Assignments
This page provides an overview of the work that contributes to your final course grade, and connects you to descriptions for those projects and workshops through the links below. (Note that no descriptive detail appears on SVSU Canvas for any of these assignments.) I activate assignment pages as we need them, so do not worry if you cannot access all of the descriptions at the beginning of the semester.
Your course grade is computed from the points you earn on 5 projects and 7 workshops. Combined, these assignments total 1700 points.
You can read more about grading and what factors might influence your grade on the Policies page.
Projects
I use the term projects to categorize assignments that are significant undertakings, and that require development and refinement time that may span several weeks of the semester. You will complete 5 projects (one of which has multiple stages of development) this semester that collectively contribute 1350 possible points to your course grade.
Each project description details several elements of the work, including design requirements, hints and tips, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Codecademy (CA) HTML. 100 points. The CA HTML project requires you to complete the html tutorial (Learn HTML) on the Codecademy.com web service. This CA project is challenging because it requires you to think about design at the code level, which is immersive and disorienting for some.
- Codecademy (CA) CSS. 100 points. The CA CSS project requires you to complete the css tutorial (Learn CSS) on the Codecademy.com web service. This CA project is challenging because it requires you to think about design at the code level, which is immersive and disorienting for some.
- Codecademy (CA) CSS Intermediate. 100 points, Optional. The CA CSS Int project offers you the option to complete the intermediate css tutorial (Learn Intermediate CSS) on the Codecademy.com web service. This CA project is challenging because it requires you to think about design at the code level, which is immersive and disorienting for some.
- Bootstrap Studio Demo Site (BSD). 100 points. The BSD project requires you to demonstrate your growing design prowess with Bootstrap Studio by recreating 2 pages from an existing web site. This BSD project is challenging because it requires you to examine an existing design and imitate it as close to exactly as you can manage. This can be more difficult to accomplish than you anticipate.
- Web Project (WP). 950 points. The WP results in the design of a significant web-based information space. This project evolves over 4 stages: prospectus, framework, proof of concept, and the final submission. It also includes a showcase of the work in progress during Week 14. The WP is challenging because it demands that you construct a portfolio-worthy design for the web that is responsive, inclusive, and usable.
Workshops
I use the term workshops to categorize assignments that are smaller scale than projects, work that can be completed in the space of a single class session, or within the space of a single class week. The concepts, strategies, and practices examined through workshops build and reinforce your working knowledge for the course. You will complete 7 workshops this semester that collectively contribute 350 possible points to your course grade.
Each workshop description details several elements of the work, including design and discussion requirements, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Reflection 1. 50 points. An informal, exploratory thought experiment on topics related to the intersection of web design and design thinking.
- Reflection 2. 50 points. An informal, exploratory thought experiment on topics related to design empathy.
- Reflection 3. 50 points. An informal, exploratory thought experiment on topics related to the intersection of digital citizenship and information design.
- Bootstrap Studio 1, 2, and 3. 50 points each. Guided explorations of Bootstrap Studio through text-based and video tutorials.
- User Engagement. 50 points. Gathering user feedback following the Proof of Concept stage of development for the Web Project.