2D reproducible format such as a photograph.

· CleanScapes will select entries to reproduce as posters and display in Shoreline neighborhoods, cafes, restaurants, schools, and on the CleanScapes Web site.

· Today you must register for this competition by emailing the following information to EducationOutreach@CleanScapes.com
THIS INFORMATION MUST BE EMAILED BY THE END OF CLASS TODAY!!!
EducationOutreach@CleanScapes.com.

Include this information in your email to the Cleanscapes staff:

o The name of your school

o A contact name and email address (teacher, administrator, counselor, etc.)

o An estimated number of submissions
· Send submissions by October 26th to:

CleanScapes
Attn: Poster Competition
5939 4th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE BY THE END OF CLASS ON FRIDAY!!!
Next week we will begin with Dreamweaver software lesson plans.

Here is the attachment to look at:

Preparing for your Dreamweaver Website Project

2009-10-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Next week we will begin to work in Dreamweaver, you will need to be preparing the main topic for your big website project.
Make sure that this is a topic that you will enjoying researching and promoting. The more interested you are in the topic, the more engaged you'll be.
Everyone will have their ideas confirmed by me and they must be considered 'appropriate.'
The topic of your website will be required to have 9 subtopics. Each subtopic with be designated it's own web page.

Example:

Topic:
Cheese

Subtopics/Web Pages:
1. Types of Cheese
2. Foods that Incorporate Cheese
3. How to Make Cheese
4. The Culture of Cheese
5. Cheese Factories
6. The Purpose of Cheese
7. Cheese Art
8. The History of Cheese
9. The Health Benefits/Risks of Cheese

You will also need to find websites that you can link to on the bottom of EACH of these Subtopic pages to give the user more information to link to if needed.
Your assignment is to write out these ideas on a piece of paper that will include your Topic, Subtopic, and all of the urls to link to for each Subtopic.
This assignment is due by the end of class on Monday.

B Movie Poster

2009-10-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Click here to link to great examples of B Movie Posters.

The B-Movie poster you create has to be one that you make up. Be creative and have fun. Yours can be serious or funny, it's up to you!

The Requirements for this Assignment are as Follows:

1. A minimum of 5 images that have been copied from images that you find on the internet must appear in the poster.
2. There must be a Main title for your movie poster along with titles for 2 characters that appear in your movie.
3. There must be at least one Slogan title that appears on your poster.
4. Your movie has to be made up, an idea that you come up with on your own.
5. You will use at least 2 different fonts for titles used on the B-Movie poster.

This assignment is due on Friday.

Still Out, Here's What To Do Today, 10/5

2009-10-04T19:48:00.001-07:00

My apologies for extended absence this past week. I hope to be back by Wednesday.
Most of you have finished your 3 page HTML assignment. Good job!
For those of you who are done, here's what to do today. READ CAREFULLY!!!!

While I'm out today, you'll be working with Photoshop using the "Adobe Photoshop CS3 Revealed" tutorial book, located on the top shelf behind my desk.
Each of you will use this book today.
You will be going through 'Chapter 2' today. Start at the beginning of the Chapter and read through it, following along on your computer with the instructions in the Orange Columns on the left and the right of the pages for practicing the methods discussed in the book.
When you get to the end of Chapter 2, go to Page 2-23 and follow the instructions under "Skills Review".

You will need to grab the files that go along with the instructions in Chapter 2. To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Go to 'Go' at the top of your Desktop and 'Connect to Server'
2. Type in 'staff'
3. Click on as 'Guest'
4. Go to 'Marty Ballew' folder
5. Go to my 'Public' folder
6. Drag the 'Revealed-Chapter 02' folder to your Desktop
7. Use the files in this folder when asked to in Chapter 2

The Skills Review will be due by the end of class on Wednesday.
Good luck!

10/2, Continue with your HTML assignment.

2009-10-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Your HTML assignment is due on Monday. Continue to work on it today.

I'm Out Today, 9/30. Here's What to Do.

2009-09-30T11:26:00.001-07:00

Come up with one more Subtopic for your HTML website. Create a new page for this Subtopic. This will bring the total of HTML web pages required for this assignment up to 3.
You will need to find information regarding this new Subtopic, and 2 new photos to add to your 3rd HTML web page.
(Example: My topic was Motorcycles. I had Harley-Davidson and Honda as my Subtopics. I could use BMW as my 3rd Subtopic.)
I will be giving you until the end of class Monday to finish this project.
You will be eventually adding new and more aesthetically pleasing Headers for your Topic and Subtopics (H1 and H2 HTML codes) using Photoshop, much like what was demonstrated on Monday.
If you feel comfortable using Photoshop, go ahead with this part of the project. If not, I'll be going over it again on Friday.
Your Photoshop documents for these Headers should be around "600 pixels -Width", and "100 pixels-Height".
Otherwise, go online today and research your new Subtopic. Find information you can add to your 3rd web page.

Alternative HTML Website Information

2009-09-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is another website regarding HTML coding. It's a little more comprehensive:
Check it out!

http://www.alternetwebdesign.com/htmltutorial/lesson1.htm

Make Your Own 2 Page Website Using HTML

2009-09-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

You will come up with one topic for your 2 page website. This topic should be something or someone you are interested in. You will also need to find 2 sub-topics for your main topic. Who or what will your website be about?
Once you have picked your topic your website will need to include the following criteria:

1. Title at on the Title Bar at the very top of both Web Browser pages.on the Title Bar of your Web Browser

2. A Heading at the top of each web page. Each web page will contain content regarding subject matter pertaining to your heading. (Example: If my web page is about Motorcycles, one page with the heading "Harley Davidson" would contain information regarding Harley Davidson motorcycles underneath this heading, along with photos that support this content. The other web page might have "Honda" as a heading, and include information regarding Honda motorcycles underneath that headline.) You can copy and paste information regarding these topics from any website onto your web pages

3. 2 Sub-Headings - Under each Heading, you'll have one Sub-Heading Example: For Harley Davidson you might have a specific Model of Harley Davidson, such as "Fat Boy"

4. You will be required to include 4 photos total, or more, on your 2 web pages.

5. Both of your web pages must have a background color that fit would be an appropriate match to your topic.

6. One word must be in italic. One word must be in bold. One word must be underlined. One word must be a different color.

7. You must hyperlink these 2 pages together at the bottom of each page, linking them for the user to browse back and forth. Example: ( NEXT> and

8. Extra Credit will be given if you embed a video onto your website.

Begin HTML

2009-09-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is a markup language used to create web pages. The web developer uses "HTML tags" to format different parts of the document. For example, you use HTML tags to specify headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, images and much more.

HTML is a subset of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) and is specified by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
What do I need to create HTML?

You don't need any special equipment or software to create HTML. In fact, you probably already have everything you need. Here is what you need:

* Computer
* Text editor. For example, Notepad (for Windows), Pico (for Linux), or Simpletext (Mac). You could use a HTML editor if you like but it's not needed.
* Web Browser. For example, Internet Explorer or Firefox.

Do I need to be online?

No, you do not need to be online to create web pages. You can create web pages on your local machine. You only need to go online when you want to publish your web page to the web - this bit comes later.

The next lesson will show you how to create a web page in less than 5 minutes.

Click HERE for the next step in today's lesson plan.

Downloading TACO for HTML

2009-09-16T11:00:00.001-07:00

Click on the following link to download your copy of TACO.
Click HERE to link to the TACO website.

More about Color in Web Design

2009-09-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

Read the following very carefully.
Choosing a web color palette is one of the first steps most web designers make when starting a new project. Hand-in-hand with layout, it is probably one of the most important design choices you will make. Colors evoke all kinds of associations and using colors well can create a synergy on your site that visitors will find attractive. Your web color palette can make or break your website.

Visitors to a web site have formed a positive or negative impression of any company within seconds of arriving at their web page. Web color, along with layout, organization, and other design elements, is a critical part of how that impression is formed. When planning an Internet strategy, consider what kind of message the site convey on the basis of web color alone.

Today's reading assignment you will read the following 2 articles: www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html
webdesign.about.com/cs/color/a/aacolorharmony.htm
Read this article carefully and follow the assignment below.

Today's assignment is to look online and find websites that are great examples of great color use, and bad examples of color use.
You will need to find 2 examples of good color use, and 2 examples of bad color use.

You will compose an email in your email account that will include "Color in Web Design" in the 'Subject' line of the email that you will send to me. This will be apart of your grade for this assignment.

In this email you will first include the url address of the website you've discovered, followed by whether or not it was a good or bad example.
Next, in your email you will include why the website was good or bad use of color.
What types of colors did they use?
Does the website use Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary colors?
Are they Harmonious Colors? What type? Complementary? Analogous?
Do the colors fit the mood of what the website is trying to project? Why?
Once your finished, email it to marty.ballew@shorelineschools.org.
Your email should use proper Netiquette and have correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
This assignment is due by the end of class TODAY.

Harmony in Color and Design

2009-09-09T12:36:00.001-07:00

When you're finished with the "Netiquette" assignment, click on the this link HERE
Read about "Harmony in Color".
Once you've finished reading this assignment, continue to search on the internet for websites. This time, look specifically for 3 websites that utilize harmony in their Color and Design.
Now find 3 examples of websites that are not harmonious.
We will be looking at these sites and discussing them in detail on Monday.

Netiquette Assignment

2009-09-08T12:58:00.001-07:00

Today we will be moving into exploring the world wide web and what your responsibilities as 'Netizens' are to this relatively new form of communication medium in our society.
You will compose an email using any email account you have currently, and will use it communicate with your teacher (me) and others over the web. Please click on the url link below. This will send you directly to today's reading assignment.
You are required to read all 10 'Netiquette Commandments' and write out short one sentence definitions of each Netiqeutte in a 'Word' document on your computer. You will then turn in these 10 definitions by attaching your Word document to an email that you will send to me by the end of class.
Send your email to me at marty.ballew@shorelineschools.org
You will not get credit by copying and pasting text from the Netiquette website into your Word document. You MUST write out your own paraphrase in YOUR own words from the following Netiquette Commandments.

1. Remember the human
2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior on-line that you follow in real life.
3. Know where you are in cyberspace.
4. Respect other people's time and bandwidth.
5. Make yourself look good on-line.
6. Share expert knowledge.
7. Help keep flames under control.
8. Respect other people's privacy.
9. Don't abuse your power.
10. Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.

Use complete sentence structure and capitalize when needed.
Click on this link:
www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Website Hunting

2009-09-02T15:19:00.001-07:00

Get online and find 2 examples of websites that you like.
What is it about this website that you like?
Why this site?
What elements of it make you go back to it again and again?
Is it:
Simple?
User Friendly?
Balanced?
Visually Interesting?
Colorful?
Accessible?
Is there Consistency in Color, Font, Form, Navigation?
Who is the Target Audience?

Now find 1 example of a really horrible website.
Why is this website so bad?

Welcome Web Design Students!

2006-09-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

This website is designed to keep you up-to-date with all things related to this class.
This is where you can come to retrieve your assignments and link to your tutorials.
Whenever you have any questions regarding HTML assignments, you can first look on this website for details. If your out of the classroom and your questions remain unanswered, feel free to email me at marty.ballew@shorelineschools.org
Please read the blog posting I created below to learn about topics relating to this week's material that we'll be covering. When finished, I will go around the room to ask questions about this posting, so read carefully.