HOW TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL WEB SITE

Introduction and ObjectivesIn a rapidly changing world, what could yesterday be considered an option, today is becoming a must. The explosion of the phenomenon "Internet" is having a dramatic impact on many aspects of our lives. Practically all industrial, scientific, professional and social sectors are being somehow influenced by this phenomenon. New ways of doing business, new openings for industry and commerce, new and higher levels of know-how and new entertainment and socialising styles are being introduced by the Internet phenomenon. A presence on the Internet with a professional site may carry enormous benefits for Enterprises, Professionals, Institutions and individuals. This course is designed to enable participants to start building a Web Page immediately and getting established on the Net (Basic Module: Lessons 1 - 10) - then to build up a professional structure and architecture of an Internet or Intranet Site (Intermediate Module: Lessons 11 - 20) - and then to perfect it with a stylish and "dynamic" touch and webmaster it conveniently (Advanced Module: Lessons 21 - 30). The main objective of this course is to make participants well acquainted with the HTML and the XHTML languages, the universal Internet languages. You will learn basics and advanced concepts of the HTML language "the hard way", in order to understand adequately its mechanisms and, gradually, you will master HTML and XHTML, becoming a Professional Web Site Designer, capable of understanding thoroughly any secret of the Net and of building dynamic, interactive, traceable, useful and "usable" Web Sites filled with live content. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who should take this courseThis course is designed for anybody interested in building professional Web Pages for whatever purpose (career, professional, commercial, scientific, social, cultural, hobby, personal, etc.). Business people, professionals, industry representatives, students and the general public will greatly benefit from taking this course. This course will be of great benefit also to Web Designers presently using MS Frontpage or similar wysiwyg Web Editors (such as Dreamweaver, Page Mill, and the like). By understanding HTML and XHTML they will learn how to "clean" properly their pages code, thus making it shorter (for faster downloads) and valid (compliant with the World Wide Web Consortium specifications). Moreover, they will also receive the essential WebMaster principles and concepts necessary to every Web Designer to gain total control over their design work. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is required to attend this courseTo attend this course delegates should have sufficient computer literacy and know: Basics of Windows 95/98 or superior, or NT - Basics of Web Browsing (MS Explorer or Netscape) - sufficient familiarity with E-Mail. That's all is required. All the rest, including several tutorials for those who are not so familiar with certain Windows tools and techniques, will be provided in this course. Your platform should be a 486 class or better (preferably Pentium) - with a minimum of 8 Mb RAM (16 Mb or more preferred) - at least 40 Mb of free Hard Disk space - VGA class or higher Graphic Card - Colour Monitor - a 28,8 Kbs (or higher) Modem - Windows 95 or higher or Windows NT as Operating System - a Browser (Netscape Navigator 4.0 or higher - Microsoft Explorer 4.0 or higher) must be loaded in your computer. Finally, you must have your own E-Mail Address and an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to log onto the Net. This Course is specifically designed for Windows people. However, Mac users may easily adapt all concepts and techniques to their platform (but no specific support is provided). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Formats, Styles and TimingThis Course is the "Distance Learning" replica of the "Real World" one conducted by Carlo Scodanibbio at the University of Cape Town for many years - very successfully, according to participants' testimonials. It is now offered in several formats to the wider Internet audience. This course is structured to be: very simple very practical This Course is based on the HTML 4.0 specifications taking into due consideration the impact of the very recent XHTML 1.0 guidelines issued by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium - the "standardisation" organism of the Internet). This Course is presently structured in three Modules: A Basic Module. This will bring you to the stage of publishing your own Web Site - having good, effective and functional features - on the Net. An Intermediate Module. This will allow you to give solid, professional features to your Web Site, including some interactivity and it will make you understand a lot of secrets of the Net. An Advanced Module. This will give you the final touches necessary to become a Professional Web Site Designer and WebMaster: creating dynamic Web Pages - beautifying them with artistic style - and achieving a "status" of total control and understanding of the present and future Internet. You may register for one Module only, for two of them or for all the 3. If you do not register for all the 3 Modules at once you may always take other Modules at a later stage if you wish. In this way you may "test" the benefits of the Course before committing yourself. As the Internet evolves at a considerable speed additional Modules, presently being prepared, will become available in the future. Each of the 3 Modules consists of 10 Lessons (for a grand total of 30). The majority of Lessons carry some Exercises that you can do as homework. The basic idea is that each step should be mastered before progressing to the next, thus the necessity of introducing homework. Solutions for most of the Exercises are provided in the following Lesson. This Course is available in 3 main formats:"Traditional Format": at set dates and with full tutor's back-up assistance On a "do-it-yourself" basis at your own speed In a CD (to be released in the nearest future) 1 - THE TRADITIONAL FORMAT In this format the Course dates are set and Lessons are despatched to enrolled participants on a weekly basis. As an alternative, Lessons may be downloaded from the Net at any moment in time, thus escaping the rigidity of fixed dates. Participants are entitled to receive full back-up assistance and guidance by e-mail, provided on a "one-to-one" basis by the Course leader. Please click here to see full details of this Format. 2 - THE DIY FORMAT Participants who choose this format download Lessons from the Net at the speed they choose. Since no back-up assistance and guidance is provided, this is a more economical solution. Please click here to see full details of this Format. 3 - THE COURSE IN A CD This format, the most economical, will soon be available. Please click here to see full details. Whichever format you prefer, you may see online how real Lessons are structured: just click here to view Lessons 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05. You may also download the first five Lessons and save them in your computer by clicking here. You are free to keep them at no obligation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Program & Main TopicsThe Course program and content is identical for the 3 formats (Traditional - DIY - CD). You may see a detailed list of Topics covered in the 30 Lessons of this Course by clicking here. What follows is an overview of the 30 Lessons' Main Topics. For many topics, examples of what you will learn are provided for your perusal - just click on the see example link. In this Course you will learn: Basic Module Welcome & Lesson 01. Introduction to HTML and basic Principles of the HTML Language - What is Internet - How does a Browser work - How a Web Page is made - Basic HTML Tags: HEAD, TITLE, BODY - How to insert Text in the Body of an HTML document. Lesson 02. Changing Page Background Colour (see example) - Inserting a textured background in the Body of a Page (see example) Lesson 03. Manipulating Text: Font type, size, colour - bold text, italic text, underlined text - how to centre and align text (see example) Lesson 04. Formatting Text - creating Line Breaks and Paragraphs - special characters (see example) - other Formatting Tools: BLOCKQUOTE - PRE-FORMATTING - Creating simple formatting effects in pure HTML (see example) Lesson 05. How to create Unordered and Ordered Lists (see example) - Definition Lists. Lesson 06. Preparing for the future: adapting HTML coding to the new XHTML Specifications - How to download useful (and free) Software from the Net - Installing necessary Software for manipulation of graphic images. Lesson 07. Dealing with Images: types and size of Images, making own Images, downloading Images, importing Images, converting Images - Copyright issues - Inserting Images in HTML Pages - Page Layout: Text/Image alignment (see example) Lesson 08. "Transparent" Images - Animated Images: how to import, create and insert animations - precautions, hints and tips (see example) Lesson 09. How to create Links: what is a Link - types of Links - e-mail Links - making an Image a Link - Thumbnails: what are they, how to make them (see example) Lesson 10. Getting ready for publication: first, organise your work - do you have a Web Site for publishing your Page ? - Do you need a free Internet Site for life ? - What are the benefits ? - How to transfer your Pages to your Web Site: FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Programs - Checking the results of your hard work - Introduction to WebMastering. Intermediate Module Lesson 11. Tables: the secret of every Professional Web Page Designer - Tables basics (see example) Lesson 12. More on alignment of Text and Images - More on Images: Tables and Images (see example) - Advanced Tables techniques - A Table in a Table (see example) Lesson 13. Frames basics: how to frame your Page - how to link frames (see example) Lesson 14. Frames advanced: How to insert Images into frames - Magic Targets for superior linking (see example) Lesson 15. All about Image Mapping: how to create multi-links in an Image - pure HTML techniques and special Software Programs to create Maps (see example) - pro's and con's of Maps. Lesson 16. Fill out Forms: how to make your Pages interactive - various Input Fields (Text - Textarea - Radio - Check Box) (see example) - introduction to CGI Scripts and their function. Lesson 17. Fill out Forms 2: Pull Down Lists, Pop Up Menus & Scroll Down Lists (see example) - Guest Books - Hidden Inputs. Lesson 18. Introduction to DHTML (Dynamic HTML): Java Scripts and Applets to beautify your Pages - simple examples (Alert Messages, Multi Link Jump Boxes, Personalised Buttons, Animated Text) (see example) - JavaScripts Generators. Lesson 19. Other DHTML basic effects: dealing with New Browser Windows - Pop-Up Windows, Flying Windows and other cool effects (see example) - where to find free Java Scripts to insert in your Pages. Lesson 20. More miscellaneous effects in pure HTML: Scrolling and Blinking text (see example) - How to insert Music (see example) and Movies in your Pages - How to create "Transitions" (see example) - How to create customised "Error Pages" - How to "pre-form" E-Mail messages - All about META Tags and their function. Advanced Module Lesson 21. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 1: enhancing "content" through "form" - Basic concepts and definitions - Inline Styles - Document Level Styles (see example) Lesson 22. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 2: External Styles - CSS Properties (see example) Lesson 23. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 3: Analysis of all CSS Properties (see example) - precautions to be taken for non-CSS-capable Browsers. Lesson 24. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 4: Practical applications of CSS (see example) Lesson 25. Advanced Dynamic HTML (DHTML): what it is, how does it work - practical applications: Events Handling - Playing with the Status Bar - Date and Time utilities, Countdowns - Link Description and Rollover Effects - Image Swapping (see example) - Manipulating Layers and Changing Textual and Graphic Content - other cool DHTML effects (see example). Lesson 26. All about Web Protocols, Web Hosting, Housing and Domains: how to select the right Host - what feed-backs do you need from your Web Host - how to monitor "traffic" - when and how to register an Internet Domain - types of Domains - pro's and con's. Lesson 27. Be found ! All about Search Engines and Directories: how to promote your Web Site (the hard work) - how to get "indexed" by Search Engines - how to make Search Engines work for you and "rank" high; tools, techniques, hints and tips - how to design a "Search-Engine-friendly" Web Site - how to "talk" to Search Engines "Robots" - how to monitor your status - Meta-Search Engines: what are they - how to get "listed" in Directories - Portals and Vortals: what are they, how could you benefit by getting listed. Lesson 28. All about WebMastering: planning and organising Web Sites - maintenance tips - monitoring overall Web Site "impact" - planning for high "usefulness" and "usability" - organising downloadable content - tips and techniques for Copyright protection - how to restrict access to certain Web Site areas. Lesson 29. An introduction to XML (Extensible Mark-up Language): structuring and manipulating data in a way which is understandable by machines and humans - More essential issues on XHTML (Extensible HTML): this is going to be the future Internet standard - How to create Web Pages that "validate" against XHTML specifications. Lesson 30. Introducing the "E-Economy" and its 10 Core Principles: basics about E-Commerce (B2C and B2B), E-Business, E-Trading, E-Marketing, E-Advertising, etc. - all useful definitions and essential concepts - opportunities and threats of the E-Economy - technical (hardware and software) issues related to commercial Web Sites - main features of a Commercial Web Site - promotion, marketing and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) issues. You may see a fine-detailed list of Topics covered in the 30 Lessons of this Course by clicking here In any of the 3 formats, with the 3 Modules of this Course you will get: Almost 15 Mb of content: that's a solid, well illustrated e-book ! The equivalent of over 400 full A4 pages of text ! Over 520 Images and Illustrations ! Over 30 enclosures Over 420 practical examples Over 30 practical Exercises (including several projects) A clear and comprehensive Navigation Index covering, also in alphabetical order, all topics of the Course No other Course on the Net offers so much for so little ! The WebMaster section of this Course (Lessons 26 - 27 - 29 - 30) can now be taken as a separate unit. For details, please click here. Other, forthcoming Modules Other Modules of this Course are being prepared. These will make this Course the most comprehensive in its nature. For preliminary details of the forthcoming Modules please click here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost of the CourseProspective Participants may register for one Module only, for two of them, or for all the three available Modules, in either the Traditional Format or in the DIY Format. TRADITIONAL FORMAT - PRICE STRUCTURE In the Traditional Format (with full Tutor back-up assistance and guidance), the fee for registering for any individual Module (10 Lessons) is ZAR 1800 for the South Africa and neighbouring Countries' community and USD 260 for the world community. The special fee for registering at once for all three Modules of this Course (30 Lessons) is respectively ZAR 5100 (South Africa and neighbouring Countries) and USD 730 (rest of the world). The above fees include: despatching all Lessons of the chosen Modules and associated Exercises and Tests - Correction/Marking of Exercises and Tests, and personalised one-to-one guidelines for bettering homework - e-mail assistance and guidance during the course and after. DIY FORMAT - PRICE STRUCTURE For those participants who are confident they will be able to tackle this Course on their own, the DIY Format comes with a whopping 55% Discount. Therefore the fee for registering for any individual Module (10 Lessons) is ZAR 850 (South Africa and neighbouring Countries) USD 125 (rest of the world). The special fee for registering at once for all three Modules of this Course (30 Lessons) is ZAR 2200 (South Africa and neighbouring Countries) and USD 320 (rest of the world). To register for this Course in either Format please go to the Registration Page. If you have any query or question you would like to have clarified before Registering please go to the Enquiries Page. CD FORMAT - PRICE This Course will soon be available in a CD. This solution will prove the most economical. The price for the CD will be announced once this option becomes available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the final ExamBy special arrangement with the University of Cape Town, the Final Exam associated with the "real-world" course is open also to all participants in this "distance-learning" course. The Final Exam is optional and takes place regularly in Cape Town (normally twice a year). If you live in South Africa or neighbouring Countries (or if you plan visiting South Africa) you may wish to write it. The Exam is held in a Computer Lab of the University of Cape Town. An individual Computer is provided for each Candidate. All necessary software is pre-loaded. The Exam, pure project work and open book, consists in building up a basic Web Site. The duration of the Exam is normally 4 hours. Comprehensive guidelines and self-scoring tables are supplied to Candidates before the Exam starts. To pass the Exam you need to score at least 60% - if you score 80% and above you will also get a distinction. This Exam, if passed, will award you a "Successfully Completed Course in Professional Web Site Design" Certificate, issued by the Continuing Professional Development Programme of the University of Cape Town. The present fee for Registering for the final Exam is ZAR 500. The fee is to be paid prior to the Exam, once the Exam's date has been set. Instructions in this regard will be given by e-mail to candidates. All Participants who have completed the three Modules of this Course in any Format may register for any session of the final Exam - they will be notified with adequate notice (at least one month) of the date of a new Exam. Candidates who fail an Exam may register again for a new session of the Exam.