You will be given three take-home coding tests during the semester to assess your understanding of HTML, CSS and jQuery.

Coding Test 1 Distributed: Week 3 Weight: 5%

Coding Test 2 Distributed: Week 5 Weight: 10%

Coding Test 3 Distributed: Week 7 Weight: 15%

Each test will have a due date in the following week. Please see the individual coding test briefs as issued. More specific details will be disseminated during workshops. You should attend all workshops in case a) you miss the details of the tests or b) actually miss one.

Marking Criteria:

• Demonstrated application of workshop techniques and materials to the problem posed
• Demonstrated understanding of your code
• Ability to evaluate a problem and present the most efficient and (code) elegant solution
• Valid HTML5 - Correct CSS rules (including knowing good nesting of selectors, and when to use a class and when to use an ID)
• Correct and expedient use of jQuery (when required)

Feedback

Students will receive feedback via the Grades section of iLearn.

Submission

Coding tests will be submitted via the labs. Specific dates are set out in the coding test briefs. HTML and CSS documents and any relevant subfolders or other files should be kept in a folder called "ct1", "ct2" or "ct3" (depending on the particular test). These folders should be stored in your Sites folder. Please see the coding test briefs for full details.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted files correctly. Failure to correctly submit coding tests may result in a late penalty.

Late Submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions

Extensions may only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.

You are required to write a 1200 word (10% either way is acceptable) critical review of a Web site of your choice. You should analyse the site’s design, appeal, interface and usability and analyse the positive or negative effects these dimensions have on the target audience. This assignment requires you to draw on knowledge gained from the video lectures and set readings. You will refer to the set readings and your own independent research in executing a critical review set against a background of well-researched and informed assessment criteria.

Be sure to check the validity of your sources and do not rely on just one for any given assertion. For example the first results in my Google book search gives me: “Jones says the placement of search fields on a homepage doesn’t really matter as the viewer’s gaze initially falls to the centre of the screen”.  Whilst Jones is partially correct, “Smith, Brown and Stevens all say that the location and prominence of search fields on home pages is important because about 50% of users will immediately go to a search box rather than browse a site. Brown notes, many users know exactly what they are looking for and Smith adds that it is the Web designer’s role to make the user’s journey to his destination as quick and easy as possible”. In this (semi-fictional) example, reading one source in isolation leads to an incorrect assertion and also demonstrates poor research skills. Remember academia is meticulous, there is a body of literature on every subject you can think of.

The purpose of this assignment is you to show your understanding of "why things work" (or don't work as the case may be) and to demonstrate a pragmatic understanding of the theories set out in the unit reader, lectures and your own independent research. You are expected to employ an appropriate system for referencing sources.

Example essays will be distributed via iLearn.

Marking Criteria:

• Demonstrated research into Web design theories of usability, audiences and reception, and design
• Application of Web design theories to a case study
• Clear written structure and presentation
• Cited works should be referenced using an established system that requires provision of page numbers
• Ability to write to the required word length. 10% either way is acceptable.

Feedback

Students will receive individual feedback on their essays via Turn It In.

Submission

Web site reviews will be submitted electronically via iLearn and processed by Turn It In. Hard copy reviews will not be accepted or marked. Once submitted a review cannot be resubmitted. If you have submitted an incorrect version or file, please contact the unit convenor and ask to have your submission deleted so you can submit the correct version or file. If this occurs after the submission date, the late penalty (see below) will be applied.

Late Submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions

Extensions may only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.

Students will select a one-word theme (which will be supplied by staff) and are to design and build a website that addresses the theme. Students will have to research and develop appropriate content for the site, which must include: text, images, audio and/or video (which can be recorded on smartphones). Students are encouraged to be innovative and think laterally about the theme.

Major project websites must comply with the following:

• Correct and valid use of HTML5
• An absence of deprecated HTML tags
• Correct use of CSS
• Use of jQuery to achieve user interaction
• Table-based design is prohibited
• Images must be optimised for the Web
• All content must be original or free from copyright/licensing restrictions (and appropriately attributed where applicable)
• Websites should be comprised of a minimum of five visible pages (i.e. five HTML pages; CSS documents or other 'backend' documents do not count)
• Any use of templates/frameworks (e.g. Bootstrap) needs to be discussed with the unit convenor prior to starting the major project because this assessment requires you to demonstrate the coding abilities you have developed. 

Students are encouraged to connect their websites to other relevant content, which includes external websites as well as those created by other students, so take some time to see what else is happening in the class.

Major projects will be assessed under the criteria of content, design and coding.

CONTENT

The content presented will be intuitive and easy to access. It will be clear and concise with language appropriate to the topic and audience. Audiovisual media that contributes to the content will be relevant and presented appropriately. Content that embraces the possibilities of the network environment will be rewarded. Be imaginative and curious. What does the theme mean to you? What issues and interesting points arise? Work it into a narrative.

You are required to produce your own original content for your website project. That's not to say that you cannot include content from elsewhere:

• Embedded content is fine, as it is intended to be shared/re-used.
• You can use images and text from other sources if you are actively engaging with them in some way. For example, if you’re writing about drought and the impact on farmers then it is acceptable for you to use an existing image (attributed, of course) to illustrate a point. Similarly, if your website is about representations in video games, then it is fine to use some images of characters or the logo of the game (attributed, of course).
• You cannot simply copy and paste other works (in whole or in part).
• We do not want you to produce tribute sites or fake business websites. We want you to produce websites with well-informed, original, and well-written and presented content. Content is King. This unit is designed to give you the tools to create a rich media experience for your user.

DESIGN

Web sites will embody a design appropriate to theme and audience. The design will enhance the user experience and not detract from the content offered. The design will demonstrate balanced composition, excellent use of fonts, an appropriate and clear balance of colours and an appropriately consistent layout.

CODING

Web sites will demonstrate an advanced understanding of HTML5 (including semantic structure) and CSS. The code will not include any deprecated tags. jQuery will be used to provide user interactions and the code will be concise and expedient.

Example sites will be displayed during workshops, but note that these sites will have responded to different themes.

Feedback

Students will receive general feedback on their project but should arrange for a consultation with their tutor for more detailed feedback.

Submission of Major Projects

Major projects are to be submitted in week 13. Details of how to submit your projects will be available on iLearn.

Late Submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions

Extensions may only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.