What is this course about?

In this course, participants gain practical experience designing the organisation and presentation of Web content. Participants also learn how to develop a business case to support the Web site development. Participants learn how to use the latest techniques and comprehensive tools to convey information coherently via the Web. The course concentrates on the most effective means of implementation.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for anyone involved in designing, specifying, organising and/or creating Web pages. Content producers, such as technical writers, sales and marketing personnel, and technical support staff, benefit from this course. This course is also valuable for managers who want to evaluate the potential and logistics of Web content presentation.

What background do I need?

You should have a general familiarity with the Windows user interface and Web browsers. Some basic knowledge of Web fundamentals and HTML is helpful. HTML, XHTML and Ajax knowledge is helpful.

What Web tools will I use in this course?

The focus of this course is on employing many of the Web tools available to developers to create Web content. You will learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create and/or edit graphic features for a Web site. You will also learn how to build Web content using Web editors that generate HTML code, such as Microsoft Expression Web and Adobe Dreamweaver.

Will I learn how to build an entire Web site?

Yes! This course provides the knowledge you need to build a Web site from the development of a business case, storyboarding to create the layout, and the implementation of a Web page or Web site using tables or CSS. The course does not cover server administration. For this knowledge, consider taking Course 470, Developing a Web Site: Hands-On. Learning Tree also offers other Web-related courses covering Web servers, server-side processing, database integration, Java and more.

Will I learn how to set up a Web server?

This course concentrates on developing Web content; no time is spent on installing and configuring Web servers. Learning Tree offers several Web server configuration and administration courses (see the related courses list at the end of this document).

Will I learn how to use Microsoft Expression Web?

Yes. This course provides a thorough introduction to Microsoft Expression Web. Participants learn how to use MS Expression to implement the many techniques demonstrated throughout the course. Participants use MS Expression to design Web pages, verify the structure of their sites, create links, use the MS Expression task panes and Expression interface, and work with layers and style sheets.

Will I learn how to use Adobe Dreamweaver?

Yes. Participants create Web pages using the latest version of Adobe Dreamweaver CS4. Participants investigate and compare Dreamweaver's features and user interface with MS Expression.

For more extensive information on Dreamweaver, please ask about Course 548, Hands-On Dreamweaver^®: Building Robust Web Applications.

Will I learn how to create graphic content and animated GIFs?

The course provides a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of computer imaging and also covers state-of-the-art Adobe tools. Participants use Adobe Photoshop to create graphics and enhance the graphical content of the Web pages. The course also covers the production of animated GIFs using Photoshop, Gif Construction set, and other tools.

Will I learn JavaScript in this course?

Although the course does not attempt to teach how to program JavaScript, some time is spent on how to add functionality to Web pages with Ajax using pre-written JavaScript scripts, MS Expression and Dreamweaver.

Will I learn Java?

The course does not attempt to teach the Java programming language; it focuses on how to use already available Java applets to enhance the look and functionality of Web pages. Learning Tree offers an introductory course on Java programming: Course 471, Java Programming: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of hands-on exercises does the course include?

Approximately 40 percent of class time is spent in hands-on exercises. Hands-on exercises include:

• Translating a business case
• Designing Web page layout using a storyboard
• Using Microsoft Expression Web to develop Web pages
• Employing Adobe Dreamweaver to develop Web pages
• Creating and enhancing Web page graphics using Adobe Photoshop
• Creating Cascading Style Sheets using Microsoft Expression Web and Adobe Dreamweaver
• Implementing Web pages with floating layers
• Creating a framed Web page
• Applying interactive forms
• Embedding JavaScripts

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

Learning Tree offers other courses that might be of interest to Course 487 participants:

• 522, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for Web Page Development: Hands-On provides the skills to design and develop efficient, accessible, cross-browser compatible and visually attractive Web pages using CSS and HTML
• 489, JavaScript for Web Development: Hands-On offers the skills to build an interactive, multimedia-enabled Web site, including how to use the latest techniques and comprehensive tools to create animation and integrate audio-visual elements
• 984, Adobe® Flash®: Developing Interactive Web Content provides the skills to build and deploy cross-platform Rich Internet Applications (RIA) and content with Adobe Flash
• 988, Adobe® Photoshop®: Creating and Enhancing Images and Graphics provides the skills to fully leverage the range of features in Adobe Photoshop to create and enhance effective graphics, efficiently navigate and configure the Photoshop workspace, create and manipulate layers, layer masks, Smart Objects and Smart Filters, and design graphics and optimize images for the Web
• 542, XML: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides experience writing and validating well-formed XML documents
• 986, Developing Ajax Web 2.0 Applications: Hands-On provides the knowledge and practical skills required to efffectively design, create and implement Ajax-enabled Web sites
• 566, Internet Information Services 6 for Windows Server® 2003: Hands-On provides the essential knowledge required to manage Microsoft's latest IIS 6 enterprise Web server
• 548, Hands-On Dreamweaver®: Building Robust Web Applications offers the knowledge and skills needed to create dynamic and interactive Web sites using Adobe Dreamweaver
• 519, Introduction to PHP for Web Development: Hands-On provides experience using the PHP Web scripting language to produce dynamic Web pages
• 194, Hands-On Visio®: Designing Effective Visual Solutions provides the skills use the Visio built-in templates and stencils to quickly create sophisticated diagrams