The web is evolving from static pages with fixed content to dynamic sites where content is delivered to the web page instantaneously. This procedure involves the use of databases and server-side scripting languages. Students will learn the fundamentals of web-scripting languages, how to print text to a browser and work with variables, functions, control structures and loops.
This course utilizes PHP and SQL, two of the industry leading web technologies. It explores the creation of a database using Access or MySQL, as well as the way PHP and SQL act as intermediaries between the database and the web page. Projects initiated in this course will be carried forward and completed in Building Advanced Web Applications.

To create Flash sites with easy to update content, students will leverage their PHP programming skills into learning Object-Oriented ActionScript, and will generate XML that will then be imported into Flash. Students will be able to create Flash websites that include content imported form XML files or RSS feeds from various sources by the end of the course.

New media professionals estimate that over 60 per cent of the time that goes into a new media project is in the planning and project management phase. This course will cover all aspects of what is required to successfully manage a web design/development project. By gaining an understanding of how to manage a project from all aspects, students will be able to plan and manage a successful web design/development project.

Using common text editors, as well as Dreamweaver’s code view, students will use XHTML to create both simple and complex web pages. Through project-based activities, students will learn the code necessary to generate and apply design to web pages, providing an in-depth understanding of Extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML). This course will give students the skills and coding abilities that are the basic foundation and critical expectation of any professional web designer.
Students will also be introduced to JavaScript, as a solution to XHTML’s lack of interactivity. Students will be taught the fundamentals of all scripting languages and how they apply to JavaScript. They will then build, step by step, some of the more common applications of JavaScript, while exploring the fundamentals required for building custom scripts.

Building web interfaces inevitably involves the use of bitmap images. Adobe Photoshop is one of the most powerful tools available for image preparation, as well as the construction of engaging and compelling interfaces. Students will be shown how the interface elements such as buttons and menus can be constructed in this application. The course will also focus on the Photoshop file formats appropriate for use on the web.
Vector drawings are another important addition to the web developer’s tool and skill set. The increased popularity of Flash on the web has raised the awareness of vector graphics in the design process. During this course, we will introduce students to the core concepts of interface design using Adobe Illustrator. Students will be shown how to use the major tools and features of the application ranging from the Pen Tool to Layers. In addition, students will be shown how to prepare Illustrator images for placement into Photoshop, Flash and Fireworks.

This course is designed to introduce students to Macromedia Flash techniques including interface design and animation. Students will be exposed to a number of the fundamental features of the application such as timeline management, symbols, instances, movie clips and components. Students will explore the Flash interface, importing content into Flash, layers and various animation techniques.
The course will also introduce students to Flash’s native scripting language, ActionScript. From coding basic mouse actions to custom functions, students will be exposed to the script driving some of the most creative work on the web.

As the web moves toward a more standards-based design environment, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) have become commonly used to determine how a web page is presented. Using the new CSS features of Dreamweaver, students will learn the importance of div tags, IDs, classes and styles as they work together to build a web page. From the formatting of text to the creation of multi column layouts incorporating images and rich media, students discover how CSS is transforming the design of both static and dynamic web pages.
Macromedia Fireworks is an imaging and web graphics optimization tool. This course introduces students to the use of Fireworks to develop interface elements, create animations, create composite images for the web, and to slice and optimize graphics for use in Dreamweaver. As well, the many integrated features between Dreamweaver and Fireworks will be presented and incorporated into web page designs.

The Internet is becoming more complex, largely due to the implementation of complete, online web applications. This course will expand on the previous course curriculum - Building Dynamic Web Applications - and will include the development of a complete site content management application. This application will be developed using PHP and SQL. Students will also be shown how to create pages that move in the opposite direction - from the user to the database. Finally, students will be shown how to create the back end that manages database updates.

As we move into a rich media environment, Flash provides the developer with a solid suite of tools to create rich interactive media experiences. In this course, through a deeper exploration of ActionScript, students will utilize streaming video and many other rich media applications which take advantage of text, audio, still images, animation, video and interactivity. By the end of the course, students will be able to provide a higher level of engagement and interaction to their flash projects and websites.

The composite two assignment is an involved group effort that culminates in a finished dynamic web application. The goal is to use a combination of programming and design knowledge to produce a content-managed website that is both easy to use and visually appealing.
The key to a content-managed site is the ability to log in and change the content without having to use any kind of editing software. This will be made possible with the use of a database to store content and a user-friendly design for the administrative section of the site. This project will require planning and organization, as well as co-ordination between group members.

This course will help students by creating awareness of any challenges, as well as providing unique solutions that will assist in the pursuit of a rewarding career in web design and development. Strategies for resumés and cover letters – electronic or traditional – and the differences between the two will be taught. Also covered will be interview skills and techniques for effective presentation of portfolios. There will also be a segment dealing with proposal writing, networking, and team building – all critical skills involved in freelance contracting.