CT 360 Web Design 1
3 crs., 2 hrs. lab, 2 hrs. lecture.
T, TH 4M04C, 2PM – 4PM
Michael Branson Smith
Site: michaelbransonsmith.net
Email: michaelbransonsmith [at] gmail [dot] com
Office hours: T, TH 12-2PM by appointment 4M04c or by email appointment
Phone: 718-262-2853
Course Description
Fundamentals of HTML5, CSS3, and design for the web with an emphasis on typography, layout, and color palettes. Text editors, deploying code on remote servers, and additional tools used in modern web design is explained.
Course Goals
Upon successful completion of this class, the student will be able to:
- Showcase an understanding of the fundamentals of HTML 5 and CSS 3 markup;
- Employ advanced CSS properties using media queries, transitions, animation, and more;
- Showcase an understanding of the fundamentals of good use of typography, layout, and color in web design.
Course Materials
- We will employ a variety of online tutorials and readings in this class. In particular, we’ll use videos from The Web Development Bootcamp 2021, The Advanced Web Development Bootcamp, and Design for Developers.
- Reclaim Hosting account to host problem set solutions and projects.
- Any computer to which you have regular access and has the text editor Visual Studio Code and the browser Chrome installed.
Course Structure
Tuesday class – At the start of each class I will spend 10 minutes reviewing the topics to be covered. After which you will be expected to follow along the week’s video tutorials. You should commit to two 45 minute periods of work with a 10 minute break in between. I check-in with your progress during this time. Assigned tutorials not completed in the classroom will be due at the start of the Wednesday class.
While following tutorials you should take hand written notes on concepts that you believe are more difficult to remember. These notes will be a growing reference used to document your work on the blog as well as allowed resource for taking quizzes at the start of Thursday class.
Thursday class – At the start of each Thursday class, we will have a short ten minute quiz which reviews concepts covered in the week’s tutorials. Also, you are not allowed to take quizzes after the first ten minutes of class.
After the quiz, the problem set will be presented and discussed. You will have an opportunity to get started and possibly complete the problem set in-class. Work not completed in-class will need to be completed for the start of next Monday’s class and posted to the blog.
Hosting Accounts
Each of you should have a Reclaim Hosting account with a domain name. Your web hosting account will be an integral part of the class and your future work as a web designer and developer. In the first meeting we’ll get your account up-to-date if needed and review the basics of the c-panel and the file manager.
All of your code and design will be hosted on your personal account, that way you can do with it what you wish at the end of the semester. But for reporting purposes, you will be using the class blog to link to work you’ve done.
Blogging
Each blog post should include links to completed tutorials and problem sets hosted on your domain, as well as answers to the weekly prompt.
Keep in mind the following standards when writing posts:
- A thoughtful title (please do not name the assignment in the post, it should reflect the personalized content of post you’re submitting)
- Embedded code samples using tcode blocks (see example below).
- A clear statement of the post’s purpose.
- Multiple contextual links to work completed. No “naked” URLs, all work should be linked to text.
- A clear statement of reflection based on the discussion/writing from the previous week.
- Appropriate grammar and syntax.
- Use monospace fonts for code using either code blocks or highlighted text as ‘
code‘; I’m writing about the<p>element
<div>
<h1>Here's my first Page!!</h1>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Ipsam, cupiditate numquam qui nam blanditiis
perferendis, eligendi facilis rem reiciendis ipsa enim illo nobis animi commodi similique, provident in
nostrum
ratione?</p>
</div>
img {
width: 50%;
position: absolute;
bottom: -400px;
left: 50%;
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
z-index: 500;
}
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>A Website!</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>My Site!</h1>
</body>
</html>
Grading
- Tutorials 40%
- Problem Sets 40%
- Blog Prompts 10%
Grade for completion
Decorum
Students are expected to treat the instructor and fellow students with the appropriate degree of respect, both in class (if applicable) and in online discussions. Communication, either in person or through electronic media, that is deemed abusive, threatening, or harassing in nature will not be tolerated.
Academic Integrity
York College’s Academic Integrity Policy & Procedures, developed to conform to the CUNY policy on Academic Integrity.
INC Grades
The following overview of the INC grade is condensed from York’s grading policy website
The student must be passing the course, and have work remaining to complete the course requirements. The student must request an INC grade. The instructor must approve whether the student has a valid reason for not completing course requirements and has reasonable expectation that the student can in fact successfully complete the requirements of the course within the allotted time.
Policy on Accommodations for Disable Students
CUNY York College is committed to providing access to programs and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations to participate and complete requirements for this class, contact the STAR Program (Specialized Testing & Academic Resources), services for students with disabilities (Academic Core Building (AC), Room 1GO2, 718-262-2191/3732) for verification of eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.

