It 111 Week 5 Podcast - Spring 2009

This short YouTube video (5:36 minutes) has some tips for doing well on the Chapter 5 Assignment. The podcast includes a few more tips and some announcements, too. I'm also recommending a book on web design and usability called Don't Make Me Think! 2nd edition by Steve Krug. The NSCC Library has two copies of it if you want to borrow it instead of buy it.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast. (3:22 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

IT 111 Week 4 Podcast - Spring 2009

This short video (2:35 minutes) shows how to determine the dimensions (width and height) and file size of an image using Firefox. I hope it will be helpful when working on the Chapter 4 Assignment.

This podcast includes some announcements and some tips for the Chapter 4 Assignment. It mentions a screen reader simulation used by visually impaired people who surf the web. Here is a link so you can check it out. It takes a few seconds to load so be patient. I think it will be a great motivation for including the alt attribute in all your image tags along with good descriptions of the images.

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast (5:09 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

I welcome your comments.

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Spring 2009

This short video (3:33 minutes) has some tips on avoiding common coding errors in CSS and I hope you'll watch it!

This week's podcast has some announcements and a quick overview of CSS and the Chapter 3 Assignment. I hope you'll get started early on the assignment and if you have any questions, please post them in our Angel Learning virtual classroom in the Questions / Problems / Answers discussion board.

Please join me on Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm for our real time, virtual meeting using Elluminate.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

Listen to the Week 3 Podcast (3 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

Feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast - Spring 2009

Review these XHTML coding tips. They will help you, I promise.

This podcast has some workflow tips for the Chapter 2 Assignment and a strong recommendation for using Firefox and getting the Web Developer Toolbar. I wouldn't want to do web work without it. Here are a couple short YouTube videos that show how to install and use many of the tool in the toolbar. Video 1 (4:31 minutes) and Video 2 (6:51 minutes).

If you haven't taken the quick survey about your availability to participate in our real time, virtual meetings, please do it by tomorrow. I'd like to squeeze in a meeting this week. So far, Tuesday has the most combined first and second choice responses with Wednesday following close behind.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (5:11 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast Spring 2009

This podcast has several announcements, an overview of the Chapter 1 assignment, and some tips about the brain and learning. The tips come from a presentation I attended recently and the web site , www.brainrules.net, is a must view for all students.

Of course I want you to learn XHTML and CSS this quarter, but if you can also learn more about how you learn, the class will be even more valuable for you. I really mean it. Knowing how you learn is very empowering.

I hope to see several of you at the information session on Wednesday.

If you want to subscribe to the IT 111 Podcasts so you can listen to them on your iPod, watch this tutorial.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (5 min 37 sec)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast Winter 2009

This short video (2:50 minutes) has basic instructions for moving your final project web pages to your NetID web server space. Here is a link to the FAQs mentioned in the video.

This is the final podcast for the quarter and it includes answers to questions I often receive from students at the end of the quarter. Best of luck to all of you!

Listen to the Week 11 Podcast (2:36 minutes)
Or, if you prefer read the written transcript. PDF

Comments?

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast - Winter 2009

This podcast focuses on the final project with several tips for getting the best grade possible. I encourage you to print a copy of the grading sheet before you begin listening to the podcast so you can follow along with my comments.

The screen snapshot to the left is a Flickr site that allows you to search for images that can be used on your web site. The only catch is that you have to give the original photographer credit. Not a bad deal.

Your final project is due on the last day of class, Wednesday, March 25. However, if you submit it by Monday, March 23, I'll give you feedback and a chance to make improvements.

As a reminder, all outstanding assignments will also be due on Wednesday, March 25, the official last day of Winter quarter.

Listen to the Week 10 podcast (6:00 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast - Winter 2009

The screen snapshot on the left is from a web page titled, Web Design: From Good to Great in 25 Links, that Micah recently discovered and shared with me. It has some really interesting and useful information and I encourage you to check it out. If you find a web site that you think the rest of us would benefit from, please send me a link.

This week's podcast has some announcements and a brief introduction to Chapter 9 and the form you'll be including in your final project.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Thanks again, Micah, for sharing this great resource!

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast - Winter Quarter

The short video (6:48 minutes) above is a demonstration that shows how to save the CSS and XHTML from the web sites that offer layout templates. I've included links to a couple of the web sites in the Class Links page - see the sections that correspond to Chapter 6 and 7.

This podcast has some announcements and also encourages you to download, install, and use the Web Developer Extension that is available for Firefox. I'm including links to a couple YouTube movies that show you some of the great features of the developer tools.

Video #1 (4:31 minutes)
Video #2 (6:51 minutes)

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (3:52 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript (PDF)

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast - Winter 2009

The screen snapshot to the left is for the Newseum and I decided to include in my podcast show notes for two reasons. First, it's a very, very cool web site. You can find the front page of newspapers in the US and around the world and either go to the newspaper's web site or print the front page.

Second, the Newseum web site represents what I like the best about the Web and Internet. It's a resource that would be impossible to duplicate in any other format and it's free. Check it out and tell me what you think.

This week's podcast has a brief overview of the Chapter 7 Assignment. I think you'll enjoy using pseudo classes to make interesting navigation links. And three column layouts using CSS are also introduced in Chapter 7.

Listen to the Week 7 Podcast (3:27 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

I like getting your comments.

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast - Winter 2009

This podcast has several announcements about the President's Day holiday weekend coming up, a book recommendation, and a quick overview of Chapter 6.

The book pictured to the left, Don't Make Me Think!, is one of my favorite books on web design and usability. There are two copies in the NSCC library if you want to check it out before you buy it.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast - Winter 2009

This short video (2:35 minutes) shows how to determine the dimensions (width and height) and file size of an image using Firefox. I hope it will be helpful when working on the Chapter 4 Assignment.

This podcast includes some announcements, some tips for the Chapter 4 Assignment, and a brief overview of the Chapter 5 Assignment. It mentions a screen reader simulation used by visually impaired people who surf the web and a web-based image editing site called Photoshop Express. I hope you'll check out the screen reader simulation (takes a few seconds to load so be patient) as it will great motivation for including the alt attribute in all your image tags along with good descriptions of the images.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast (6:47 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the printed transcript. PDF

Please feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Winter 2009

This is a screen snapshot of the Elluminate player which is used to listen to and watch our weekly "real time" sessions that I've recorded. I made a short video that shows how to navigate through the recording if you want to review it. Our first session, held last night, had five students in attendance and lasted about 50 minutes. This week's podcast has some highlights of the session for those who are wondering if it's worth their while to watch it.

This podcast also includes some tips on workflow as you write your web page code, copy it to your web account, and check it in the validator. You might want to print out the transcript for this podcast. I think the tips might be easier to grasp in written format.

Finally, I've briefly introduced the final project and I'm asking students to start thinking about topic ideas. I need to approve your topic before you get started.

Listen to the Week 3 podcast (6:58 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF.

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast - Winter 2009

View my short YouTube video (8:41 minutes) before you begin working on Chapter 2.

This week's podcast has some announcements, course updates, and tips for the assignments due this week and next. I'm encouraging you to start working on the Chapter 2 Assignment as soon as you complete the Chapter 1 Assignment. It is rather long and you may find it takes a while to get your web page code perfect.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (5:17 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. (PDF)

If you'd like to subscribe to the IT 111 Podcasts and listen to them on your iPod, watch this tutorial.

Please leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast - Winter 2009

The screen snapshot to the left is the National Weather Service Web Site. It's become my favorite way to check the weather - which I've been doing a lot lately. Since we've been having such dramatic weather, I thought I'd share this web site with the class. If you decide to check it out, notice you can type in your zip code or city to get your own local forecast.

This week's podcast has some course announcements and tips about the Intro Assignment and Quiz as well as a short discussion about the communication tools we'll be using this quarter.

I've asked students to login to the Student Information Services Kiosk to make sure they have an accurate email address listed. I'll be sending out important information in email messages and I want to make sure all students get them.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (6 mins 32 secs)
Or, read the written transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

Leave a comment!

IT 111 Final Podcast - Fall 2008

This will be my final podcast for Fall Quarter, 2008 and it includes a few updates and answers to "frequently asked questions" that usually come up at the end of the quarter. I decided to share a short Christmas Ship Video (1:17 minutes) I took a couple years ago to help us all get in the right mood for the holidays.

Listen to the final IT 111 podcast. (3 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript. (PDF)

I hope everyone has a relaxing and peaceful holiday season with family and friends.

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast - Fall 2008

This podcast focuses on the final project with several tips for getting the best grade possible. I encourage you to print a copy of the grading sheet before you begin listening to the podcast so you can follow along with my comments.

The screen snapshot to the left is a Flickr site that allows you to search for images that can be used on your web site. The only catch is that you have to give the original photographer credit. Not a bad deal.

Your final project is due on the last day of class, Wednesday, December 10. However, if you submit it by Monday, December 8, I'll give you feedback and a chance to make improvements.

As a reminder, all outstanding assignments will also be due on Wednesday, December 10, the official last day of Fall quarter.

Listen to the Week 10 podcast (6:12 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

Did everyone survive Thanksgiving? I hope so!

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast - Fall 2008

This is a screen snapshot of one of the final projects submitted Summer quarter. As you work on your project template, I encourage you to review the examples I've provided in the Final Project Assignment page of previous projects.

This podcast has some announcements and a brief introduction to Chapter 9 - XHTML forms. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving next week.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (3:33 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast - Fall 2008

This podcast has an announcement, a "shout out" for the Firefox Web Developer Extension, and a short introduction to Chapter 8 - XHTML Tables.

I've recently downloaded and installed the Firefox Web Developer Extension and I'm loving using many of the tools it provides. Please check it out.

I think you'll be able to figure it out on your own but I found a couple YouTube movies that introduce it and explore some of its more useful features.

• Video #1 (4:31 minutes)
• Video #2 (6:51 minutes)

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (3:39 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast - Fall 2008

This is a screen snapshot for Jing Project which is free software that allows you to make a either a movie of the action on your screen or a snapshot. I'm using it when I review your assignments to show you problems - much easier than typing them.

Also, Karl mentioned "skip navigation" in his critique last week and I found a web site that does a good job of explaining it and has several examples. Check it out!

More about these web sites and a short introduction to Chapter 7 are included in this podcast. Enjoy!

Listen to the Week 7 podcast (3:30 minutes long)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer (PDF)

Please feel free to leave a comment.