Note: This course is hosted in Desire2Learn, which is a Learning Management System (LMS) for the Internet. PCC is transitioning from Blackboard to Desire2Learn during the 2010-2011 school year. If this is your first time using Desire2Learn, I highly recommend that you work carefully through the Orientation. The Orientation is the first document under Assignment 1, and there is a link to it in the center of the class Home Page. . If you are taking a Distance Learning section and you have general questions about Distance Learning, go to the Distance Learning web site: http://www.distance.pcc.edu .

• Use the special e-mail address assigned to your class:

  CAS 213: rbekey+213@pcc.edu
  CAS 215: rbekey+215@pcc.edu
  CAS 225: rbekey+225@pcc.edu
  

• See HOW TO CONTACT ME below for additional requirements.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:Develops skills for finding, utilizing and modifying PHP and MySQL resources on the Internet. Explores ways to personalize web sites for visitors with a variety of dynamic server-based techniques such as processing forms, displaying text or images from a database, implementing a shopping cart or a discussion board, tracking visitors, and password-protecting a web site. Includes how to install PHP and MySQL.

COURSE OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

• Find, utilize and modify PHP and MySQL resources on the Internet.
• Upload, test, and deploy web pages containing PHP and MySQL.

TEXT & MATERIALS:

Required TEXT:

There is NO required text for this class. All of the materials and references will be online.

Optional TEXT:

Any reference book you can find on PHP may also be helpful, but is not required. Keep in mind that this is a class for Designers, not programmers. We will be inserting and modifying pre-written code, but not creating code from scratch. I have not been able to find any book that uses this approach.

Required SOFTWARE:

You can use either a PC or a Mac for this class. All of the software we will use is free to download from the web. The only problem for Mac users is that your instructor does not have a Mac, so he will not be able to trouble-shoot Mac-related problems. However, there are almost always other Mac users in the class who can help if something like that should arise.

We will use three main programs in this class:

1) Browser: Either Firefox, or Internet Explorer.

2) XAMPP (portable version of Apache web server, MySQL database, and PHP. See assignment 1 for installation instructions.

3) An HTML editor. See assignment 1 for a description of editors you can use and links to download them.

Note on Dreamweaver and other code generators: Dreamweaver is acceptable as an editor for the class *if* you use it in CODE VIEW only. Do not use any other HTML-creating program except Dreamweaver for this class! Most other programs will create "extra" code, and it will cause major problems getting your code to run! If you turn in work that has "generated" code, I will refuse to grade it because it wastes my time trying to find the code you actually wrote. Dreamweaver in CODE VIEW does not have this problem.

Required Materials (available at PCC Sylvania bookstore and local office supply or computer stores):

• Distance classes: Hard Drive or Flash (USB) Drive (sometimes called a thumb drive) for storing data*
  
  
• Campus classes:
  
  
  • A Flash (USB) Drive (sometimes called a thumb drive) is required.
     
    
  • Label ALL of your Flash (USB) drives with your name and your phone number. A sticker works well for this.
    
    
  • Bring a Flash (USB) Drive and all required textbook(s) to every class

COURSE FORMAT:

All of my classes are taught in a "Distance*" or "Hybrid**" format. Some classes have sections in more than one format during the same term. If your class has a "Hybrid" section, you are encouraged to come to the class sessions when you can, even if you signed up for a "Distance" section.

All of my classes use the Desire2Learn Learning Management System (LMS). See Class Web Site above for login information.

If you are in a "Distance" section, you are expected to log in on the first day of the term. Students who do not complete the "Wizard" on the Home Page by Wednesday night of the first week may be dropped from the class. If you are in a "Hybrid" or campus section, you can login anytime during the first week, but I will go over the process in detail in the first class.

All handouts and class materials will be posted on the web. All assignments will be turned in from the web also; further information on this will be presented as part of the first week's assignment.

*Distance: These classes are taught entirely over the Web. Interaction with other students and the instructor takes place by posting messages on a Bulletin Board (Discussion Board) and e-mail. I also use a number of my own components using the ColdFusion scripting language. Some sections share a web site with an on-campus class. If you are in one of those classes, I will give you information on campus meetings so that you can attend them if you wish.

**Hybrid or "Blended": These classes are a "combination" of Distance and regular classroom format. They usually meet once a week on campus, instead of the usual twice a week. You are expected to come to the session on campus each week, where I will present a "lecture" on that week's information and answer any questions you may have about the assignments. The class session is also a good time for me to work with you in person if you want extra help on anything. Most of your work for the class will be done on your own time, at home or in a computer lab.

PROJECTS & ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Instructor-written assignments: There will be an assignment each week* telling you what is expected; in most cases, the assignment will be due one week later. All assignments will be posted on the web.

2. Bulletin Board (Discussion Board): In order to get the most from this class, students must interact frequently with each other and with the instructor. To encourage this, you will be required to post messages every week as a part of your grade for each assignment. This is true for all of my classes, including those that meet only on campus. Detailed instructions on what I expect will be found with each assignment.

PROTECTING YOUR WORK:

• Save COPIES of EVERYTHING you turn in, in case assignments get lost, misplaced or corrupted. It is not uncommon for students to make a mistake that destroys previous work that has been completed. Hard disks can also fail with no advance notice, and Flash (USB) drives can lose their data in an instant if the drive is removed improperly from a computer or exposed to a magnetic field or electric shock. I recommend backing up your work to a different device, such as an additional Flash drive, a backup hard drive, or Cloud backup service every time you complete an assignment.


• DO NOT delete assignments after you turn them in to your instructor! I often need to go back to your files to clarify what you turned in, or to have you send some parts again.

TURNING IN ASSIGNMENTS:

• CAS 111D, CAS 213, CAS 214, CAS 215, and CIS 243: You will upload each assignment directly to a web server using FTP. All assignments must be functional on the web for credit.
  

• There will be a "Grading Form" for each assignment. You are expected to use this form as a checklist to confirm that you have completed everything that was assigned. DO NOT upload the Grading Form -- it is for your use only.

• You will need to email me if you upload work late (after the due date). DO NOT email me if the assignment is on time -- it just creates extra work for me. I grade everything that is on the server at the time the assignment is due.

EXAMS:

There will be a Midterm and a Final (both will be on-line) that will assess your understanding of the concepts taught in the class. These will consist of multiple choice, matching, or true-false questions.

GRADING:

Your class grade will be based on your total performance. A standard grading scale (90-100%=A, 80-90%=B, 65-80%=C, 50-65%=D) will be used. I do not grade specifically on attendance, but those who attend regularly* will get the next-higher grade if their grade comes out close to the next grade up at the end of the class (79%, 89%, etc.).

Assignments: 80%
Midterm: 10%
Final Exam: 10%
-----------------
Total 100%

If you wish to AUDIT the class, you must let me know by Thursday the first week of the term. Auditing students will still need to attend class*, but will not be expected to turn in assignments.

* "Attendance" in Distance sections means that you are logging in, reading bulletin board messages, and posting bulletin board messages regularly.

ACADEMIC HONESTY & COOPERATIVE WORK:

You are encouraged to work with other students on assignments. However, what you turn in must be a product of your own efforts*. Programming and writing assignments are creative processes, and each student will be expected to come up with his/her own solution to each problem. If identical or nearly identical work is turned in by more than one student, all students involved will receive ONE WARNING. If it happens again, those students will receive a "0" for the assignment(s) and will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

*Some students have "copied" work from other students that was posted on the Web server. Do not be tempted to do this. I have a lot of skill in identifying work that has been copied and modified. Please, if you have trouble with an assignment, contact me or other students in the class and ask for help. You will not learn anything by copying.

In some classes I post answers for class assignments in a format that is available only to those who have completed the assignment. You are NOT permitted to share those with students who are still working on the assignment--that is considered cheating and will be treated the same way as described above.

The full PCC policy on academic honesty may be found at: http://www.pcc.edu/resources/academic/academic-policy/academic-integrity.html  

COMPUTER LABS:

Distance Learning Classes: I do not recommend trying to complete a Distance Learning class entirely in one of the PCC computer labs. They have SOME of the software you will need, but NOT ALL! Also, there are some activities that we will do that will be difficult or impossible to do from a computer lab, due to security restrictions in the PCC labs. If you need to do the class entirely in a computer lab, please take one of the campus-based or "hybrid" sections instead.

1. Student Computing Centers (CSC's):

a. Sylvania: This lab is open 7 days a week. Before you can use it, you will need to complete the orientation at the Sylvania CSC. The sign-up is no longer available online--see this page for information: http://www.pcc.edu/resources/computer-labs/sylvania/ . The Sylvania CSC should have most of the software you will need for my classes.

b. Other campuses: Go to this page: http://www.pcc.edu/resources/computer-labs/ . Warning: The CSE Validator software I use for CAS 111D, CAS 213, CAS 214 and CAS 215 and the TopStyle software I used for CAS 215 is not installed in any of the CSC's, as far as I know. This software is available in the CAS computer lab at Sylvania (see below), or you can use Dreamweaver in Code View. If you plan to use a lab at another campus, be sure to call first and be sure they have the software you need before you drive over there.

2. Department Computer Labs (PCC Sylvania):

a. CAS Lab*: The CAS Lab (SS 202 at PCC Sylvania) is available to all CAS students, including those in both "hybrid" and "distance" sections of CAS 111D, CAS 213, CAS 214 and CAS 215. Hours should be posted on the door by the second week of the term; it is usually open several hours each day from Monday - Friday.  Note that SS 202 is ONLY for the use of students in CAS classes.

* This lab may not be available during summer term.

3. Tutors:

Tutors are available for many CIS classes and a few CAS classes. Be sure to check the schedule and go when the tutor you are wanting will be available. The schedule changes every term, so this schedule will probably be for the previous term until it is updated: http://spot.pcc.edu/computers/tutors.htm .

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

1. If you have questions about the assignments, corrections, or suggestions to help other students, please post them to the Bulletin Board (Discussions) area. You are required to post or reply to at least one message in this area every week. You will find a link to this on the class Home Page.
   

2. If you have questions that are personal, such as about your grade on an assignment, how you are doing in the class, or if you want to make a personal appointment with me for more help, please email me by clicking the Instructor E-mail icon on the class Home Page.
   
   
3. Students in "hybrid" or campus-based courses are encouraged to talk to me in class, after the lecture, instead of by e-mail. Bring your assignments with you on a flash drive so we can work through your problem in person.
   
   
4. E-mail:

• IMPORTANT: Desire2Learn has a built-in email system. I do NOT want you to use it to send email to me, because I find it very time-consuming to use compared to regular email, and it is not possible to reply to messages forwarded from Desire2Learn to regular email. You can use the Desire2Learn system to send emails to other students, but please DO NOT use it to send email to your instructor.

  
  

  1. ALL class email to the instructor, including the first week check-in and any questions during the class must be sent using REGULAR E-MAIL.
     
     CAS 213: rbekey+213@pcc.edu
     CAS 215: rbekey+215@pcc.edu
     CAS 225: rbekey+225@pcc.edu
     
     
  2. Please be sure:
     
     
     1. The PLUS (+) and the class number are in the email address, as shown above. VERY IMPORTANT!
     2. Your full name is in the email, if it isn't in the "From" address
     3. The Subject explains what the email contains ("need help" is not specific enough).
        
     
     
  3. I can only accept email from your PCC email address (not one of your personal accounts). This is a PCC requirement, not mine.
     
     If you forward your PCC email, note that if you reply, the reply may not come from your PCC address.
     
     
  4. The purpose of email in this class is for:
     
     
     1. Questions of a personal nature, such as about your grade. All other questions should be posted on the Discussion Board. That way everyone in the class can help to answer them, and everyone can benefit from the answer.
        
        
     2. The check-in with the instructor for the first assignment.
        
        
• On weekdays, you can expect a response from me within 24 hours, and often sooner. Although I will often answer e-mails on weekends, I cannot promise this as I have a personal life also. Please do not expect answers on weekends. It is best if you contact me by noon on Friday (and preferably earlier) if you want an answer before Monday morning. If you have a question over the weekend, post it on the Bulletin Board so it can be answered by another student.
  

5. (Telephone: 503-977-4084). I put this in parentheses, because it is NOT the best way to contact me. I am not on campus every day, but I check my e-mail several times a day. If you leave a message on my phone, I may not get it for 2 or 3 days.

Distance Students: I will try to solve your problem by e-mail first, then telephone, then in person. Note that I do not normally work evenings as I put in a lot of hours during the day, but I will make exceptions if that is the only time you can meet me.

6. Office Hours: I do not have regular "office hours" for this class, as I answer questions continually through the Bulletin Board and e-mail (see above). If you want more help with an assignment than you can get through the Bulletin Board or e-mail, please e-mail me and request a telephone or in-person appointment. I am usually available to meet with students from Monday-Friday during normal working hours. If you work full-time, I will try to find a time that works for both of us as early as possible in the evening. You may also find a tutor helpful. See: http://spot.pcc.edu/computers/tutors.htm .
   

HOW TO CONTACT OTHER STUDENTS:

1. Bulletin (Discussion) Board: The Bulletin Board will be your main method of communication with other students in the class. I will post messages there occasionally, but I will use it primarily as a place for students to help each other. I strongly encourage you to use the Bulletin Board frequently, to ask questions, help other students, or simply to "chat" with other students in the class. To encourage use of the Bulletin Board, you are required to post or reply to at least one message every week as part of your assignments.

ALWAYS SELECT A TOPIC before you compose (create) a message for the Bulletin Board. This will help to keep the hundreds of messages organized and make it easier to follow. Also, I can only give you credit for a Bulletin Board posting if it is in the correct Topic.

You are required to check in to your e-mail and Bulletin Board at least every other day during the course. This will make it much easier to keep up with the course, as other students and I are continually posting information as issues come up with the assignments. It is also much easier to keep up with the Bulletin Board when you look at it frequently, instead of having to go through dozens of messages at once.

NETIQUETTE: "Netiquette" is a term that is used for "etiquette" on the Internet. I expect all messages posted on the Bulletin Board or sent as emails to me or other students to be respectful and courteous. If there is something you don't like about the course or you find mistakes in the assignments, you are welcome to e-mail me about it, but I expect your messages to be respectful and courteous. If I notice that you are posting or sending messages that do not meet this standard, you will receive one warning. If it happens again, I will refer you to one of the Deans at PCC, I may cut off your ability to post or send messages and your grade in the class may be reduced. I also reserve the right to delete any messages on the Bulletin Board that do not seem appropriate or respectful. For examples of good and bad techniques in e-mail and Bulletin Board or Newsgroup postings, try these links: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html, http://www.kassj.com/netiquette/netiquette.html, http://www.iwillfollow.com/email.htm .

ATTENDANCE:  

• On-campus or "Hybrid" sections: I will be passing a roll sheet each class to keep track of your attendance. You are expected to attend every class session unless you have made special arrangements with me at the beginning of the term. I do not grade specifically on attendance, but at the end of the class, those of you who have "borderline" grades (79%, 89%, etc.) will receive the higher grade if you have been attending class regularly*. The class will move quickly, and it is next to impossible to catch up if you fall behind. Also, I do not consider it acceptable to work like a "Distance" student and skip class when you are signed up for the on-campus section. Your interaction with your classmates and my "lectures" are an important part of the class.  If you prefer to work on your own, you should take the "distance" version of the class instead. Please contact me well in advance if you expect to miss a class, and arrange to make up the time on your own.

* in Distance sections, "attendance" means that you are checking into the class and reading and posting Bulletin Board messages regularly.

1. Campus sections only: If you miss class for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain any handouts you missed, notes taken by other students during class, and/or any announcements that I made regarding labs, exams or other issues. You should be able to find most of these materials on the web site, but do not count on that only. Be sure to check in with other students to be sure you didn't miss any handouts, announcements or other class activities. Do not ask me for handouts if you miss class; it is your responsibility to get them from the web site or other students.


2. Campus sections only: Missing a class is not an acceptable excuse for handing in work late. Late penalties and cut-off dates will still apply.
   

• Distance and Hybrid sections: The web site course management software tells me when you have "logged on" to the program and which pages you have "visited". You are expected to "log in" to the class at least every other day, and check both your email and the Bulletin Board (Discussion Board) at least every other day, while the class is in session. This is important because I post frequent notes regarding the class and you are expected to be reading and posting Bulletin Board messages on a regular basis. At the end of the class, those of you who have "borderline" grades will receive the higher grade if you have been logging in to the class regularly. The class will move quickly, and it is next to impossible to catch up if you fall behind.
  

• Vacations: Please do not plan to take a vacation of more than a few days during the class, unless you will have web access and the software you need for the class where you are going. It is not possible to skip in a week in these short, fast-paced classes and pass the class.

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY:

• Students who fall behind in this class almost never catch up, and rarely complete the course.
   
• In some classes I post answer keys after the due date, or I provide completed work from the previous assignment so that everyone can start at the same place each week. I cannot do this and let people turn in work late.

1. There is no such thing as a "make-up" on an exam in this class. Exams will be posted for a limited time (usually 6-7 days), and may be completed at any time during that period. As soon as that time period is over, keys will be posted and no one else will be permitted to take the exam.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you have a disability and need an accommodation, please make arrangements to meet with me outside of class to discuss your accommodations. If it is a Distance class, please email me and I will call you if we need additional clarification. PCC Students requesting accommodations must provide documentation of disability and work with The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at 977-4341 or http://www.pcc.edu/pcc/res/osdserv.htm .

FLEXIBILITY STATEMENT :

Asssignment/Exam calendars may be changed in response to institutional, weather or class problems.

 

CLASS EXPECTATIONS FOR DISTANCE and "HYBRID" SECTIONS

1. Time Commitment: If you were taking this course in the classroom, as a 3 or 4 credit course in CAS or CIS you would have about 6 hours of class time per week with the instructor, not including homework. This also does not include time to do the reading, to complete homework started in class, or additional study time to read the material and understand the concepts, which may easily take 2 to 6 additional hours each week. Therefore you should expect to spend 8-12 hours per week on this class. Those of you taking "hybrid" sections of my classes that meet once per week will probably be able to reduce the amount of work at home by 2 hours or so. Some weeks you may complete the assignments in less time; other weeks it may take considerably longer. Be sure to budget your time accordingly, and do not wait until the last minute to start an assignment!
   
   
2. Login requirements: You are expected to "log in" to the class (the course WebCT site) and check your regular email AT LEAST every other day (every 2 days) while the course is in session.  This includes doing all of the following:
   
   
   1. Read any Announcements I have posted on the Home Page (these may be at the top of the page, in pop-ups, or in links)
      
   2. Read any new messages on the Bulletin (Discussion) Board, and respond to any that you can help with*
   3. Read any email that has been sent to you by me. When I have something particularly important to tell the class, I will send an email to the entire class using the email address(es) you entered on the Update Personal Information form (you will fill this out in the first assignment). I may also send you messages if I have questions about your performance in the class or about an assignment.
      
      * If you do this frequently, it will be easy to keep up with the messages and you will get "hints" on how to complete your assignments when they are most useful to you. If you wait too long, the number of messages can be overwhelming and you will not receive the benefit of this information.
      
      
3. When to Start an Assignment: I highly recommend that you read and/or print out the current assignment as soon as possible after it is posted. Then begin reading through the chapter(s) and working through the assignments early in the week. If you do a little bit each day, or every other day, it should not be difficult to keep up with the course, but you will not be able to complete my assignments in one evening. Also, if you start early in the week you won't have problems meeting the deadlines if you run into problems with your computer or the assignment, or if you need to wait to have your questions answered.
   
   
• Remember, do not wait until the last minute to start an assignment! If you run into problems, post a message on the Bulletin Board or e-mail your instructor to get some help well in advance of the due date. Your instructor is a busy person too, and does not have much sympathy for desperate e-mails the night that the assignment is due :-)
  
  
4. Computer Problems: If your computer stops working correctly during the course, or you cannot connect to the Internet, please do not wait to fix your computer before you start on an assignment! Instead, go to one of the computer labs at the nearest PCC campus to you (Computer Resource Center, CAS Lab or CIS Lab) to complete the assignment, well ahead of the time it is due.
   • Having a computer that does not work, or problems with your connection to the Internet, is not a valid excuse for turning in work late. Many students have failed to complete courses or obtained unsatisfactory grades because they fell behind while attempting to solve a computer problem. Please don't let this happen to you.
     

My classes are not "easy", but you will learn a lot (and have a lot more fun!) if you put a lot of work into them. Like most other things in life, the amount you get out of it will depend on how much you put into it.