ITSE 1411.7426 JavaScript, Fall 2006

Welcome! This note applies to the online class only !!!

I'm Les Lunce, your instructor for Online JavaScript ITSE 1411.7426.

The textbook is Wilton, P. Beginning JavaScript (2nd. Ed.). Wrox. (May 14, 2004). ISBN: 0764555871. Follow this link to download all examples and source code from the book. This will help you out during the class.

You will receive your first assignment as an email attachment. Please complete this exercise and e-mail me the completed document. Follow all instructions outlined in the exercise about how to submit your assignment. Contact me by phone (940-766-0485) or email if you have any questions.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Students are expected to supply an Internet connection, and some type of text editor for writing your scripts. You may use any HTML or text editor you are familiar with but keep in mind I am only teaching JavaScript and not how to use various editors. I recommend just using the Windows NotePad for now until we get into the main project. If you would like to use an editor with a little more functionality than Windows Notepad then I suggest NoteTab 4.96 http://www.notetab.com/.

CLASS WEB SITE:

All assignments and class materials are posted on the class web site, http://nlecommerce1.dcccd.edu/instructors/les/Fall06/JavaScript/. The online class calendar is part of the official class syllabus.

The Calendar lists all class assignments, due dates, announcements, and anything else important. It's the heart of the class. We WILL NOT be using eCampus or TeleCollege.

SYLLABUS:

On the first day of class I'd like you to read through the Syllabus. It discusses a few basic policies, tells how I'll be figuring your grade, and gives some important information on due dates.

HTML REVIEW EXERCISES:

A basic knowledge of HTML is a prerequisite for this course. Accordingly, the topic of HTML will not be covered directly. The syllabus contains links to HTML tutorial materials and review exercises. If your HTML skills are rusty it is strongly recommended that you go over the tutorial materials and complete the review exercises. These review exercises will NOT be graded.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Your first assignment will be submitted to your instructor as an email attachment. All subsequent assignments will be posted to your student work space on the DCCCD server using MSIE, WS_FTP or some other FTP client.

QUIZZES:

This class will have one quiz which will count the same as an exercise.

PROJECTS:

Projects are not designed to be finished in one day. When a project is assigned you should try to work on it a little every week, applying your knowledge of that week's lessons to the projects. If you work on your projects a little each week you'll be MUCH happier with your grade than you would be if you tried to complete the entire project in one day.

I strongly recommend that you work through all the examples/exercises in each chapter of the course text and upload these to your student work space on the NLC server. While these are NOT graded, you should do them for two reasons.

1. Working through the examples/exercises will help you master the skills you will need to successfully complete the course projects.
   
2. Reviewing your completed examlpes/exercises provides me a better insight into how you are progressing in the course. If you are unable to complete a project but have demonstrated through your completed examples/exercises that you have mastered the component skills, I will take this into consideration when computing your grade.

COMMUNICATION HINTS:

Please remember in a virtual world you are judged by the quality of your email messages. In the real world we’re all judged by our clothing and grooming; as unfair as that may be. In the virtual world first impressions are based on grammar and spelling.

To make a good impression on people it’s important to spell check your messages before sending, and to watch out for grammar problems. Typing in all lower case or all upper case is generally seen as being lazy and rude, so avoid this. Try not to be “cute.” Spell out “later” instead of typing “L8ter.”

Remember, people you communicate with online can’t see your Armani suit – just your dangling participle. I’ve had students list me as a reference for job interviews. The employer always asks me about the student’s written communication skills. I don’t fudge on this question.

Discussion boards and chats are a little looser, since the communication is “on the fly” and tools like spell check aren’t always available. You still need to keep your communications fairly professional, though.

If you’re an international student still learning English and you’re emailing a stranger, then by all means let the stranger know you’re still learning. Most people will understand and forgive your mistakes.

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