ICS 225 Syllabus

Instructor: Sue Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Metropolitan State University

700 E. Seventh St., NM L116

St. Paul, MN 55106

E-mail: Sue.Fitzgerald@MetroState.edu

Web site: http://redhat.ics.metrostate.edu/~sue/courses

Phone: 651-793-1473

Fax: 651-793-1246

Support staff: 651-793-1471

Office Hours:

Tuesdays 2:00-6:00

Wednesdays 2:00-7:00

Thursdays 5:00-6:00 (Midway M)

By appointment

I am usually available in my office in the afternoon

Required Reading:

Nick Heinle and Bill Pena, Designing with JavaScript: Creating Dynamic Web Pages, O'Reilly, 2002. ISBN: 1-56592-360-X.

Daniel McCracken and Rosalee Wolfe, User-Centered Website Development, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN: 0-13-041161-2.

Recommended Texts:

David Flanagan, JavaScript Pocket Reference, O’Reilly, 2003. ISBN: 0-596-00411-7.

Elizabeth Castro, HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS, Peachpit Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-321-15068-6.

Text Websites:

Other helpful resources:

HTML

JavaScript

SSH (Secure Shell ) Download Sites

Miscellaneous

· Great tutorials on scripting: http://www.w3schools.com/

· References and guides: http://devedge.netscape.com/

· Complete online HTML and JavaScript references, in addition to many other resources for developers: http://devguru.com/

· Downloadable Client-Side JavaScript Guide and Reference: http://developer.netscape.com/docs/manuals/

Deitel, Deitel and Nieto, Internet and World Wide Web: How to Program, Prentice Hall. This is an excellent text which covers certain topics such as HTML and Frontpage in greater detail than the ICS225 JavaScript text. If you can find a used copy, I’d consider it a good investment.
It is pretty likely that almost any question pertaining to web development can be answered via a web search. Google is a good place to start. http://google.com/.
This has a wealth of information, but in particular, if you search the index on ftp, there is a complete ftp commands reference. http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/server/help/

Tools: Most of the assignments for this class can be completed using a simple text editor such as TextPad, Notepad or WordPad and a freely downloadable web browser like Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Web pages can be uploaded using the Secure Shell file transfer software. This software is installed and available in all Metropolitan State computer labs or you may download copies for home use. We will also use Microsoft FrontPage software for at least one lab. FrontPage can be downloaded for a free 30-day trial. It is also available for purchase at a discount for students. See Microsoft’s web site for details.

Course description: This course focuses on how to design and implement information services over the Internet from the client side. Topics include the principles, strategies, and policies of World Wide Web design, such as the rules of the interface design, human factors, ethical concerns, and information security. Through labs and programming projects, students will also learn how to use current scripting and markup languages to implement client-side computing, and how to employ state-of-the-art tools to embed interactive pages into web based applications. Server-side processing, such as user authentication and file access, will be introduced briefly.

Prerequisites: This course is required for CIS majors. After learning how to develop client-side web applications in this course, CIS majors will go on to set up servers and develop server-side applications in ICS 325 Internet Application Development. The minimum prerequisites for this course are ICS 141 Programming with Objects or equivalent Java experience and rudimentary knowledge of web searching.

Competence Statement: Knows the design principles and implementation practices of web application development well enough to select an appropriate solution approach, research and learn new scripting languages and tools, and implement client-side applications.

Learning Outcomes:

· Knows the design principles of web application development.

· Can select appropriate solution approaches to web applications.

· Can research and learn new scripting languages and tools.

· Can use current scripting and markup languages to implement client-side web applications.

· Can employ state-of-the-art tools to embed interactive pages into web based applications.

· Can implement simple and intermediate level client-side applications.

· Understands the principles of interface design and human factors.

· Understands ethical issues involved in web application development, including data privacy concerns.

· Understands basic information security practices and policies.

· Understands server-side user authentication and file access.

Letter Grade: Your letter grade will be determined based on the percentage of possible points that you earn during the quarter. The following table relates the percentage to a letter grade:

Percentage	Grade
94 - 100	A
90 - 93	A-
87 - 89	B+
84 - 86	B
80 - 83	B-
77 - 79	C+
74 - 76	C
70 - 73	C-
60 - 69	D
Below 60 %	F

If you have selected the S/N grading option, then to receive a satisfactory rating (S) you must earn at least 70% of the possible points. If you wish to elect S/N grading, you must inform the registrar before the second class meeting. Bear in mind that you must earn a C- or better (or an S) in order for a course to fulfill a requirement or elective in your major.

Incompletes: From time to time I am asked to consider assigning a grade of incomplete. A grade of incomplete may be considered if the person requesting has successfully completed at two thirds of the class and is a student in good standing in the class. “Good standing” means that the requester is earning a minimum of a B grade and has attended class regularly. I reserve the right to say no to any request for an incomplete without justifying my position.

Graded Assignments: Points are allocated to different learning activities as indicated in the table below. There may be some slight variation in the number of assignments. So, the total shown below is an approximation to the final number of possible points.

Description of Item	Possible Points

Midterm Exam	100
Final Exam (not comprehensive)	100
Project #1	30
Project #2	50
Project #3	50
Final Project	100
4 Critiques (30 points each)	120
Total	~550

Lab Homework: Labs will be handed out during each of the classes. Although the labs are not required to be completed, it is to your best interests to complete each lab as graded projects will be based on the same materials.

Assignments:

· Assignments are due on the designated dates.

· If you cannot attend that class, the projects must be emailed or faxed no later than midnight on the due date in order to be considered as received on time. Please take responsibility for printing your own reports.

· A 10% per day penalty will assessed on all late work.

· No assignment will be accepted more than one week past its assigned due date.

· No work will be accepted after the last scheduled class period.

· For full credit, please plan to finish your projects on time. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

· It is a good practice to keep all returned assignments in case of any grade disputes.

· I strongly recommend that you keep backup copies of all programs.

No Makeup Tests: No makeup tests will be offered. If you miss the midterm, the final exam will be doubly counted in order to replace the missed test. You must inform me of your valid reason for missing the test no later than one day following the midterm.

I strongly believe that all students should take the final exam at the designated time. This helps to ensure that all students are tested in a uniform manner. If you do convince me to write a separate final exam for you, it may be more difficult than the exam given to the rest of the class. I reserve the right to refuse to give you a makeup final exam.

Missing Class: If for any reason you need to miss a class, please let the instructor know beforehand whenever possible. You can have a classmate pick up materials for you or you can download most handouts from the class website. Please make arrangements to borrow or copy a classmate’s notes from that session. Late assignment penalties will apply whether you attend class or not.

Expectations: Sometimes difficulties arise when the expectations of students and teachers are different. Here is a brief summary of what I expect from you AND a summary of what you can expect from me.

What you can expect from me:

· I will share my technical knowledge with you as effectively as I know how.

· I will grade your work and return it quickly. In most cases I will grade your work and return it to you at the next scheduled class period (but not before). Occasionally I will take two class periods to return your work.

· I will provide you with written feedback on the quality of your work. If you do not understand why you were assigned a particular grade or if my comments are not clear, I will explain more thoroughly if you ask me to.

· I will show up for class. I will start and end class on time.

· I will return your phone calls and emails as quickly as possible. However, I may take more than one business day to do so. I do not check my phone or email messages on the weekends. If I plan to be out of my office for a day or more, I will leave a phone message on my voice mail explaining when I will be back.

· I will listen to you respectfully. I will answer your questions respectfully.

· I will provide you with a summary of the total points earned to date anytime that you ask for it.

What I expect from you:

· I expect you to read the syllabus and to know the class policies outlined there.

· I expect you to seek help if you are having difficulty with your course work. I expect you to talk to me if you are having problems. If a stressful work or home situation arises which is affecting your ability to perform well, please talk to me as soon as possible.

· If you do not understand why you received a particular grade, I expect you to approach me and ask questions. I expect you to treat me with respect even if you disagree with the grade you were assigned.

· I expect you to show up for class on time and stay for the entire session except when you have an unavoidable conflict. If you must miss class, assignments and most handouts can be obtained from the class web site.

· I expect you to turn in your assignments. I expect them to be submitted in a timely fashion. A penalty of 10% per day will be assessed for late work. No assignment will be accepted more than one week past its assigned due date.

· I expect you to turn in individual and original work. This means that what you turn in must be your own work and it cannot be work previously done for some other class. If you turn in work done by someone else, or work containing even a sentence or phrase copied from someone else, you may be assigned an F in this course. Repeated instances of academic dishonesty can result in expulsion from the University.

· I expect you to say no if another student asks you for a copy of your work. The penalty for permitting another student to copy your work is the same as if you yourself had turned in work that was not individual and original.

· I recommend that you complete the reading assignments before you come to class, particularly if you are having difficulty understanding the material.

Respect: Metro State is privileged to serve students from many different nations, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Students, staff and faculty practice a variety of lifestyles and come from many walks of life. We expect our classrooms to be safe havens where the opinions, practices and beliefs of others are treated respectfully. If you feel that you are not being treated appropriately by others in the class, I ask that you bring this to my attention so that the issues can be addressed. If I offend you, I ask that you approach me to share your concern so that we can learn from each other how to live together with respect and honor.

If you do not feel comfortable sharing your concern directly with me, contact the Information and Computer Sciences Department chairman, Jigang Liu, at 651-793-1472 or jigang.liu@metrostate.edu.

Learning Disabilities: If you have a documented learning disability, or if you suspect you have a learning disability that may have an impact on your opportunity to succeed in this course, please notify me before the second class so we can explore ways to reasonably accommodate your learning style. If you want, you may work with Disability and Special Services by calling 651-793-1540. Note that I must receive adequate notice in order to honor requests.