Course Syllabus

DDSGN 151 - Web Design with WordPress

Spring, 2014 Online Prereq's: CIS 121 or
permission
Section: 5545 5 Credits 3/31 - 6/9 (Finals due 6/9)

Instructors Info:
Brian Martin
Office: Olympic 313
Office Hours: M 3:30 - 4:30 pm; T, W, F Noon - 1:00 pm, Th 9:30 - 10:30 am
Email: bmartin@pierce.ctc.edu
Telephone: 253-964-6473
Course Description:
Develop skills necessary to implement and maintain a web site using WordPress, a
Content Management System (CMS.) Students will install and modify templates, create
efficient site navigation using menus, organize a site using components and enhance a
site with plugins. Students are also introduced to basic principles of site management,
business strategies and information architecture.
Software:
This course covers WordPress, a free open source Content Management System server
application. It does not need to be purchased (the company makes money by hosting
WordPress sites and selling themes to make a site look good.) The lectures in this class
also use Adobe Photoshop for simple image editing and optimization and that is
available for use in the several media labs at Pierce College if a student does not own
them or wish to rent the titles from Adobe (please note - if you wish to work only from
home, it is your responsibility to rent the software from Adobe if you wish to use
Photoshop in this course. Pierce College or the Digital Design department do not supply
ANY software for home us,) BUT please note you can use ANY image editing software,
even the open source GIMP. Any image editing program you use needs to be able to
crop and save web images to a specific size, as mentioned earlier in this syllabus.
Course Help:
Since this is a virtual classroom, there are no set meeting times (duh.) I am available
during office hours as mentioned above, but for those of you that work, I can stay late on
any Monday (I'm out of class at 7:55 PM.) All you have to do is make an appointment by
calling or emailing. Appointments need to be scheduled at least one day in advance and
if done by email, do not assume it's scheduled until you receive an acknowledgement
from your instructor.
Online Lessons:
The class lessons are all online at the Modules tab to the left. Each of the online training
modules can be paused, rewound and skipped around like most online videos. The
average segment is 25-30 minutes in length with some lectures having more then one
part (they are listed as part one, part two, etc.) The lessons are fairly condensed as to not
be too long winded, so don't feel bad if you need to listen to one more then once.
It is recommended to view the modules on a high speed connection as the files sizes run
40-80 megs. For those that don't have a high speed connection at home, the Pierce
College computer labs at Fort Steilacoom have almost 70 hours of open lab time during
the week and on the weekends With the Puyallup media lab having open hours during the
daytime Monday - Thursday. Here's a link to the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup Computer
Labs web site.
Email Responsibility:
Each student is responsible for having a working email account that does not filter out
instructor email and is checked by the students regularly if they submit questions to the
instructor via email. Email the instructor at the school email listed at the top of this
syllabus. Any emails sent to the instructor on a weekend will be responded to when the
work week commences again. No, we are not a 24/7 service bureau.
WordPress Site Responsibility:
Each student will be supplied live server space and a WordPress installation for the
class. Students are reminded that anything placed on their web site is required to follow
all of student conduct rules required of all Pierce College Students. It is in your best
interest to read this document and ask your instructor if you have questionable content on
any of your web assignments.
All assigned coursework for this class must be done on the server assigned to each
student. Students wishing to use their own WordPress sites will not be allowed as your
instructor need to able to view the WordPress databases and libraries for assessment.
This is non-negotiable.
Student that do not want to upload their work to a live web site need to drop this class
NOW. This class does not use testing servers or internal networks. It uses a live web site
as that is the only way to make this class as access ale as possible to the wide range of
computers and platforms students will be working with.
Class Materials:

1) Brain
2) Adobe Photoshop CS5 or CS6 or CC or some equivalent image editing program,
even the open source GIMP or almost any Photoshop Elements package
- You just need a program that can crop images and export them to the web in a
specific size.
3) Patience. WordPress is a server application so the speed that it runs is only as fast
as the server and net connection are at the time of usage. Sometimes that is fast and
sometimes it is not fast. WordPress is not an application you should be in a hurry with
when using.

Course
Outcomes:
Understanding WordPress web hosting.
Understanding and navigating the WordPress dashboard.
Understanding the structure of WordPress themes.
Edit and customize theme frameworks and parent-child themes.
Recognize principles of site management, business strategies, and information
architecture as they apply to web design with WordPress.
Apply principles of design (format, hierarchy, and interactivity) and creative problem
solving to classroom WordPress projects.
Using a mix that balances theory, creativity, and technology, design a WordPress
web site that defines the identity of the client and appeals to a multicultural
audience.
Evaluate the quality and design of a variety of web page products.
Synthesize and edit information for search engine optimization.
Organize pictures, videos and downloadable files in WordPress.
Install and configure components, plugins and widgets.
Apply principles of site management to keep a WordPress site secure.
Comply with ethics related to the use of copyrighted materials.
Outcomes Assessment:
All projects and quizzes assigned in and out of class will be assessed on a 5 to 20 point
scale, except for the final project which will be worth 50 points. The following table
illustrates the assessed attributes and their corresponding point values:

Attribute Emerging (1 point) Competent (3 points) Exemplary (5

points)
Uses Web Page suffers from Web Page has good Web Page has
appropriate bad composition. The composition. The rule
consistently good
composition rule of thirds and balance of thirds and balance is
composition.
techniques. is forgotten. Interactive somewhat followed. Interactive elements
graphics are hard to find. Interactive graphics can
are clear. Uses
somewhat be followed.
correct technical
attributes.
Uses Web Page is hard to Web Page suffers from Web Page has
correct understand due to badly poorly contrasting balanced elements.
technical contrasting elements. elements All elements are
attributes. Images or parts of (backgrounds, buttons, easily discernible
attributes.
images (incl. buttons,
etc.) are unclear how
they are used. Links are
not working.
Project The viewer is confused
makes a as to what the web site is
intended trying to show. The idea
point. is lost among bad
planning and worse
execution. The layout
detracts from the
presentation. The
interactive flow is weak.
Project The project includes few
follows the of the requirements of
class topics the assignment. Those
for the included detract from the
individual project.
assignment.
etc.) Elements maintain from each other. All
attributes throughout links work and give
most of the design. All the user feedback.
links are working. Project makes a
intended point.
With little effort, the The viewer is clearly
viewer is able to able to understand
understand and follow what the site creator
what the site creator is trying to say. The
had intended. The site project idea and
is at times disjointed. interactivity flow well.
There are few problems The layout fits within
that detract from the the context of the
presentation. presentation.
The project includes the The project includes
requirements of the all the requirements of
particular assignment. the particular
The elements don't fit assignment. The
well as a whole. elements fit well into
the project.

Grading
Scale:
The following grading table will be used for this class. Late work will only be accepted for
one week after an assignment is due at a 50% reduction in value only up until a flush
week (WordPress theme changes) when any late work becomes a zero. Students will be
notified of flush weeks in the assignment schedule.
Failure to complete the prereq for this class will result in a 0.0 final grade. The prereq is a
CIS 121 class or equivalent computer experience. This rule will only be enforced if you
are incapable of using a computer, though if you are reading this without outside help,
you're pretty much capable for this course.
Percentages:

95-100 4.0
90-94 3.7
87-89 3.3
83-86 3.0
80-82 2.7
77-79 2.3
73-76 2.0
70-72 1.7
Under 70 0.0

(Special circumstances will be determined on an individual basis.)

Assignment Schedule:
Each week the class will have usually two WordPress lectures and assignments that will
be available for viewing each Sunday by midnight. These assignments will be due by
midnight 8 days later on the second Monday after being assigned (except for Memorial
Day which are due on a Tuesday.)
Each assignment will need to be upload to a students assigned WordPress Server. Late
work will only accepted for one week after a due date except for 'flush weeks' when the
lecture WordPress theme changes. Any late work not submitted by a flush week will
become a zero and will not be accepted for makeup.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a zero grade for the
quarter. If you do not understand this, please take your ball and go home.
Special Needs:
Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce
College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal
and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with
the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you
have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please bring your
approved accommodations (green sheet) to me at your earliest convenience so we can
discuss your needs in this course.
ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with
disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive
process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in
this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or
permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to;
mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you
are encouraged to contact ADS at 253-964-6526 (Fort Steilacoom) or 253-840-8335
(Puyallup).
Emergency Management Plan:
Call 911 and then Campus Safety in response to an imminent threat to persons or
property. In the event of an evacuation (intermittent horns & strobes), gather all personal
belongings and leave the building using the nearest available safe exit. Be prepared to
be outside for one hour and stay a minimum of 200 feet from any building or structure. So
long as it is safe to do so students are expected to stay on campus and return to class
after evacuations that last less then 15 minutes. Do not attempt to re-enter the building
until instructed by an Evacuation Director (identified by orange vests) or by three horn
blasts or bell rings. Please notify the nearest Campus Safety Officer or Evacuation
Director of any one left in the building or in need of assistance.
Phone: Fort Steilacoom Campus Safety (253) 964-6751 or Puyallup Campus Safety
(253) 840-8481
Special Rules:
For those that just can't get enough:

1) All rules and regulations of Pierce college apply (duh!)

2) The last day to withdraw from class without a failing grade is Thursday, May 15th.
3) The instructor (me again - hello) reserves the right to remove any student who is
interfering with and disturbing the learning environment of another student and not on
task. This can be on a short term or long term basis.
*NOTE: This schedule and syllabus as a whole is subject to change at the whim of the
teacher. He will tell you of changes though, so you are not expected to read minds. If you
can read minds and wish to earn some extra credit, please contact your instructor.