Interactive Media # 1

Aka DES261

Week # 1

Welcome!

Syllabus:  http://1drv.ms/1f4vkJF

Breakdown: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Jsnh2tzpqWShgjdQKDYAsCyQTByLwakYVgjePaY1kg/edit?usp=sharing

I enjoy: reading/learning all kinds of things, video games, movies, philosophy, science, tech (duh), family, blah blah blah. If you want to know more boring details of your new, glorious leader, go here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarsalimpatel. Also, I'm the same guy that teaches Interactive Media 2 and 3. So, there's pretty much no escaping me, at least for a little while.

About Myself

Now, I'm going to ask each one of you about yourselves (I actually care for some reason!)

Some Student Learning Outcomes

But wait, there's more!

Students will also learn:

• HTML
• CSS
• Basics of Javascript
• If time permits: The basics of Git and Unix Commands

But what will I actually learn?

My background is in full-stack development and my goal across Interactive Media 1, 2, and 3 is to teach students how to become Front-End Developers. 

I have no idea what that means

No problem. That's what I'm here for. Full stack development is understanding each layer of software applications. This site explains full stack development in a general sense: http://www.laurencegellert.com/2012/08/what-is-a-full-stack-developer/

• Understanding what the customer and the business need.
• User Experience
• User Interface
• API layer / Action Layer / MVC
• Business Logic
• Data Modeling
• Server, Network, and Hosting Environment

So, do I have to learn all of that? 

Great question! You'll be learning a small part of full stack development coupled with web technology. The following is what generally composes Front-End Development and what you will be learning across the 3 Interactive Media courses:

• Understanding what the customer and the business need
• User Experience
• User Interface
• HTML: The content of a web application
• CSS: The styling of a web application
• Javascript: The functionality of a web application
• Version Control using Git
• UNIX terminal commands and usage

Still Confused

As you should be. I just wanted to go into detail about our learning objectives. As you start learning, you should go back to the goals to see if you have started to get a clearer picture of what you're actually learning. 

Why am I learning Front-End Development?

• Front-end Development is the first step into the world web development and can be your first step into the world of programming, in general. 
• There is a large demand for web developers that hasn't been filled. So, job security is great. 
• Income. Lots of income. Even junior web developers get $60-70k and the pay only goes up from there.
• Fun Challenge. Web development and software development, in general, is a fun challenge. You get to build things all day! It's basically advanced legos.  

Grading

Pretty Straightforward

Weekly Quiz

Each week, you will have a  quiz based on assigned reading, material, or concepts. Quizzes will be taken online and in-class. All quizzes are multiple choice and I will give you as much time as you need. 

Weekly Assignments

Each week, you'll complete an assignment. The assignments will usually involve adding a component or components to your projects. I will be checking your weekly assignment while you are taking your weekly quiz. 

Final Presentation

You will have a final presentation at the end of the quarter. The final will just be a presentation of the work you've already been working on via the assignments every week. 

Extra Credit!

Up to 10% of your grade can be boosted by extra credit (that's a lot)

Sign up for Lynda.com through the County of Los Angeles Public library system and then complete the following modules:   1)http://www.lynda.com/HTML-tutorials/HTML-Essential-Training/

2)http://www.lynda.com/Web-Interactive-CSS-tutorials/CSS-Fundamentals/

Whatever percentage you complete of the track is what will be reflected in the extra credit percentage. So, if you finish 50% of the track, you will receive 5% extra credit towards your final grade. 

Assignment # 1: 

1. Find 3 websites that you find interesting.
2. Determine who the target audiences of each of the sites are. 
3. Try and determine what the goals of the sites are. Are the goals stated clearly? When you go to the sites, do you feel like you have an immediate understanding of what the product is and to whom it benefits? 
4. List the sites you've found in a .txt file. Be sure to list the answers to the questions in the .txt file as well. 

Reading

Watch the videos on this site: https://www.reskill.me/skills/ui-design