- TEXTS:
-
- Designing Web Usability, Nielsen, New Riders Publishing, 2000,
ISBN: 1-56205-810-X.
Amazon
New Riders
Errors in text
- Programming the World Wide Web, Sebesta, Addison-Wesley, 2002,
third edition.
Amazon
- Reference books:
- HTML 4 for the World Wide Web, Castro, Peachpit Press.
- Java Gently, Bishop, Addison-Wesley.
- OBJECTIVE:
-
This course teaches students how to develop software for web applications.
The concepts of client-server computing,
theories of usable graphical user interfaces,
and models for web-based information retrieval and processing
are covered.
In the past few years,
the way software is built has been rapidly changing.
As use of the world wide web has shifted
from information presentation
to information gathering
to direct customer sales (e-commerce)
and to business-to-business e-commerce (b2b),
the amount and complexity of software has steadily been increasing.
At the same time,
new models of programming
and new technology for designing and developing the software
has made this complex software easier to build.
As a result,
there are many opportunities for personnel that have a light background
in Computer Science theory,
but a solid level of knowledge of software and web-based technology.
Thus, the topic of this course is of interest to and accessible to
students in a wide variety of specializations.
- CONTENT:
-
SWE 432 covers
some of the topics related to the
exciting new programming models that are used to support
web and e-commerce applications.
We will be studying the software design, interface design,
and development side of web applications.
Programming skills are required and
students are expected to learn HTML on their own.
The class will be very practical (how to build things)
and require several small programming assignments.
Goals are to
understand how to design usable software interfaces
and implement them on the web,
learn how to build software that accepts information from users across
the web and returns data to the user,
and
understand how to interact with database engines to
store and retrieve information.
Specific topics that are included are
HTML,
CGI programming,
Java,
Java applets,
Javascripts,
and Java servlets.
- READING:
-
We will read from
the texts, various sources on the web,
and transparencies that will be made available on the web site.
The schedule for the readings are given on the
schedule web page.
- MAKEUPS:
-
Unless arrangements are worked out in advance,
missed assignments cannot be made up,
and 10% per week will be deducted
for late submissions.
I understand that your job may occasionally take you out of town;
so does mine.
If you are going to be forced to miss class on the day something is due,
let me know ahead of time by email or in writing.
- HOMEWORKS:
-
A number of homework assignments will be given.
I will
make the assignment available on the class web site
and discuss each in class.
You will submit your solutions by placing them on your web sites.
You should submit links to executable versions of programs,
but may not post source files.
Posting program source on your website will be considered an honor code violation!
Be sure that you are on the class mailing list,
as refinements and hints for the assignments will be sent through email.
Homeworks must be submitted before class on the day they are due.
Late submissions will be assessed a 10% penalty per class meeting,
and you must inform the professor and TA by email when a late assignment
is ready for grading.
All assignments must be submitted
before final exams start and will not be graded thereafter.
- IN-CLASS COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATION:
-
Phone calls, text messages, instant messages, email, and general web surfing are not allowed
during class time.
Computers may only be used to follow the material in class.
Violators will have their devices confiscated or asked to leave the room.
- HONOR CODE STATEMENT:
-
As with all GMU courses,
SWE 432 is governed by the
GMU Honor Code.
In this course,
all assignments, exams, and project submissions
carry with them an implicit statement that it is the sole work of the author,
unless joint work is explicitly authorized.
Help may be obtained from the instructor or other students to understand
the description of the problem and any technology,
but the solution, particularly the design portion,
must be the student's own work.
If joint work is authorized,
all contributing students must be listed on the submission.
Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation,
and as a minimum, will result in failure of the submission
and as a maximum, failure of the class.
- GRADING POLICIES:
-
- There will be several computer assignments (total 40%).
- Each class (except the first one) will have a quiz.
The lowest three quizzes will be dropped,
thus you can miss up to three quizzes.
The 10 quizzes with the highest scores will be
used to calculate the final grade (10 * 3% = 30%).
- There will be a closed book, in-class, comprehensive final exam (30%).