Instructors

Lead Instructor: Dr. Gary J. Wingenbach, g-wingenbach@tamu.edu

Graduate Assistant: Ms. Lauren Rouse, laurenrouse@neo.tamu.edu

Dr. Gary J. Wingenbach Agricultural Communications & Journalism ALEC Department g-wingenbach@tamu.edu Office Hours (218 Scoates): anytime

Ms. Lauren Rouse Graduate Assistant ALEC Department laurenrouse@neo.tamu.edu Office: (112 Scoates): T-Th, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

As a result of participation in this course you will be able to:

1. Determine what makes a Web page/site effective.

2. Understand how Web media differs from print media.

3. Recognize and correct common design mistakes.

4. Organize material for the Web.

5. Write more effectively for the Web.

6. Critique Web site designs.

7. Discover resources to use in creating an effective agricultural Web site.

8. Create and publish effective agricultural information Web sites.

9. Contribute to the development of a course Web site portfolio.

10. Promote the agricultural industry through effective electronic agricultural communications technologies.

• Each week you will click on the class link that corresponds to that week's lesson (click here). You should review the lesson and its related materials before the class meets for that week.

• A PowerPoint slide show will be used to facilitate discussion during class; it is viewable in Adobe format and may include an online presentation. However, like all dynamic courses, the PowerPoint slide show will not serve as the alpha and the omega; each student is responsible for additional inquiry through self-directed learning processes.

• One of the benefits of a Web-assisted course is the opportunity to experience a multitude of materials on the Internet. Under the list of learning activities, you will find a list of Web sites, journal articles, papers, and other materials to be reviewed. In this class we utilize the power of the Internet. You are to visit each site that is listed under the learning activities and read or view the materials. For some of the materials, you will need to have the Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe, it's a free download at Adobe, and will be indicated by the Adobe symbol . Materials not requiring Adobe will have the symbol.

• The course utilizes e-mail for additional information and dialogue among course participants. You should check your NEO email account weekly to ask/post questions and engage in dialogue with other class members. This is not in real time so you will need to drop in occasionally to add your contributions. On some weeks there will be specific directions regarding the administration of this course. For more information regarding the NEO e-mail program, review the help section when you get to NEO.

• You should establish a standard time weekly to study the materials for this class and "just do it." You don't want to get behind because it will be hard to catch up. In a typical class you would spend three hours in the classroom and six to nine hours reading and working on assignments during a week. This class will require similar time commitments.

No text is required for this course, however the following online materials will provide ample opportunity for the study of Web Authoring in Agricultural Communications.

• The Bare Bones Guide to HTML
• w3Schools HTML Tutorial
• Web Developer’s Virtual Library
• WebKnowHow
• TAMU Agricultural Communications
• Introduction to HTML
• Web Authoring that Works

• Active class participation is expected from each student during each meeting. Attendance: All students are allowed two unexcused absences per semester. Each unexcused absence beyond two results in one letter grade deduction for the final grade.
• A minimum of four individual projects (see syllabus for details) will be completed during the course. Each project will contribute to your overall understanding of Web Authoring and will provide the opportunity to develop a marketable skill set.
• A "skills test" Midterm Exam will be administered during the eighth week of class.
• One final team (two members) project will consist of preparing and presenting a future Web technology believed to have great impact on the agricultural and/or communications industries. One specific agricultural product or service should serve as a guiding theme for this project. Also, focus the presentation on one specific audience.

• Constructivists believe that learning is not a unidirectional technical procedure of teachers injecting knowledge into passive learners (Somekh and Davis, 1997). One interpretation of the constructivist model ascertains that: 1) Humans create or construct knowledge as they bring meaning to their experiences; 2) Some individuals have different meanings attached to the same experiences as others; 3) Knowledge is always tentative and incomplete because it is a construct of humans and humans are constantly undergoing new experiences; and, 4) Knowledge grows through exposure. Understanding becomes deeper and stronger if one tests it against new encounters and finds agreement between the previous and current knowledge.

• Practice Professionalism: There is no excuse for inferior work. You can have fantastic ideas and thoughts, but if your work is inferior, your colleagues will think your thoughts and ideas are inferior too. Always let the quality of your work be an accurate reflection of your professionalism!

• Be Honest: Both faculty and students at Texas A&M University have a responsibility to maintain academic integrity. More information can be found at <http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/integrty.html>. Also, check out the Student Conduct Code, especially the rules governing Computer Use.