9 x two and a quarter hour sessions from 18:30 - 20:45, starting Monday 9th May 2011 running to 11th July 2011
For further information, contact Jed Gibbs MA by email: jgibbs@totton.ac.uk
Also see course information sheet & enrol at Totton College
Web Design using Adobe Dreamweaver
Intended for anyone who wants to create and maintain Web sites using Windows or Mac computers. Dreamweaver is the industry standard, ideal for anyone wanting to gain employment or design professional sites.
Go straight to this week's information:
Monday 9th May 2011
- Introduction to the course, passwords, fire exits, refectory and parking.
- Setting up your site in Dreamweaver.
- Create first Web page using page properties (Ctrl-J), the toolbox and properties inspector. Your home page should be saved as index.htm (or .html on Macs) and actually will likely be xhtml (extensible hypertext markup language).
- View source code in Dreamweaver using the 'Split' button at the top left of your window
or in a browser - tweaking the code you are creating with Dreamweaver can be helpful when resolving problems. - Creating more pages, saving them with simple names with no spaces. Adding links.
- Previewing
your Web site in a browser by pressing F12 or choosing File > Preview in Browser > Firefox or click and choose a browser from the little globe symbol to the right of the title box:
- You can add additional browsers by choosing File > Preview in Browser > Edit Browser List...
BlueGriffon is a free alternative to Dreamweaver released on May 10th that supports HTML5 and CSS3 - review, developer's YouTube examples, and webfonts straight from a menu. Add-ons- Expanding your font options with free Webfonts
Monday 16th May 2011
- Setting up your ftp (file transfer protocol) settings to upload your Websites to www.totton.org in Dreamweaver CS3 and CS5
- Add images to your site from USB stick, disc, by scanning, digital photography, or from the Web. Copyright issues. Simple editing with Adobe Photoshop & optimising for the Web. Graphic file formats jpeg, gif ('jif') & png ('ping!').
In Dreamweaver insert your image using the tree icon on the 'Common' Insert panel.
You likely want to set the Border value to zero, especially if you link from the image. - Slicing images in Photoshop to improve optimisation or create areas with animation or rollover links. example
Monday 23rd May 2011
- Framesets seem to help navigation - why and how they are best avoided
- Creating a shorter Web address with a free .tk domain that points to your www.totton.org/web3/yourfolder
Monday 30th May 2011
- Half Term: there is no session this week
Monday 6th June 2011
- Search engine optimisation to boost the numbers who find your site, including META tags, alt text and title tags.
Monday 13th June 2011
- Ajax - a combination of Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. Adobe's Ajax framework 'Spry'.
- Mastering CSS with Dreamweaver CS3 - Chapter 6 includes AJAX
- DWCS3 Chapter 9. Integrating Ajax with Spry
Monday 20th June 2011
- The Semantic Web and CSS - separating the content from the layout and styling makes it easier for screen readers to help the visually impaired and also helps you when you want to make changes.
- Usability 101 from Jakob Nielsen (creator of Google's sparse interface)
- Meeting the 'success criteria' for W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0
- online books and/or video tutorials from creativeedge.com, lynda.com, Total Training and VTC
Monday 27th June 2011
- Creating Photogalleries using Photoshop or Flash and incorporating them into your site
- royalty free photography:
Monday 4th July 2011
- WordPress is a useful free alternative to Dreamweaver with many Web 2.0 features available without coding, and usually for free or a small fee.
Monday 11th July
is a free opensource javascript library that can enhance your sites. It can be downloaded and then included with your site (so you need to remember to upload it to your server!) or you can link to the library on Google or Microsoft servers. I suggest that linking has the advantage of always using the most recent version. interface demo and others, truncatable jQuery tutorials. jQueryui and jQueryMobile- Individual assistance with tidying up your Websites and uploading.
aptana Web and rails development
chinese-language-to-dominate-the-internet
Are there any resources or materials required?
The software is installed on the college computers. For students wishing to do additional work from home free 30 day trials are available from Adobe. Student rates for the software are available and will be discussed on the course.
Are there any other costs?
Free basic Web hosting will be provided for the duration of the course together with advice on purchasing a domain name (.tk addresses are free, .coms and .co.uk about £6 per year) and ongoing hosting (from free to expensive).
How will I be assessed?
No formal assessment. Help during the sessions & via email support. Totton College course completion certificate.
What are the entry requirements?
No previous experience required but some content may be challenging as the software is for professional-level use.
Contact us
For further information, contact Jed Gibbs MA by email: jgibbs@totton.ac.uk
Tel: (023) 80 874 874 • Fax: (023) 80 874 879
Web: www.totton.ac.uk • Email: info@totton.ac.uk
Download free fully-working 30 Day trial versions from Adobe (click the 'try' link)
Pugh.co.uk can supply a wide range of software including Dreamweaver CS5:
- an 80% reduced student edition for students on qualifying courses (2 year degree courses or full-time secondary school)
- or teachers and non-qualifying students (this course) can buy an educational edition of Dreamweaver CS5
(check the Adobe collections if you are also interested in Photoshop and Flash). The software is fully working but there are restrictions on 'personal use' rather than for profit and usually no reduced price upgrade path, for example when CS6 is eventually released.
Alternative free open source software for Windows, Mac and Linux:
BlueGriffon supports HTML5 and CSS3 or nvu for Web design | GIMP alternative to Adobe Photoshop
5 alternatives to Photoshop (see comments for more, including Aviary from worth1000.com)
Dozens of books for CS3, CS4 and CS5 versions of Dreamweaver and Photoshop are available. A free Safari Books Online account will let you compare before buying, or you may decide as I did to subscribe to Safari. Follow a Safari link next to any book in the ad widgit below to get a free 10 day account. (If the slightly temperamental widgit is empty please refresh the page... )
Online video training is available from Adobe, Lynda.com, VTC and Total Training
