wra 210 january 13, 2011

TODAY

1)Icebreaker2)Discussion of Readings3)Module 2: What’s Up With That?4)Check-in: groups going okay? 5)Homework

ICEBREAKERFor today’s Icebreaker, I want you to say your name out loud (so people can continue to get to know you) and tell us your favorite corporate/sports logo. Mine is:

But I do not like the team.

FIRST

Part of your homework was to read the syllabus so that if you had questions or concerns we could address them today.

So… any questions about the syllabus?

Any concerns? Anything unclear that you want me to clarify?

READINGSEach time you have readings, we will do one of three or four sorts of discussions. We will either have:1) Focused questions2) Group activities3) Doing what the reading was aboutor4) Tell me what you thought

SO…

I want to start today by asking what you got for the survey. I got this:

IS THERE……anything in particular you’d like to talk about from the readings?

This is your chance to raise questions/concerns and spur discussion.

Let’s…

Make a list of all the ways that you, as a class, use the internet. I’m going to open the ol’ MS Word to record as you speak.

MODULE 2The best way to begin learning how to “do” web design is to look at how others are doing it. For this assignment, you will partner with one other student. Together you will find a website designed and used by people in your field of study (or the career you wish to go into), then you will analyze how that site does what it does. Think of this as the web version of taking something apart to see how it works.

M2

You will be working toward a two-part product. First, you will be crafting a PowerPoint presentation of at least 10 slides (not including the title slide) which will be accompanied by a 5-7 minute oral presentation to the class. Your presentation and your slides should work in concert to explain your analysis of the website, but you should NOT simply read the slides aloud.

MODULE 2Here are the questions you should ask:1) Who is the audience for the site, and what elements of the page indicate the audience to you? Do you sense conflicts between the intended audience and the audience the page actually attracts?

M2

2) Similar to the first question, what is the purpose of the site? What is it meant to do? How do you know that?

MODULE 23) How well is the site designed? Think about all elements of design here—user experience, color, image use, video use, use of java, menus, tables, etc. Think about what could be better, what is perfect, etc.

M2

4) Looking at the site, what do you feel like you need to know in order to create websites in your field? What would it take to replicate the site? What would it take to improve on what is there?

MODULE 25) What else do you notice? Think like a user, think like a provider, then think about someone who might happen upon the site without being part of the target audience. What seems critical? What would you need from the site in each case? What would you want?

M2

This module is worth 100 points for the PowerPoint and the presentation is worth 100 points, meaning the whole activity is worth 200 points.

MODULE 2You will be graded on the following criteria:1) Did you answer the 5 questions asked on the Module assignment sheet? (50 points)

2) How well designed/well thought-out are the PowerPoint slides? (25 points)

3) Did you apply critical thought and bring in interesting ideas that move beyond the specific questions?(25 points)

M2

And the presentation:1) Does the presentation accurately answer the five questions asked? (50 points)2) Does the presentation include information and details not present in the slides themselves? (20 points)3) Is the presentation no less than 5 and no more than 7 minutes long? (20 points)4) Do you field questions from your classmates well, showing that you understand the material? (10 points)

MODULE 2This module is due on January 27th at 1 pm via the drop box link on the main page.

This is also the day we will give presentations during class.

GROUP CHECK

It is possible we had some add/drops, or some new people, so I want to take some time for the teams to gather quickly (just go to your partner) and make sure everything is working okay.

So let’s see how it’s going.

HOMEWORKRead for class: Chapter 15 of Designing with Web Standards (DWS from here on) (p. 321-340)

Remember your Tumblr posts for the week.

And your Twitter exit question:

“What’s your favorite website? Include a link (you might want to make a tiny URL)”

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!