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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2014 - 2015

Module Title Web Design
Module Code CA106
School School of Computing

Online Module Resources

Module Co-ordinatorDr John McKennaOffice NumberL2.47
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Description

This module will introduce students to the principles of good design practise for websites, taking into consideration accessibility for users who may have a disability. The student will be able to choose the most appropriate technologies to design and implement a website to produce standards-compliant sites which include interactive content. The student will also be able to design their sites taking various types of access-device (desktop and mobile) into account.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the ways in which computers communicate with each other
2. Understand the process of creating simple structured web pages
3. Understand the correct use of tables and images in web pages
4. Use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to control the appearance of content on a web page
5. Describe the main features of effective web site design
6. analyse websites to address web page accessibility and usability issues
7. Add interactivity to webpages using libraries such as JQuery and simple forms.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24No Description
Laboratory10No Description
Assignment Completion10First assessed exercise
Assignment Completion25Second Assessed exercise
Independent Study56No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

What is the Internet?
The components that make up the internet (WWW, Email, FTP etc). INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD WIDE WEB. History of the WWW.

Basic HTML
BASIC HTML elements - Tags for simple document layout. Headings, Lists (Ordered, Unordered, Definition). lists and Nested lists. Creating a larger HTML document. Creating hypertext links. Using links effectively.

Advanced Features
How to ad tabular data to web pages. When to use, and when not to use tabular data. Adding images to web pages. Introduction to web-site accessibility.

Principles of good website design
Understanding the user's requirements. How to approach the task of designing a website. How to put the site on the internet. How to encourage visitors to return often to the site. How to maintain the website.

Responsive Design
Structural Vs. Visual mark-up. Using CSS for page appearance and layout. Using colour and fonts in an appropriate mannner. Correctly using markup to provide page structure and CSS to provide appearance. using HTML and CSS to design for a range of platforms such as desktop and mobile platforms

Adding other content to the site.
Incorporating audio/video into a webpage. Incorporating interactivity and/or dynamic content into a website using pre-written libraries such as JQuery. Adding simple forms to a web page. (note this module does not teach forms processing, it merely shows how forms may be used to capture the data and incorporated into a site

Website Usability
Usability objectives. Usability Specification. Evaluation techniques (automatic and human).

n/a

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment40% Examination Weight60%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Nigel Chapman and Jenny Chapman: 2006, Web design: A complete Introduction, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 0470060891
Other Resources

7281, Website, W3C, 0, W3Schools.com, 7282, Website, 0, The Web Standards Project, www.webstandards.org, 7283, Website, 0, Web AIM: Accessibility In Mind, www.webaim.org,
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HMSAStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
HMSAOStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
SHSAStudy Abroad (Science & Health)
SHSAOStudy Abroad (Science & Health)
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