Academic titleNCFE Level 3 Award in Web Design Plus a UK Open Learning Diploma.
Course descriptionBored with your job? Looking for your first job? Feel you’re creative but never really get the chance to show it? Whatever your current situation, here’s a superb opportunity to completely change the direction of your life and get involved in something sexy and cutting-edge.
The truth is, we are in the middle of a revolution. A technical revolution. The internet has completely changed the way we think, the way we communicate and the way we do business. Yet surf the web and you come across so many websites that are pretty useless. Either a design nightmare, difficult to navigate, or they hardly give any useful information at all. Here’s your chance to profit from these big mistakes!
A great new lucrative career could lie ahead
Nowadays, almost anyone can throw together some sort of website using available design tools. But to design a great website, a website that works, a website that can make money…well that’s where professional web designers come in. And this great course from UK Open Learning, is designed to set you along the road to become an in-demand professional web designer
What will I learn on the course?
By taking our Diploma course in Web Design, you will learn the basic skills of a web designer. The course is divided into two sections. In section one, you will learn all about Hyper Text Mark-up Language – HTML. Topics range from using the internet and e-mail, creating web pages, forms and feedback, tables, creating images, frames , multimedia and more besides.
Section two brings you up to date with the latest web technology and the use of cascading style sheets. Amongst the comprehensive range of topics covered, you’ll find: using HTML editors, preparing, publishing and promoting your website, web development software, successful search engine optimisation, as well as web accessibility and usability issues. And at the very end of the course, you’ll publish your very own professional standard website!
How does the Web Designer Course work?
The great thing about distance learning is that you can study from home or work, at your own pace and in your own time. And that’s not all - you will have your very own personal tutor, a practising professional web designer, offering unlimited support via email, seven days a week for a whole 12 months. He or she will be happy to answer any questions you may have and give you advice as to how to complete the course successfully.
How is the course designed?
Our course in Web Design is a paper-based course offering you over 280 pages of tutorials and helpful information. It also includes a CD-Rom. You will be asked to submit 10 assignments for marking. However, it is a ‘step by step’ course presented in a friendly, easy to understand way. There is no jargon whatsoever!
What is on the CD ROM?
On the CD ROM accompanying this course you will find a selection of software. Your tutor will guide you when to install the software as some of this is time restricted and will run out. However if you install it at the correct time you will be able to complete the course using the software. It also provides you with a selection of examples to illustrate a particular point, and also to allow you to see how the files have been created.
We do not include full unrestricted versions of programmes such as Dreamweaver as they are continually being updated and as a professional web designer you will need to choose the correct programme to design your sites yourself.
Will I be able to become a professional Web Designer after taking the course?
At the end of the course you should have the confidence to create a professional website. You can then decide whether to look for a job as a junior web designer, or run your own business as a freelance web designer. We can offer you advice on finding work within the industry or even in starting up your own business.
Will I require further training?
Web Design is constantly changing and it is advisable to consider courses in Dreamweaver, Adobe, Flash, E-Commerce but all this depends on what level you wish to reach. If you designing websites for small business or clubs then our course is sufficient, if however you want to design sites for larger E-Commerce companies then you will need to consider further training.
Course Contents
Section 1 – concentrating on HTML – giving the student a thorough grounding in HTML mark-up.
Unit 1: The internet
What is the Internet?
How did it come about?
World Wide Web
Accessing the Web
The Internet and You
Installing a Browser
Internet Providers
Browsing the Net
Favourites
Accessing a We Page Stored in URL
Printing a Web Page
Saving a Web Page
History
Unit 2: Organising files and folders
Introduction and Procedure
Assignments Folder
Supporting CD ROM
WebEx Folder
Unit 3: Email communications
Reply
Forward
New Message
From
To Copy (Cc) and Blind Copy (Bcc)
Multiple Send
Subject
Message
Spell Check
Send
Sent Items
Deleted Items
Address Book
Sending Attachments
Sending Folder
Preferred Message
Save and Print Messages Received
Access and Store Attachments
Different Email Formats
Send/Receive All
Security
Your Email Identity
Unit 4: Create your first web page
Welcome to HTML
View the Source Code
To Print the Source Code
How to make HTML Tags Work
Organising the Layout of Your Page
Body Attributes
More Control
Adding Images
Using and Image as a Background
Unit 5: Hypertext links
Hypertext Links Explained
How to Create Hyperlinks
Using Text as a Link
Using an Image as a Link
Open Linked Page in a New Window
Unit 6: The use of lists
Why do we use Links
The Ordered List
The Unordered List
Nested Lists
Definition Lists
Navigating with Lists – Hypertext Links & Anchors
Unit 7: Advanced HTML formatting
Controlling Text and Background
Adding Colour to Text and Background
Download a HEX Code Generator
Adding Colour to Body and Text
Adding Colour to Hypertext Links
Set the Colour for a Selection of Text
Setting the Font Style
Setting the Font Size
Combine the Font Attributes
And Alternative Way To Set the Font Size
Unit 8: Forms and feedback
Feedback Via Email
Feedback Via Forms
Radio Buttons
Check Boxes
Selection Menu
Text Boxes
Align the Boxes
Password Boxes
Text Areas
Submit the Reset Buttons
Create Your Own Submit Button
What Happens When the Submit Button Is Pressed?
Using a Form in a Live Web Site
CGI Form Handling
Unit 9: Tables
HTML for Tables
Set up Your First Table
Tables within Tables
What can be Placed in a Data Cell
Unit 10: More about images
Overcoming Image Loading Problems
Create a Heading
Create a Button Image
Selecting Colours in PSP
Advanced Image Placement
Images as a Background
Re-Sizing Images
Compression of JPEG Images
Displaying Photographs
Saving Images From the Web
Creating Animated Images
The PNG
Organising Files and Folders
Using Layers
Unit 11: Frames
Creating a Basic Frames Site
Nesting Frames
Not all Browsers can Display Frames
Formatting Options
Creating a Heading
Linking Frames
Confused Search Engines
Unit 12: Image maps
What is an Image Map?
Creating an Imagemap
Unit 13: Multimedia
Animations
Video
How to Inset a Video File
Sound
MIDI Files Explained
Using Sound Files
Obtaining Sound and Video Files
Unit 14: More creative techniques
Creating a ‘Splash’ Page
Invisible Spacers
Horizontal Rules-The Sequel
Scrolling Text
Section 2 – bringing the student up to date with the latest web standards and the use of cascading style sheets. Includes an introduction to the 2 main types of web development software; a clear explanation of search engine optimisation methods that work, and information on web accessibility and usability issues. Culminates in the final assignment which requires the student to build and publish a complete web site.
Unit 15: HTML editors – introduction to TSW WebCoder 2005
Introduction
HTML Editors
Unit 16: WYSIWYG web editors – introduction to Dreamweaver 8
What You See Is What You Get
Macromedia Dreamweaver CS3
Define a Site
Create a New Document
Adding a Style Sheet
Adding More Style
Design a Professional Stie
A Quick Rundown of Additional Features
Unit 17: Preparing your website for the internet
W3C
HTML 4
Define The Nature of the Document
Define the Contents of the Document
Meta Information
Meta Information for Search Engines
Unit 18: Publishing your website
Publishing Your Site
The FTP Program
How to Use CuteFTP
Unit 19: Promoting your website – SEO/SEM (search engine optimisation/marketing)