Information for
Distance Education Students

This term (Winter 2005) this course is being offered only as a distance education course. You are probably viewing this page because you are either registered as a distance education student or you are considering taking this course through distance education. The purpose of this page is to provide distance education students with the information they need in order to complete this course by this method (i.e. you can consider this page as your first virtual day of class). You are expected to and therefore should check this page periodically to see if there is anything new posted here. You are responsible for any notices or other information that may be posted on this page at any time during the term.

First!

Send an email to your instructor. Please use your BMCC email account (yes, you do have one). This email account will be used for all correspondance for this class. The content of this email is to include:

• Your name.
• City you will be living in during this term.
• Primary phone number.
• Computer courses you have taken (indicate level: high school, college, etc).
• A brief description of your experience with computers (other than the courses listed above).
• Reason you are taking this course.

Your instructor's email address is: rwallace@bluecc.edu

Software Requirments

1. Text Editor - Any simple text editor may be used including Notepad (which comes with Windows). It is recommended that you get a copy of EditPlus (http://www.editplus.com). EditPlus is a shareware program that charges $30 for a license. You can download this program and use it for a 30 day free trial period.
2. Dreamweaver - This web authoring program is the primary tool that will be used for developing web pages and sites for this course. This commerical program can be purchased at educational pricing at the BMCC bookstore or http://www.macromedia.com/resources/education/store/. All specific software instructions included in the class notes will be directed towards Dreamweaver. Other authoring programs may be used, but the student will be responsible for the details of using the software (although the principles and concepts are the same). NOTE: You can download and use a fully functional 30 day trial version of Dreamweaver MX from the Macromedia web site.
3. A Graphics Editing Program - You will need a program that allows you to mainpulate and create graphics that will be used on the web. On campus we use PaintShop Pro which can be purchased at the BMCC bookstore or at http://www.jasc.com. Another very popular program is Photoshop (http://www.adobe.com), but Photoshop is a much more expensive program. You might be able to get by with Paint (the graphics program that comes with Windows), but you will be very limited in what you can do.
4. An FTP Program - FTP (File Transfer Protocal) will be used to submit all projects to the department's web server. Each student will be given access to a folder on the server. Dreamweaver includes FTP tools (described later in one of sets of notes). Internet Explorer works well as an FTP client. WS_FTP is also recommended (the home edition is available at DOWNLOAD.COM or at FTPplanet.com). Any other FTP program can be used as well. Use the following link to setup you FTP access.
   • FTP setup details

Basic Distance Education Course Procedures

During this course, you will primarialy be doing two things concurrently. They are ...

1. Class Notes & Projects - Each week, there will be a set of class notes found on the course web site. These notes are your virtual lectures. You need to work through (don't just read ... do and experiment with everything presented in these notes) these notes in the order given. After completing the notes, you will be directed to a project that uses the information you have just covered. Complete and submit the project by the due date given on the class schedule.
2. Reading & Quizzes - Each week, you are to read one or more chapters from the textbook (as indicated on the class schedule). On or before the first class day of each week, you are to take a quiz on the material from the previous week's readings. Quizzes can be taken at the BMCC Distance Education Center nearest you. Be sure to read the correct chapters each week, we will not be covering the chapters in the order given in the book. The book will be covered as follows:
   • Week 1 - Chapters 3-4
   • Week 2 - Chapters 5, 6, & 12
   • Week 3 - Chapters 9-10
   • Week 4 - Chapter 11
   • Week 5 - Chapter 8
   • Week 6 - Chapter 7
   • Weeks 7 - 9: The last three quizzes are on HTML. More information on how to prepare for these quizzes will be provided later.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact your instructor.