# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # General Announcement Emails Sent to IT 240 Students # Winter Semester, 2011, Professor Don Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Mar 29, 9:00 AM, to everyone Today we did task 23. You can read about it on the grade book. Thursday (3/31) we will cover chapter 14 of the textbook. It is on forms. Tuesday (4/5) we will do a JavaScript activity in class. I will give you a calculator. You will dress it up and make it pretty. And maybe add more functionality to it, if you want. Wednesday (4/6) at 5 PM is the deadline for all late work. Thursday (4/7) at 7:00 AM is the scheduled time for the final exam. 7:00 to 8:50. Since grading is on a 1000 point scale, and by that point many will have 930 points already for an A in the class, the final will essentially be extra credit. I will take some questions from the chapters of the book and will ask them. The test will be open-book and open-web, so you can look up answers you may not remember. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Mon, Feb 07, 7:00 AM, to everyone To make regrading easier on me, I am making a few changes, starting today. (a) I have relabeled all the assignments. Instead of interesting words like eyes, ten, and logo, I am falling back to numbers like 07, 08, 09. I find numbers far more boring, but I also found myself bouncing back and forth trying to decide which assignment was which. This keeps things simple, which is better for me. (b) Each assignment will be graded initially right after class on the day we did it in class. If only a few people got the assignment done, I will extend the time limit and grade again, typically one day later. My intention is to create assignments that can be done during class. This grading is your chance to get the maximum number of points. (This is not a change, but I am repeating it here for completeness.) (c) Late work is accepted. I will not go looking for it. If you do it, please send me an email and tell me that it is ready to be graded. Late work is worth 30 points (75% of full credit). It must be complete and perfect. I will only grade it if it looks perfect. If it is not perfect, I will normally tell you what was the first thing I noticed that was wrong. There may still be other things that were wrong. I will not give partial credit on late work. It must be complete. (d) Please please please read the instructions for each assignment before asking for regrading. If you are not following the instructions 100%, you will not get the credit. You can also look at what the other students did to learn from it (not to copy it). And you can talk with the tutor, Joseph Tinwai Lee. (e) The deadline for all late work is now 5 PM, April 6 (the last day of classes before finals). Our last day of class is actually April 5, Tuesday, but I will accept late work up until April 6 at 5 PM. I will not accept late work after that time. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Feb 03, 6:05 AM, to everyone The IT 240 gradebook is up to date as of this moment. You can find it here: https://quiz.colton.byuh.edu/ Select "Review" for 2111 IT 240 Gradebook Winter 2011 The assignment for today (09) is posted with some instructions. I will show you one way to do it in class. If you miss class, you can Google to find instructions. I have also posted a web page on my own link that illustrates how it might look (one possible way). LATE WORK Several active students earned less than 75% credit on one or more assignments. I have decided to allow all old assignments to be redone for 75% credit. What to do? First, look at the description of the assignment in my gradebook. Second, look at what the other students did. Third, do it yourself. Fourth, send me an email requesting that I regrade your assignment. I will regrade it and give you 75% of the points you earned (rounded up). This is true even if the assignment is several weeks old. PRE-CRASH WORK If you did something before the great crash of the server, I will regrade it for 100% credit. Just mention to me that you had done it before the server crash when you request a regrade. I would like everybody to get an A. That can happen if everybody earns one :-) Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Sat, Jan 22, 9:50 PM, to everyone I have received several request for more time to do the assignments. My general approach is to give assignments that can be done right in class, especially if you have done the assigned reading before class. My intention is to grade them right after class, pretty much immediately. I judge the time needed based on the number of students that are successful. If I see that most students are successful at the assigned task, my belief is that there was enough time. If most are not able to complete the task in class, then I will announce that there is more time and I will regrade it for full credit a day later, normally. WordPress was an example of that. I expected we would get it done in class. It didn't happen. So I gave more time. For those that don't get full credit, I will regrade the assignment, normally the night before our next class. On the regrade, the maximum points is 75%. The other 25% are a reward for the students that were able to get it done in class. If you have a medical or similar emergency and get behind, we may be able to work something out. Get with me one on one, maybe office hours, maybe email, and we can talk about it. My requests and expectations for you are: (a) Do the reading before class, and at a minimum, do the tasks in your head, whatever it talks about. If you are not getting full credit in class, then you should do more, probably do the tasks in reality, by making the actual pages. (b) If you are not getting all the points you want, this is a good opportunity to form a study group that meets the day before class. It turns out that our room is open from noon to almost midnight on the days before we meet. There's lots of empty seats. It's a great place to study. (c) Get to class on time. I know, it's 7:40. AM. Early. But I think a lot of people are filtering in late and missing the discussion. Then they don't have enough time to do what everyone else could. (d) In class, when I make the assignment, please read the instructions carefully and first do exactly what was requested. Then go beyond if you have time and some clever idea. Everybody has clever ideas. They are not required or expected, but they are enjoyed and sometimes rewarded. (e) When you get finished, help those around you. The simple act of just trying to figure out why their page does not work is a great learning experience. And you may get some interesting ideas. My goal is for everyone to learn a lot and do really well in the class. We can make it happen. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Jan 20, 1:30 PM, to everyone I have completed the grading of assignments. You can see your score in my gradebook. I was delighted by a number of the things that members of the class did. Wow. For the WordPress task, one common problem was inability to load the website after creating it. For many people, this was solved by simply closing the browser (not just the tab) and then opening it again. It seems the browser is holding onto the original page and not reloading the new page. A number of WordPress sites were only half set up. I gave them no credit. A few were so outstanding that I gave them extra credit. Congratulations! For the Jan20 task (ch3), I went right down my checklist. Do you have two h1 elements? Does each have two p elements? etc. I gave some partial credit. I will automatically regrade the Jan20 and the wp tasks on Monday afternoon. If your current score is less than 30, I will check it again and update the score. If you want a regrade on the Jan13 or Jan11 or it240 tasks, send me an email and I will consider your circumstances and maybe regrade it. Here are the total scores for the class. This is out of 200 points possible. 210 200 200 200 195 190 184 183 180 170 154 153 153 150 150 148 143 140 140 135 133 130 120 110 108 105 93 80 75 70 60 55 51 40 5 0 The 210 is someone that got perfect scores, plus got some extra credit on the wp task. A grade of "C" right about now would be a score of about 150, give or take a few points. That's about 16 students. Passing would be a score of 120 or more. That's about 23 students. Failing is below 120. That's about 13 students. Total 36 students. 13 failing is of course way too many, but those scores might improve when I do the regrading on Monday afternoon. The best way to do well in this class is to read the chapter before class, and work through the task of the chapter, at least in your head, and better yet by actually keying it in. Then when you find out the actual task for the day, it should be easy for you. When you know the task, do exactly what I requested. If I want two h1 elements, give me two (or more). Using h2 or h3 may demonstrate the same level of understanding, but will not generate the same level of points. When you do what I say, you get the points. If not, I have to consider partial credit. You want full credit. From here on out, I am going to *try* to make the lecture part of the class as short as I can, like we did today, so there will be time to do the in-class work, and to help each other, and to get help. We are 1/5 of the way through the semester. For next Tuesday, study chapter 4. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Jan 18, 10:25 AM, to everyone Today in class Joseph (the TA) showed how to use WinSCP. That stands for Windows Secure Copy. WinSCP is a nice way to upload and download content for your website. Compared to cPanel, WinSCP is easier to use on a lot of files all at once. You would benefit from learning how to use it. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Jan 18, 10:20 AM, to everyone Summary: You should (a) set up wordpress, (b) read chapter 3. Today in class we talked about Wordpress and similar content management systems. We also talked about WinSCP. I downloaded Wordpress to my desktop, made the changes it suggests, and uploaded it to my cPanel account. For Thursday morning, before class, please set up a Wordpress website. It should be reachable through http://wp.NETID.is2.byuh.edu/ You can install it where ever you like in your public_html folder, in your it240.2111 folder, or anywhere else that you want, so long as the URL works properly. Do a little bit of configuration on your Wordpress site. Give it a title, etc. We will not be doing much with Wordpress. This is mainly just an exercise in setting it up and seeing what is involved. You can pursue it more if you want, or you can delete it after I have graded it. Essentially, the grading will be "does it work?" and not "what's in it?" I expect this task should take you about an hour. Some will be faster. Others will be slower. You can help each other. You can work together in teams. But you should do your own keystrokes and mousing, even if someone else is showing or telling you how. With your remaining study time before class on Thursday, please read Chapter 3 on page construction. We will be doing some in-class things that directly relate. By doing Chapter 3, you will be totally ready for class so you can keep up. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Jan 13, 10:40 AM, to everyone The IT 240 Gradebook has been recreated. Currently it can be found at http://qc.is2.byuh.edu/ (instead of https://quiz.colton.byuh.edu/). Please visit it and review your daily grades in the IT 240 class. It has grades for days 03, 02, and 01. Each day has the assignment described. Each day is worth 40 points. MAKE UP WORK: Some people did work that was not graded because the is2 machine crashed. Anyone that wishes to for any reason can redo the work for 01 and 02. Please go ahead and do that. Tuesday of next week, after class, I will check everyone's work and raise the grades accordingly. If your grade is fine already, there is nothing more that you need to do. There will be no penalty for late work with this grading because the is2 machine crashed. This is a one-time good deal. GENERAL LATE WORK POLICY: My current plan is that in-class activities will be graded soon after class for full credit (40 points). Then, they will be graded again about a day later for partial credit. Normally the maximum partial credit is 30 points. Grades will be entered into my gradebook so you know where you stand. After the second grading, additional gradings are for special circumstances only. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Jan 13, 9:40 AM, to everyone Today in class we covered URLs. I recommended reading Wikipedia for "URL" and "URI". We talked about the components of a url: (1) protocol, (2) host, or user@host:port, (3) path, (4) query, and (5) fragment. Then we built the "ch2" or "Jan13" assignment, which was to make a three-page website properly linked to my student projects page. One page should be based on your ch1 webpage, and should be named index.html, and should have links to the two other pages. The other pages must exist, have content (I don't care what), and be reachable from links on the index page. We did not have time to talk about WinSCP, which is planned for a future time. We did not have time to talk about two-column and three-column layouts. IN OTHER NEWS... You are invited to create other directories on your is2 account. I reserve the right to tell you what goes in your it240.2111 directory, but you can control other directories as you see fit. Specifically, it would be reasonable and smart to make your own it240 directory and to do the sample assignments given in the textbook, before you come to class. This will give you a big headstart on the tasks that may be done right in class. I highly recommend it. The next reading assignment is Chapter 3 for next THURSDAY. On Tuesday we will talk about blogs, wordpress, and the role of the human in making web pages. We may also be able to talk about things I did not get to today. I recommend you read Wikipedia article on "WordPress" in preparation for Tuesday. See you Tuesday. Have a great weekend! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Jan 11, 9:37 AM, to 16 students This email is to tell you that your Jan 6 work did not get graded. Please redo it. Here are the specifications: In you public_html/it240.2111 directory, make a file named index.html The file must include your name (nothing else) in bold. It must also include something (not everything) in italic. It must also include an image that represents you in some way. It should be ready to grade by Thursday at 9 AM. I will access it from http://dc.is2.byuh.edu/it240.2111/index.html I will click on the it240 link on your line. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Jan 11, 9:25 AM, to everyone In class today we worked through the Chapter 1 example, with a few changes. We created the work on our desktop and then used cPanel to upload it to the is2 machine. There I am grading it. 24 people finished it before I left the classroom, out of 36 in the class. For Thursday, read chapter 2. Also find a 2-column or 3-column website you think is interesting. We will talk about the layouts and try to analyze them a bit. I will send a separate email shortly to those whose Jan6 work was lost before I could grade it. (As you may recall, the due date was Friday at 5 pm. Everything was lost shortly after that.) If I did not grade your work, this is your chance to do it, even if you missed the Friday deadline. 23 people got it done and graded. 12 did not. Tutoring is available each evening from about 4 PM to about 11 PM in our classroom, GCB 111. Look for the tutors that are wearing red vests and ask them questions. See you Thursday! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Sat, Jan 8, 8:10 PM, to everyone I wrote Thursday around 10:15 AM with an IT 240 update. Since then the is2 machine crashed. Badly. In my 10:15 message I said: Because this is the first day of class, and some people had problems with their accounts, I will give you until 5 PM on Friday (tomorrow) to complete the activities ... Well, the is2 machine crashed (two hard drives wiped out) just after 5 PM. I did not get anything new graded and it is entirely possible that on Monday or Tuesday everyone will need to recreate their accounts from scratch. Fortunately I have a paper copy of the grades for the people I previously checked. So, anyway, what it boils down to is that the grades will be updated probably around Wednesday of next week, and those who did not get graded already may need to redo the assignment in order to get a grade. Also, the quiz website is hosted on the is2 machine, so it's currently broken too. But for Tuesday, read chapter 1 before class. We should be able to go forward anyway. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Sat, Jan 8, 8:53 AM, to everyone I am writing to students in my CIS 101 and IT 240 classes. The IS2 machine suffered a hardware failure on Friday afternoon or evening. One or more of the hard drives failed. They are in the process of being rebuilt. I had hoped that it would be done by now, but it is more messy that expected. I will send you another email when I find that the IS2 machine is back up and running. In the mean time, this will affect your ability to use cPanel, and it will affect my ability to grade any work you have done. It also affects your ability to see your grades on quiz.colton.byuh.edu and your ability to do anything that involves colton.byuh.edu which is hosted on the is2 machine. In the mean time, everything at byuh.doncolton.com is still up and running, as well as the CIS 101 textbook at ipup.doncolton.com. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Fri, Jan 7, 7:33 PM, to everyone Students of IT240, Hey, this is Joseph, your tutor for this course. To most of you this maybe your first programming class, so I can understand if you struggle with it from time to time. To help you guys out, I want to inform you guys of my tutoring hours: Mon: 7-8pm Wed: 6-7pm Fri: 6-7pm Email communication would work as well, but I may not attend to them until my working hours. Thanks for your consideration. I look forward to work with each and everyone of you and wish you a successful semester. Joseph # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Jan 6, 10:14 AM, to everyone Courtesy of Mossi, here is the link for the Amazon Free student shipping thing. http://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info Today in class we touched on a lot of things, most of which were high-level overview kinds of things. The things that are most important and that you are graded on are these: (1) Take the it240 quiz at https://quiz.colton.byuh.edu/ (2) Create an is2 account if you did not already do so. (3) Log into your is2 account and make a directory named "it240.2111" inside the public_html directory. (4) In the it240 directory, create a file named "index.html" that includes your name in bold and something in italics. (5) Make sure I can reach your index page by clicking on the it240 line on my student projects page, http://dc.is2.byuh.edu/it240.2111/ If you have trouble doing any of these things, we have a tutor for the class. His name is Tinwai Joseph Lee. You can contact him at leet2@go.byuh.edu and ask him when his tutoring hours are. Because this is the first day of class, and some people had problems with their accounts, I will give you until 5 PM on Friday (tomorrow) to complete the activities listed above. 20 out of 35 students have already completed the activities. Several more did it partially but not completely yet. I will do final grading on the day's activities at 5 PM Friday. You can see your score at https://quiz.colton.byuh.edu/ under IT 240 Gradebook. If you have 40 points, you have all the points that are possible. If you have less than 40, see if you can figure out why and fix it by 5pm on Friday. For Tuesday next week, read chapter 1 before class. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Wed, Jan 5, 1:03 PM, to everyone I see that you are signed up for the IT 240 class. I am teaching the class. I will be sending emails from time to time just like this one, with information about the class. The first thing for today is that class starts at 7:40 AM, which is really early. I plan to get to the room by 7:20 AM so it will be unlocked. The second thing is that the textbook for the class is mentioned on my class webpage, http://byuh.doncolton.com/courses/it240/ - it is Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. It is not available at the bookstore, but you can get it from Amazon for about $20, or maybe used from a student who took the class previously. If you don't already have the book, try to find it or order it. You can survive a few days without it, but you will want to get a copy or buddy-up with someone that has a copy. Buy them an ice cream and maybe they will be your friend for life? It could work. See you tomorrow! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tue, Dec 21, 4:52 PM, to everyone The list below has the names and email addresses of 9 students who took the IT 240 class during Fall and said that they are willing to sell their book to someone that is taking the class in January. This email is going to the 19 students who are currently signed up to take the class in January. [list removed for privacy] If you want to buy from one of these people, I recommend that you contact them directly before someone else buys their book. See http://byuh.doncolton.com/courses/it240/ for book and course information. The textbook will not be available in the bookstore. You can buy the book through Amazon for about $20 new. If you buy $25 worth of merchandise, you get free shipping. You can buy the book through any other bookseller for $40 or less I would guess. You are at liberty to set your own pricing arrangements, of course. I am open to suggestions for a better way of helping the buyers and sellers to get together next time :-) Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Fri, Dec 10, 1:54 PM, to everyone I am writing to you because you are registered for IT 240 Web Design in Winter, or you have it on your MAP for Winter. In preparation for teaching it, I am reviewing and possibly updating the course objectives. If you could say one or two things that you really hope to learn, or skills you hope to have, what would they be? (Don't worry about whether it is currently an objective or not. Just speak from your instincts. What should be in the class for you, ideally?) I will use your comments to refine the course objectives and update the relevance of the course. Any thoughts? Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thu, Dec 2, 11:48 AM, to everyone I see that you are signed up to take IT 240 in January. I will be teaching the class. The textbook will not be carried by the bookstore next semester. Suggested price is $39.99 but you can get it on Amazon for $20.15, so why pay more? You may need to double up with something else to get the free shipping though. http://byuh.doncolton.com/courses/it240/ is my class homepage. It has the details about the textbook there. Also, we have contacted the current students to find out if any of them want to sell their book. When I get a list, I will contact you again. Thanks! Bro Colton # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # end