What is this course about?

In this course, you learn how to design and develop fast, efficient and visually attractive Web pages using CSS and HTML. You gain the skills to create cross-browser compatible Web sites that meet Section 508 and W3C accessibility guidelines. You also learn how to establish effective site navigation using menus, integrate linear content and optimise pages for easy printing.

What background do I need?

HTML experience at the level of Course 470, Developing a Web Site: Hands-On, or equivalent experience, is required. Specifically, you should be knowledgeable of basic HTML syntax, such as creating simple tables and forms, and embedding images.

Will this course help me fulfill Section 508 and/or DDA guidelines?

Yes! CSS promotes the development of accessible Web sites that work on multiple browsers, including screen readers. In this course, you apply CSS best practices to meet current accessibility guidelines and create flexible and widely-readable Web sites.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is good for:

• Web developers who write HTML code and want to enhance their pages with CSS
• Web designers who want to create attractive and standards-compliant Web pages
• Project managers and IT managers who need to integrate CSS Web design into their projects
• Webmasters who maintain CSS sites
• Professionals tasked with meeting Web accessibility requirements
• Professionals who need to understand the benefits and implementation techniques of CSS

Does CSS enable me to develop pages that work on mobile and low-resolution devices?

Yes. Because CSS separates layout from content, you can readily develop your site for use on portable browsers. In this course, you learn how to properly structure your document to work with mobile devices. You also learn how to design alternate style sheets optimised for portable browsers.

Does this course cover navigation techniques and Web site organisation?

Yes! In this course, you learn best practices for structuring and organising your Web site for easy navigation. You gain the skills to apply organisational techniques to your site, such as menus and crumbtrails.

Will I learn how to create Web sites without using tables?

Yes. Tableless design simplifies Web page development and is one of the key advantages of CSS. In this course, you gain the skills to integrate tableless design techniques into your site.

Will a Web server programming language be used?

No, this course focuses solely on the presentation layer of Web development. However, since CSS simplifies your HTML code, the skills you gain in this course will improve your site's interactions with server-side programs.

Will animation be covered?

Integrating animation into your Web site is not within the scope of this course, which focuses solely on style sheets and creating attractive content. If you would like to add animation or special effects to your site, you may want to consider Course 487, Designing and Building Great Web Pages: Hands-On.

Do I need to be a graphics designer to take this course?

No. This course incorporates existing designs into Web pages and focuses on the implementation, not the creation, of graphic designs.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of hands-on exercises are in this course?

Approximately 45% of class time is devoted to hands-on exercises. An evolving case study throughout the course provides you with the hands-on skills to design and develop an effective, accessible and exciting Web page. Exercises include:

• Constructing vertical and horizontal menus
• Creating non-JavaScript rollover effects
• Styling tables using proven techniques
• Incorporating background images in page designs
• Optimising document layout for usability and accessibility
• Positioning and floating page content

Which CSS versions will be covered?

All versions of CSS are covered in this course.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

In addition to Course 470, Developing a Web Site: Hands-On, which is a prerequisite for this course, the following Learning Tree courses provide additional training on developing dynamic and effective Web sites:

Course 548, Hands-On Dreamweaver^®: Building Robust Web Applications, provides extensive experience using the rapid automated design process of Dreamweaver to build a dynamic, data-driven and visually rich Web site.

In Course 489, JavaScript for Web Development: Hands-On, you gain the skills to write client-side JavaScript. You learn how to add dynamic graphics to your Web site, create interactive forms and customise pages using cookies.

Course 221, Writing for the Web: Hands-On Skills for Reaching an Online Audience, provides the skills to create and deliver compelling Web content. You learn how to cultivate a writing voice and style that serve stakeholder needs as well as meet Web accessibility and Section 508 guidelines for broader audience usability.

The following courses may also be of interest:

• Course 519, Introduction to PHP for Web Development: Hands-On, provides a solid foundation in the PHP Web scripting language
• In Course 512, ASP.NET WebForms: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, you learn how to develop and deploy Web applications with ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005
• Course 542, XML: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, provides experience developing Web applications using Extensible Markup Language (XML)
• Course 986, Developing Ajax Web 2.0 Applications: Hands-On, provides the knowledge and practical skills required to effectively design, create and implement Ajax-enabled Web sites
• In Course 290, Management Skills, you gain a working knowledge of the key aspects of management - leadership, delegation, motivation and communication
• Course 319, Technical Writing: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, provides the skills to assess the needs of your users and create a variety of technical documents