Syllabus – Spring 2024 – JW

🌎 Overview

NMIX 4010 / 6010: Web Development
Spring 2024

Instructor: John Weatherford

Class times: TR 9:35-10:50am; TR 11:10-12:25pm

Location: 401 Journalism

Contact: 403G Journalism / johnweatherford@uga.edu

Office Hours: TR 12:30-2:00pm and by appointment

Prerequisites

Students must either have completed or be concurrently enrolled in NMIX 2010. Students must also have applied to the New Media Institute. Class is offered by POD only.

Description

Design, develop, and code interactive web products that function effectively across multiple platforms through an introduction to front-end web development. No prior coding experience is needed.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the semester, you’ll be able to:

• Purchase and configure domain names and web hosting.
• Create websites by hand with HTML and CSS.
• Design responsive websites with front-end frameworks like Bootstrap.
• Develop complex extensible sites powered by a content management system (CMS) like WordPress.
• Use fundamental programming concepts in JavaScript to enhance interactivity on web sites.

Topical Outline

• Hello world
• HTML & CSS
• Bootstrap
• WordPress
• JavaScript

Instructor philosophy

More than being here to help you learn the subject material, I’m here to help you learn how to learn. I think the things we’re talking about in class are incredibly cool, exciting, and worthy of your time, thought, and energy. Hopefully, when you finish the class, you’ll have developed a really solid working knowledge of the field and know where and how to further your own knowledge and expertise.

We’re going to have a lot of fun, but I also expect you to work hard. Work hard at the assignments, sure, but more than that, work hard at understanding the stuff we’re talking about, why it matters, and what you can do with it—that’s what really matters.

Class Culture

While our first lesson will walk through many of the attitudes and practices each of you, individually, will need to cultivate to succeed in this class, it’s also worth taking some time to talk about what we all should expect from each other.

In short, we’ll work to cultivate an atmosphere of curiosity, fun, and professionalism. That means that you can expect me to:

• Create an atmosphere of curiosity and inclusion where everyone feels welcome to bring their authentic selves to class
• Communicate a clear direction for the course as a whole and for each class gathering, activity, and assignment
• Work diligently to make all assignments and activities of this class worthwhile

Similarly, I expect each of you to approach each component of the class with an open mind, a diligent work ethic, and respect for your peers and instructors. How? We’ll get into the particulars throughout the rest of the syllabus. 😉

📚 Texts and tools

Course Site

All required course materials are available at nmi.cool/web.

Class Expenses

You’ll also need $45 to purchase a domain name and hosting at Reclaim Hosting.

FreeCodeCamp

You’ll need to create an account at Free Code Camp to complete and track regular exercises for the course.

Slack

After the first week or so of class, we’ll use Slack for all class communication.

You’ll receive an invite at your UGA email address; after you’ve created your account, please complete your profile so that we all know who we’re talking to. After you’ve joined the class Slack, use only Slack—not email—to contact me.

Checking Slack regularly is required for the course, so students are required to install the Slack app on your phone and on your desktop. (Slack provides excellent options for fine-tuning notifications to help ensure a healthy work-life balance.)

If you’ve never used Slack before, you can find a good overview of it here. 1

ELC

ELC will be used only to view your grades.

Summary

• This site contains all course readings / videos
• Set aside $45 to cover registering your domain name and hosting
• You’ll do daily work at FreeCodeCamp
• Slack will be our course communication hub
• ELC will be used only for posting grades

📓 Assignments + grading

Free Code Camp (FCC) assignments (25 points)

Completed throughout the semester, these assignments form the foundation of our technical learning. (Assignment page)

Project 1: Artisanal hand-crafted small-batch locally-sourced bespoke website (10 points)

You’ll lovingly craft your first site by hand using the HTML & CSS skills you’ve learned so far. (Project page)

Project 2: Bootstrap triptych (10 points)

You’ll take three separate passes at the same page to gain a deeper understanding of how to leverage Bootstrap to create beautiful responsive websites. (Project page)

Project 3: WordPress variety pack (10 points)

Create four separate installs of WordPress to explore the wide variety of sites you can make with the powerful, popular CMS. (Project page)

Project 4: JavaScript arcade (10 points)

Test your newly-acquired programming skills by tackling these challenging but fun assignments. (Project page)

NMI portfolio (10 points)

Create your NMI portfolio and build its first page—the one for this class! (Assignment page)

Final project (25 points)

Choose from a menu of ambitious projects—or propose your own!—to show off all the skills you’ve gained in this class. (Project page)

Summary (100 points total)

Free Code Camp assignments	25
Project One: Artisanal hand-crafted small-batch locally-sourced bespoke website	10
Project Two: Bootstrap triptych	10
Project Three: WordPress variety pack	10
Project Four: JavaScript algorithm challenges	10
NMI portfolio	10
Final project	25
Total	100

Grading scale

95-100	A
90-94.99	A-
87-89.99	B+
83-86.99	B
80-82.99	B-
77-79.99	C+
73-76.99	C
70-72.99	C-
60-69.99	D
59.99 and below	F

🗓 Schedule

Note: the homework listed for a given day is due the following class period. Example: the homework listed for the first day of class (Create Free Code Camp (FCC) account; bring charged laptop to class; remember interview partner’s info) should be completed by the start of the second day of class.

Date	Topic	Major Assignments + Dates	Homework
Week 1
1/9 Tues.	Syllabus overview; getting to know you; computer and account set-up; HTML day one	First day of class	Create Free Code Camp (FCC) account; remember interview partner’s info; go ahead and have a go at installing the course software and setting up your Mac 2
1/11 Thurs.	HTML day two	Drop / add deadline (Fri. 1/13)	FCC-1; think about the domain name you’d like to register
Week 2
1/16 Tues.	CSS day one		Configure Cyberduck on your laptop; FCC-2 and FCC-3
1/18 Thurs.	CSS day two		FCC-4
Week 3
1/23 Tues.	Applied visual design day one		FCC-5, FCC-6, and FCC-7
1/25 Thurs.	Applied visual design day two		FCC-8 and FCC-9
Week 4
1/30 Tues.	Applied accessibility day one		FCC-10 and FCC-11
2/1 Thurs.	Responsive web design principles		FCC-12
Week 5
2/6 Tues.	CSS Flexbox day one	Project One due	FCC-13
2/8 Thurs.	Bootstrap day one		FCC-14
Week 6
2/13 Tues.	Bootstrap day two		FCC-15
2/15 Thurs.	Work day
Week 7
2/20 Tues.		Project Two – Panel One deadline
2/22 Thurs.		Project Two – Panel Two deadline
Week 8
2/27 Tues.	WordPress day one
2/29 Thurs.	WordPress day two	Midpoint of semester; Project Two due
Week 9
3/12 Tues.	WordPress day three
3/14 Thurs.	WordPress day four
Week 10
3/19 Tues.	Work day
3/21 Thurs.	Work day	Withdrawal deadline
Week 11
3/26 Tues.	Work day
3/28 Thurs.	–	Project Three due (final deadline Sunday 4/2 at 11:59pm)
Week 12
4/2 Tues.	Final project + portfolio overview
4/4 Thurs.	Work day
Week 13			FCC-17, FCC-18, FCC-19, FCC-20, FCC-21
4/9 Tues.	Final project proposal presentations
4/11 Thurs.	Work day
Week 14
4/16 Tues.	Final project proposal presentations; Work day	Final Project Proposal due; Project three due
4/18 Thurs.	Work day
Week 15
4/23 Tues.	Work day; Portfolio + case study rough draft check-ins	Portfolio + case study (very) rough draft due
4/25 Thurs.	Final project rough draft presentations	Last day of class; Final project rough draft due
5/6 Mon.		Final Project + Dossier due 10am

💁‍♂️ Policies

Attendance and participation

As you will with much in life, you’ll get out of this class what you put into it. You’re expected to attend all class meetings. Life, however, is full, and conflicts, illnesses, and extraordinary opportunities may arise. Therefore, you may miss up to four classes without any direct penalty; I make no distinction between excused
and unexcused absences.

Because missing class affects your ability to be an effective member of our learning community, if you miss more than five classes before the midpoint, you will be dropped from the class. If you accrue more than five absences after the midpoint, your final grade will be reduced by two points for each day of class you miss past the fifth absence.

Students who miss classes or other assignments due to their religious observance will be provided with a fair opportunity to complete their academic responsibilities.  However, students must provide us with notice at the start of the semester of the dates of religious holidays on which they plan to be absent.

You’re expected to be present in class both mentally and physically.

Ask questions. Take good notes. Don’t screw around on your devices. When you work in pairs or in groups, work eagerly and enthusiastically. In short, be the sort of person you’d want to be in class with. 

Make-up work

You are expected to complete and turn in your work by the due date, and late work is accepted only at the discretion of the instructor. If late work is accepted, the minimum penalty for the first assignment you turn in late is 10% of its total value per day late (ex: 10-point exam turned in two days late will be penalized a minimum of 2 points). After your first late assignment, each subsequent late assignment will be penalized a minimum of 20% of its total value per day (ex: 10-point exam turned in two days late will be penalized a minimum of 4 points).

Email / Direct Messages

As I’ve already mentioned, we’re using Slack as the sole tool for our class communication. So, instead of emailing me, direct message me via Slack.

So that I can most quickly help those in need of assistance, take the following steps before messaging me:

• Check the syllabus, eLC, previous Slack conversations, the class site, etc. to see if the answer’s posted there
• Spend 5-15  minutes (but not any more time than that) trying to solve the problem on your own (via Google, asking a classmate, etc.)
• Ask yourself if the question might be one other students are having, and if so, post it to #slack-overflow on Slack

If you do all of those and still have a question just for me, then by all means direct message me! I’ll respond to your questions as quickly as possible, but please allow a reasonable amount of time (generally under 24 hours; 2 business days max) for a response.

Slack allows for communication to be informal and fun, which is great! But, don’t forget to communicate professionally, even while having fun.

NMIXperts

From the NMI:

You know our motto — “Make something work. Then make it work better.” While we’re learning how to make it work on our journey to becoming technowledgeable, there are a select few of us specially equipped to make it work even better. These incredible individuals are NMIXperts. From development to design, NMIXperts have displayed an outstanding aptitude for a specialized skill throughout their NMIX classes. Now, they’re ready to help you make it work even better. Whether you need help troubleshooting your website, debugging an app, navigating Adobe CC, or anything in between, our NMIXperts are ready to help you tackle the challenge! Seeking their assistance is easy:

1. Navigate to nmi.cool/nmixperts.
2. Find an NMIXpert whose talent(s) align with your needs.
3. Check out their available Xpert Hours and jump in the Xpert Zoom Channel (932 2797 1374, password: nmi)
4. Hang out in the Waiting Room, and you’ll be admitted once they become available. Easy as that!

If you need assistance during an Xpert session or have questions about getting ahold of an Xpert, please reference the #xpert channel in the NMI Slack Workspace.

Office Hours

In addition to the times posted at the top of the syllabus, I’ll frequently (though not always!) be in my office during regular business hours. You’re welcome to come by and see me with any questions, concerns, or just to say hi. I often work with my door closed, but you’re always welcome to come in! The best way to meet with me is to make an appointment via Slack.

Access policy

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please see me after class or make an appointment during office hours. If you plan to request accommodations for a disability, visit the Disability Resource Center website or call 706-542-8719.

Service animals in class

Students who train or use service animals should be aware of UGA policy.  More info is available here.

Non-discrimination policy

I do not engage in or tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. In addition, I do not discriminate on the basis of class, income, or political views. If there is something I can do to make the class more hospitable, please let me know.

Honor Code and Academic Honesty

As a University of Georgia Student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty”, and the Student Honor Code (“I will be academically honest in all of my academic work and will not tolerate academic dishonesty of others.”).  A Culture of Honesty, the University’s policy and procedures for handling cases of suspected dishonesty, can be found at honesty.uga.edu. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation.

Read the entire policy online, but the short story is: don’t cheat—the punishments for violations of the Academic Honesty Policy are severe. You are expected to do your own work and to report individuals who do not do their own work. As nearly all of the class materials and assignments are online, you may find the temptation to cheat (cheating includes unauthorized sharing of class materials, using unauthorized sources during assessments, and more—seriously, read this now to get a full sense of what all constitutes academic dishonesty) even greater than usual. Resist that temptation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

New Media Institute Policies

New Media Institute students are responsible for knowing and abiding by all NMI policies. You agreed to these policies upon applying to NMIX courses / committing to Emerging Media and will be held accountable for following them. For a refresher on these policies, visit nmi.cool/nmc / nmi.cool/em.

NMI Dossier

Throughout your academic journey, you’ll create many things you want to show off to the world. Through your NMI classes, you’ll develop and build on the skills to create a digital dossier to do so.

In this course you are required to submit an NMI Dossier case study; if you’re also completing the certificate this semester, you’ll also submit your professional portfolio for evaluation and your professional portfolio.

Additional details and requirements for the NMI Dossier can be found at these links:

Dossier Details: nmi.cool/portfolio 

Dossier Submission: nmi.cool/dossier

Note: Links do not need to be resubmitted or updated each semester unless your information changes. If your information needs to be updated, please resubmit the form. Check that your URLs are up-to-date and functional before submission.

A few notes:

Not a certificate or masters student? Don’t worry! We have you covered with your course case study. Be sure to use the same criteria outlined here: nmi.cool/portfolio

Earning both the certificate and masters? Oh, you overachiever you! Check out both dossier details above.

Slack

The NMI uses Slack for all communication, from courses to events to requirements to everything in between. Students must join the NMI workspace (bit.ly/uganmi) and appropriate channels each semester, before the end of drop/add. You’ll need to check Slack on a regular basis, so be sure to install the Slack app on both your mobile device and computer.

NMI-Wide Channels

All NMI students must be in the following channels:

#update 

#jopps

Program Channels

Students should join all channels that relate to their specific NMI affiliations.

Slack Tip: To add a channel, hover over “Channels” in the sidebar, select the plus icon, then browse through channels. 

New Media Certificate: #certificate

Emerging Media Double Dawgs: #doubledawgs

Emerging Media Masters (residential): #em 

Emerging Media Masters (online): #emo 

TEDxUGA Student Council: #tedxuga

NMIXperts: #xperts

Course Channels

For this course, you are required to join #4010.

NMI Social Media

In addition to Slack, the NMI loves to be social. Follow our socials to stay in the know!

• Follow the NMI and join the New Media Institute Job Board on LinkedIn
• Like the New Media Institute on Facebook
• Follow @nmiuga (and, optionally, @JohnWeatherford) on Twitter
• Follow @nmiuga on Instagram

🌮 TACO (Technology and Accessory Check Out)

Introducing the Technology and Accessory Check Out (or TACO). New Media Certificate students may check out iMacs, MacBooks, cameras, microphones, and more. To make your request, visit nmi.cool/taco.

Reference Webpage

For more information about Advising, accessing the TACO, meeting with our Xperts, making room reservations, and more visit nmi.cool/resources.

Student services

As a student at the University of Georgia, you have access to a wide variety of services to help you succeed. Click here to view a description of services along with links and contact information if you wish to learn more about these topics. Of course, you’re also welcome to talk with me if I can help in any way, too.

UGA Well-Being Resources

UGA Well-being Resources promote student success by cultivating a culture that supports a more active, healthy, and engaged student community.

Anyone needing assistance is encouraged to contact Student Care & Outreach (SCO) in the Division of Student Affairs at 706-542-8479 or visit sco.uga.edu. Student Care & Outreach helps students navigate difficult circumstances by connecting them with the most appropriate resources or services. They also administer the Embark@UGA program which supports students experiencing, or who have experienced, homelessness, foster care, or housing insecurity.

UGA provides both clinical and non-clinical options to support student well-being and mental health, any time, any place. Whether on campus, or studying from home or abroad, UGA Well-being Resources are here to help.

• Well-being Resources: well-being.uga.edu
• Student Care and Outreach: sco.uga.edu
• University Health Center: healthcenter.uga.edu
• Counseling and Psychiatric Services: caps.uga.edu or CAPS 24/7 crisis support at 706-542-2273
• Health Promotion/ Fontaine Center: healthpromotion.uga.edu
• Disability Resource Center and Testing Services drc.uga.edu

Additional information, including free digital well-being resources, can be accessed through the UGA app or by visiting https://well-being.uga.edu.

Emergency preparedness

Verify that your emergency contact information is correct at ugaalert.uga.edu and add 706-542-0111 as “UGAAlert” in your contacts. We will discuss emergency exit routes the first day of class.

• If the fire alarm sounds, we will evacuate the building and reassemble outside of the Journalism building on Sanford Drive to make sure that everyone exited safely. Quickly move away from the entrances so as not to hinder first responders.
• If there is a tornado warning, we will move to the first floor and account for everyone.
• In the event of a medical emergency, I will ask one of you to meet EMS responders and bring them to our classroom.

If you have concerns about other emergencies or if you have special circumstances that I need to know about in case of an emergency, please speak to us after class.

Changes to Course Syllabus

The course syllabus is a general plan; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.