Week
7
Agenda
- review usability and accessibility
- more on CMS--Drupal, Sakai
- flowcharts
- storyboards
- software demonstrations
- review design documents
Fun
Macromedia's Showcase is a site where the company highlights interesting web design (provided the designer uses Macromedia products, of course).
Here is one example site about motocross, using Flash video extensively. You will need a fast processor and broadband connection to view this site.
Here's a site that collects quirky news.
Links
A collection of "Top 10" reading lists from experts in instructional design and technology. You would do well to have read the majority of books on these lists. It is interesting to see some of the works appearing on several person's lists.
Dreamweaver
In the realm of developing instruction, it is important that the designer, developer, and instructor all have a certain level of understanding about HTML and how the Web works. Sometimes the three roles I just mentioned are filled by the same person.
One powerful tool for developing web pages and sites is Dreamweaver from Macromedia. Dreamweaver is also useful for managing multiple sites, and has a built-in FTP client. It is very widely used in the world of web design, so you will be well served to be familiar with it.
Download the free 30 day trial of Dreamweaver. This is a large file, so you will need a fast connection or a lot of patience. There is both and Windows and a Macintosh version.
For your CBI, you may want to use Dreamweaver as a development tool, or you may prefer another HTML tool that is more familiar. That is up to you. Bear in mind the free trial of Dreamweaver is only good for 30 days on a particular computer.
Install Dreamweaver, and work through portions of the included tutorial as you have interest. You are not required to learn this program, but I would like you to experiment with it to see what the interface is like, how it works, and what can be done with it. Like any tool, it has its strengths and weaknesses.
Here is a presentation about the features of Dreamweaver. (I'm not sure if you need a fast connection for this). Here are answers to frequently asked questions about Dreamweaver.
I recommend spending about four hours or so with Dreamweaver and the tutorials and other links, according to your level of interest in this tool. You may spread your time with Dreamweaver over two weeks, so you don't have to do it all this week. If you are not interested in using Dreamweaver for your CBI, then you only need to spend a couple of hours learning about the tool and how it works. Beyond that, spend your time instead working on your instructional unit with your tool(s) of choice. You are under no compulsion to use Dreamweaver--I just find it handy.
