Diane K. Kovacs <diane@kovacs.com> is the primary instructor for this course.

Course Description: Overview This hands-on course focuses on the basics of Web site planning, design and content development. The course will also examine Web standards, usability, and accessibility. XHTML and CSS (external) will be introduced. The course begins with XHTML/HTML basics tutorials and a practice activity to make sure everyone has the basic skills. Students will plan and design a representative site during the course. Web Design & Construction for Libraries Part 1: XHTML and CSS (beginners) is a primarily asynchronous seminar, allowing participants to work through course material at times convenient to them. The instructor will provide feedback to all completed work via email. Participants may also choose to schedule online chat time with the teacher, as they feel necessary. Participants will end the session with a completed Web site plan, design, and a main Web page that illustrates how the design will be implemented and will allow for minimal usability and accessibility testing. These pages will also be validated XHTML with external cascading style sheets. On completion of the course each registrant will receive a certificate of completion for 30 Continuing Education Contact Hours*. *Note that some organizations calculate Web-based CE hours on 2 or 3-1 ratio - so for example this course may be evaluated as 15 or 10 'official' CE hours depending on the organization. Web Design & Construction for Libraries Part 2: CSS and Javascript (intermediate) will begin where Web Design & Construction for Libraries Part 1: XHTML and CSS (beginners) ends. Web Design & Construction for Libraries Part 3: Building Library 2.0 (advanced) is under development. Return to top Audience Librarians and other information specialists who want to learn to design usable, accessible, standard Web pages that will attract the intended users and encourage and invite them to persist and return to the site. Experience working with the library patrons in any subject area chosen is assumed. Level of instruction is intermediate in regard to library experience, beginner in regard to XHTML/CSS and Web design experience. Participants must understand paths -- directories or folders and where files are saved -- in a Windows or Mac OS environment. FTP or other experience uploading Web pages to a Web server will be expected. Some basic assistance will be provided. Participants should know how to use e-mail and a current standard Web Browser Firefox, Netscape 7.0, Safari or IE 5.5 or higher is preferred. Some HTML/XHTML or HTML editor experience will be useful. HTML/XHTML basics will be reviewed.

Educational Objective: By the end of this course, you will be able to: Plan and design a Web site for Usability and simple Accessibility forselected users/groups. Understand and apply Web Standards Develop basic Web site contents forselected users/groups. Use DreamWeaver (MX2004 or higher preferred) or a text editor to create usable, accessible, and interesting Web pages. You may use FrontPage or other HTML editor if you already know what you are doing with it.

Agenda: Part 1. Topic 1. HTML/XHTML (XHTML Standards) Basic Concepts: Creating a Basic Web Page XHTML Basic Concepts Lecture , Required, and Recommended Readings Laboratory Activity 1. Fingerpainting: HTML/XTHML Basics Laboratory Activity 2. Create and Validate an XHTML 1.0 Web Page Validating the XHTML Page Worksheet Topic 2. User Centered Design: Needs Analysis and Design Planning User Centered Design and Usability Lectures, Required and Recommended Readings Plan First: Needs Analysis, User Identification Worksheet Design Next: Style, Colors, Fonts, Layout and Navigation Worksheet Topic 3. CSS for Style and Layout (External CSSLevel2 Standard) CSS Basics Lecture, Required, and Recommended Readings Laboratory Activity 3. Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS external) for Layout Laboratory Activity 4. Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS external) for Style, Colors, Fonts Validating CSS External File Worksheet Topic 4. Creating Draft Organizer Page Validating XHTML and CSS (External), Required and Recommended Readings Draft Organizer (aka Main, Home, Portal, Agenda) Page Worksheet

Need for This Course: I created this course for ACRL and then wrote the book Virtual Reference Handbook for Neal-Schuman. I will teach it again this year online for ACRL and self-paced. Several students have asked me to apply for MLA CE credit approval as well.

The instructional methods used include Lecture, Demonstration, Discussion, Role Playing, Hands-on Exercises, and Problem-based.

Participant Materials: Web-based Moodle hosted lectures, forums, learning activities. PDF printable versions of lectures and learning activities.

Facility Requirements: Students must have Internet connected computer with current Web browser, and email.

Additional Evaluation: Will use MLA CE evaluation form.