A student writes ...

Also, thank you for the way you've set up this course. I had an interview with a DFW host site yesterday and the Chief Technology Officer wanted to see my work online and quizzed me about what I had done and how I did it. I was really glad that I'd been keeping up with things and could explain AJAX!

Terry talks...

Zango! Lightning strikes again!

A student writes ...

Hey Terry,
I just wanted to point your nose in the direction of some good resources to share with the rest of the people in the class.
The first is a much better version of Notepad (better than Notepad2 as well, in my opinion): Notepad++ (http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net) Out-of-the-box it works beautifully and it's STILL my preferred editor for quick coding changes (I tend to use Eclipse for big projects). But there are tons of extensions and plugins to it as well; gotta love open-souce, huh?
Also, here are two of my favorite web-dev blogs: http://friendlybit.com/ and http://www.alistapart.com/ are great, great ad hoc resources.

Terry talks...

Thanks!

A student writes ...

Hi Terry,
Everyone can access the Javascript book you recommended for free using the Safari Books Online service offered by SPL using this link: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=collection_digibooks
There are a lot of great technical manuals offered through this service! You just need a library card.

Terry talks...

Getting the library card might be a bit tricky for those folks not in Seattle, but thanks for the information.

Michael Heraghty writes ...

Hi Terry,
I'm good thanks. Still slowly but surely growing my business. How are things with you?
Your new course looks great. I enjoyed reading your replies to student letters.
The only thing I personally would add to the curriculum is an emphasis on usability (as distinct form accessibility). I would make Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think" required reading.

Terry talks...

Zango! Maybe next time I teach this course...,but in the meantime here is chapter 2: Chapter 2: "How we really use the Web"

A student writes ...

Terry -
Do you have any recommendations for website development tool accessible thru iSchool computers? I have a little experience with DreamWeaver, but other than that, I am not familiar enough with any other tool.

Terry talks...

Let me generalize your question to: "what would you recommend as an IDE (integrated development environment) for front-end development?"

Front-end developers work with HTML, CSS and JavaScript and then present their work in various browsers. Errors/problems/inconsistencies/weirdness can spring from any one of these technologies.

Still, the question arises about the "best" tool to use to create your front-end projects. I can only offer the following sad commentary:

• My long-time tool was Macromedia Homesite++, but that was bought out by Adobe and has been swallowed up by Dreamweaver.
• I use Dreamweaver right now, but for all its "feature bloat", I pine for a better tool. It may be that the ramp up to learning to use Dreamweaver is so long that it may take me 20 years to come to love it.
• At home I use the Coffee Cup editor, which costs $25. It is rather primitive and awkward to use. I wouldn't recommend it.
• During our residency I'm going to have everyone use Notepad, which is really backwards and ignorant. It will, however, permit everyone to focus on writing HTML without any "cool" features getting in your way.
• I have played with Notepad++ and it has some nice features such as some Intellisense of balancing HTML elements, which is helpful.
• During our residency I will show you the Web Developer plug-in for Firefox which is extremely helpful in debugging JavaScript.
• Sorry! I don't have a good answer to your question.
• The IT guys of the iSchool will tell you that Dreamweaver is the "industry standard" -- whatever that means! On the other hand, I had a student a few years back who did extraordinary web development using Notepad, but he was a "tough" guy who made it a practice not to make mistakes (i.e., a missing semi-colon).
• I would urge you strongly NOT to use MS Word for your web pages. Have you had a look at the HTML code that it produces? Yikes!

A student writes ...

Hello Prof. Brooks,
My name is W****** and I'm currently a first year student in the MSIM program. I'm interested in taking LIS 545 and wanted to get your impression on whether my background would be suited to taking this class. I've taken IMT 540 and I also took IMT 501 where I received a basic introduction to HTML, XML and JavaScript. Would I be a good fit for your class in terms of competency?

Terry talks...

Of course! This course is a great extension of those skills and will open up many new competencies for you. I hope that you're one of the lucky ones who gets in.

A student writes ...

Good Morning, Mr. Brooks
I am enrolled in LIS 545 this spring and looking forward to learning a lot. However, I know it will be a busy quarter and I'm wondering about working ahead during spring break. Do you anticipate making any changes to the site or the assignments that would be affected if I got started? I won't be working on it this week, but I did think I would get started later next week, if you think that's okay. Thanks.

Terry (Mr. Brooks) talks...

Zut alors! WORK AHEAD?!? A student wants to take charge of her own education and WORK AHEAD?!? Be still my heart...where were you the last 25 years of my teaching students who didn't want to WORK AHEAD?!?

Today (March 6/08) I'm working on week eight. You may start working on week one right now.

(At the residency, just when everyone else is moaning that there is too much work to do, you should raise your hand and announce that you've already done the first five weeks of the course. You won't win any friends, but I'll applaud.)

A student writes ...

Hello Prof. Brooks,
I am interested in taking your 545 class but have not taken LIS 540. I have taken 541 and am currently enrolled in 542 (and having no difficulties). Would you be able to advise whether this course would be advisable to take without 540 under my belt? I currently work with HTML and XML on a limited basis at my workplace, but would like to expand my skillset if I'm not getting in over my head.
Any information would be great!

Terry talks...

Prof. Brooks sez ZANGO! you currently work with HTML and XML on a "limited" basis, etc., etc., This course is for you!

A student writes ...

Dear Professor Brooks,
How much does one need to know to take your class? I've taken 541 and did that little bit with code that we had to do in there (one mod) and that's about it. Would this be enough background to take 545? I didn't know the ischool had a class like 545, but it's what I've wanted to learn for a long time, especially given that you have a design element rather than just writing code. I think I could become a real geek, given half a chance. Would I be lost in 545?

Terry talks...

My feelings are that the iSchool has needed a course like this for a long time. It reflects the 21st Century reality that we write with digital media now and therefore need to know how to use digital media.
I have no idea if you would be lost in 545. I often feel lost in creating the course pages and examples. But the more I'm lost and struggle with the material, the more of a master I become. How eager are you to learn?

A student writes ...

Dear Professor Brooks,
I've read your remarks on the website for LIS 545. I have taken LIS 541 and I enjoyed the unit on HTML. I've also written my own website in the dim mist of time using an old version of GoLive Cyberstudio, and used the fairly juvenile HTML on LiveJournal, although I've never had any formal programming. Is this acceptable?

Terry talks...

Sounds to me like you're armed and dangerous. See you at the residency.

A student writes ...

Terry,
I'm a first year residential MLIS student. I'm planning on taking LIS 540 next quarter. I see in the course catalog that LIS 545 has a prerequisite of 540. Is 545 an option for me if I am taking 540 concurrently?
Also, does 545 assume any programming background? This would be my first programming class, although I'm familiar with HTML and I'm a competent user of internet technologies and apps.

Terry talks...

Yes, taking LIS 545 is an option for you if you have yet to take LIS 540.
LIS 545 is about building things. I'm not sure I know what LIS 540 is about (and I've taught it five times! [Terry editorializes]).
Programming...programming...hmmm... Explain to me what you mean by programming. In the client-side environment there is "scripting" with JavaScript. Will there be coding, yes. To test yourself, what does the following do?

for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{ alert("Quack like a duck"); }

If you quacked like a duck ten times (or is it eleven?), then you're ready for this course. If you don't want to quack like a duck, better take another course.

A student writes ...

Hi Terry
What are the prereqs or skills assumed for the 545 course?

Terry talks...

Well...you don't need to have taken LIS 540. If you have taken some of the other courses in the LIS 540 sequence, that's all to the good. The dMLIS 545 Spring 2008 course is for folks who want to have a solid foundation in client-side web skills. It requires your great desire to mess with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc. I'll show you how things work, your job is to make them work.