CIS 257: Designing Internet Applications
Using HTML

Orientation

The online version of Muskegon Community College's (MCC) CIS 257: Designing Internet Applications Using HTML parallels the class that meets on campus (when it is offered). While the online course format provides you with flexible hours to do your work and frees you of classroom attendance obligations, I expect work to be completed and posted on your homework Web site by the assignment due date. Please note that I will be using your MCC email address for all electronic communications.

You can obtain the textbooks Even More Excellent HTML with Reference Guide (ISBN: 0-07-256178-5) online using MCC's bookstore (http://muskegoncc.bkstore.com), Amazon (http://www.amazon.com), or Barnes and Nobel (http://www.bn.com).

Minimum Computer Skills

You are expected to be proficient in the use of a personal computer. If you do not have the following skills, you will be expected to obtain them as part of your work for this class:

• Comfortable using a mouse and popular text editing software
• Able to create file folders and move or copy files from one file folder to another
• Know how to use your MCC email and to attach files to an email
• Able to download and install new software
• Know how to compress and uncompress a file using WinZip
• Comfortable using an image editor like Photoshop or Paint
• Please note that you will be asked to create a simple antimated GIF as part of a course assignment.

Minimum Computer System Configuration

At a minimum any personal computer (Apple or Intel-based) with a working modem and access to the Internet is all that is needed. Practically you need a personal computer with the following:

• 200+ MHz processor
• 64+ MB of memory
• 1+ MB of free hard disk space
• 56K modem (cable or DSL access preferable)
• Sound card and speakers
• VGA monitor (1024 by 768 screen resolution)

Access to Different Browsers

The Web pages you design as part of this class need to be tested on a variety of browsers. At a minimum, you should have access to:

• Internet Explorer
• Opera
• FireFox
• Chrome

You must install each of these browsers so you can use them to test page designs.

Using the College's Computer Labs

As a MCC or participating Virtual Learning Collaborative (VLC) student you have a right to use any of MCC's facilities this semester including the library (http://muskegoncc.edu/pages/313.asp), Information Commons and computer labs in the Hendrik Meijer Library. These labs have high-speed access to the Internet and are open the following days and hours:^*

Accessing the College's Blackboard Site

We will be using the discussion board and testing features provided by Muskegon Community College using Blackboard course management software. The username and password you were assigned when first enrolling at MCC are also used to access the college's Blackboard site. This is the same username and password you use to logon to computers on campus. You "officially" start class by logging onto the CIS257 Blackboard site and completing the Week 1 Online Topic using the class discussion board.

Logging Onto CIS257 Blackboard Site

You can use the following steps to access the course's online Backboard site:

1. Use your computer and browser to access http://mccbb.muskegoncc.edu.
2. Select the User Login button to display the login input boxes.
3. Enter your MCC username given to you when you enrolled and press Tab key.
4. Enter your MCC password given to you at the same time and press Enter key.

This will take you to Blackboard's My Insitution screen where you can select CIS 257 found under My Courses.

Changing Personal Information

1. When viewing the My Institution screen, click on the Personal Information link in Tools box. If you have already activated the CIS257 Course site, click on the Tools button and select Personal Information.
2. Select Edit Personal Information.
3. You should verify the following are correct:
   • First Name
   • Last Name
   • E-mail (Note: Please use your MCC email address)
4. Scroll down the screen and select the Submit button
5. Click on OK twice

Closing CIS257 Blackboard site

1. Click on the Logout button after you are done exploring the site.
2. Close browser window.