FAQ

The short answer: I'm trying to empower you.

The long answer: It's the difference between working on your own car and bringing it to a mechanic. HTML editors are great for stuff you do outside of class, but for this class I require you to hand-code your HTML. Why? Because this gives you an intimate knowledge of how HTML works. That way, when something goes wrong, you'll be able to fix it yourself. Even when working with an HTML editor, sometimes things go a bit screwy and things don't appear correctly in your browser. Knowing the ins and outs of HTML, as you do when you hand-code, you will be able not only to scan to the place on the document where the problem occurred, but many times fix it yourself.

Just as we all use word-processing programs now, and don't have to mark up our documents the way we used to before Microsoft Word, we'll all be using HTML editors in a few years. Until then, it's still good to know what goes on "under the hood."

I hope not, but to be honest, this class wasn't designed with you in mind. The web design work is pretty basic, primarily because we have so much other stuff to do. Take a look at the Assignments page, and review the HTML assignments and the Web Directory assignment. If this is the sort of stuff you do in your sleep, you might be bored in our HTML workshops (and attendance in these will still count for you).

Remember, this class is based in the English Department, not in Computer Sciences (or the Art Department), and the focus on the class is on technology and writing, not on HTML. If you expected a different focus for the class, or you're not so interested in the English stuff as the computer stuff, you might look for another class before the end of add-drop period. If you're still interested in the English stuff, though, I'd be happy to assign you to a "roving assistant" position in our HTML workshops, and you can help me help others (I'll give you something extra in the way of class participation).

If you're at a more advanced level of web page design than I'm teaching in class, and would like to try some more advanced design techniques, talk to me early in the semester about your ideas, and we might be able to work out a more independent project for you; however, you still will have to hand-code your HTML--no editors are allowed. Keep this in mind.

Sorry, no food or drink is allowed in the Computer Classroom. As you can see by the rather "intimate" seating arrangements, our close proximity to each other in here more than justifies the exclusion of food and drink. Secondly, these are *brand-new* computers, and you don't want me to have to chase you down to replace the keyboard you spilled soda on. Just say no.

My office hours are before class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11:00. If you have class during this time (or have other obligations), we can arrange to meet at another time and/or location. If your questions are short (or easy for me to answer), you can e-mail me; just remember that I might not be able to check my mail for several hours, depending on when you write. I'm also usually around in the few minutes before and after class every day, so catch me then when you can. See the Class Policies for more information.

You should try to check your mail twice a day, if you don't already. If you can, check in the morning before class (every day), and check in the evening (between 7 and 10 pm is good). That way you'll stay informed if any class news comes your way. On the other hand, remember that I can't be held responsible for news that is sent to you and not received, either because you haven't checked your mail or because of unforeseen technical difficulties.

If the definition of "a couple of classes" means two, no, this won't be a problem. I expect most students to miss one or two classes in the course of a semester. However, if for some reason "a couple of classes" turns into five or six absences, you will have a problem.

You can't participate in class if you aren't here, and participation is a required element. This is not a correspondance course, so just showing up to hand in your work is not sufficient evidence that you are taking the class. Remember, if you miss two days of class, you've missed a week of class; students who miss four days of class have missed two weeks, etc. After three unexcused absences, expect your final grade to suffer. See the Class Policies for more information.

Well, it might be. While I understand the problem, to be honest, I'm not that sympathetic. The Class Policies specifically deals with tardiness and showing up late for class. If a special circumstance comes up, feel free to talk to me about it in advance, but please be on time.

No, and I might not know the answer to other questions that come up in class.

As I mentioned in Item 1, you may know more things about certain elements of technology than I do. This should not prevent you from asking questions! If I don't know the answer, perhaps someone else in class does. If not, it's my job to research the question and try to find an answer. And it's your job! The nature of this class is to share our opinions and experience so we all learn. If you bring in information to share with the class, I'll certainly reward you in calculating your class participation grade. Feel free to bring in cool and interesting web sites (good or bad!), news items related to our topics, and to make announcements you feel are pertinent to our mission. I'll try to leave the first few minutes of class for such explorations.