e-Quals Web Site Design

Unit 309 Web site design - Level 3 (Optional) Rationale

There are 5 outcomes to this unit. The candidate will be able to

1. explain the fundamentals of advanced web page development
2. undertake formal user requirements analyses
3. use appropriate development tools to imple ment and test interactive web pages incorporating advanced design and information presentation techniques
4. use appropriate graphics software to create and manipulate images
5. maintain and evaluate web sites

Guided learning hours

Assessment

 

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Outcome 1: Explain the fundamentals of advanced web page development

Underpinning knowledge. The candidate will be able to

1. describe how web pages can be made more interactive.( using eg VRML, DHTML and Java applets)
2. explain the purposes of XML
3. outline the different uses of scripting languages (eg CGI, VB Script, JavaScript)
4. explain scripting techniques used to interface a web page with a database to enable the presentation or interchange of up-to-date information

Outcome 2: undertake formal user requirements analyses

Practical activities. The candidate will be able to

1. create 'Terms of Reference' for clients to include:
   1. a statement of the problem
   2. a design for the web page using a suitable methodology such as storyboarding
   3. a style sheet describing the formats of text and paragraphs (font style, font type, font colour, paragraph indents, line spacing, etc.) to promote consistency within the web page
   4. an appropriate structure diagram demonstrating the linking structure of the web page
2. produce resources project plans for the incremental development of web pages including the gathering of suitable resources

Underpinning knowledge. The candidate will be able to

1. explain the relevance, importance and contents of a 'Terms of Reference', when creating a web page for a third party
2. recognise the different components of a Terms of Reference
3. explain the importance of a design style sheet when working either to a specification or within a team environment
4. describe the constraints and limitations that must be considered when producing a web page (eg file size/ download times, timescale of production, quality of image resources)

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Outcome 3 implement web pages and test web sites

Practical activities. The candidate will be able to

1. create web sites compatible with a range of browsers:
   1. providing both a frame based and a non-frame based interface
   2. incorporating JavaScript into a web page to achieve such effects as:
      • scrolling text
      • rollover button graphics
   3. incorporating a Java applet into a web page (eg expanding menu tree)
   4. using Dynamic HTML to enhance the interactivity or appeal of a web page
      • layers
      • cascading style sheets (css)
   5. interfacing a web page to a database in order to provide a web page presentation of responses to a simple query, for example:
      • a telephone number linked to a name or
      • a product price or quantity in stock from a product code
      • library book availability
   6. incorporating into web pages suitable forms to enable the gathering of feedback or other information from users of web pages
2. test web sites:
   1. verifying all links work
   2. using different browsers to preview pages and verify all components appear as expected

Underpinning knowledge. The candidate will be able to

1. explain the importance of maintaining cross-browser compatibility
2. describe the advantages and disadvantages of a frame based interface
3. select appropriate data to be collected using a form
4. describe the terms quality, timeliness and accuracy when applied to data collected from a web site

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Practical activities. The candidate will be able to

1. create images to predefined specifications (pixel height/ width; colour depth) suitable for inclusion in web pages (eg buttons used for linking)
2. alter areas of colour to facilitate the application of transparency to an image
3. create an animated GIF for use within a web page

Underpinning knowledge The candidate will be able to

1. explain the factors that affect the dimensions of a button, for example:
   1. quantity of text
   2. font type, size and style
   3. size and style of applied border
   4. available space for the button (s) on a web page
2. describe what is meant by the term anti-aliasing

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Practical activities. The candidate will be able to

1. create appropriate plans for the effective periodic maintenance and updating of web sites
2. check that a web site satisfies the 'Terms of Reference'
3. identify potential future enhancements to web sites
4. create suitable documentation for maintaining web sites to include, for each web page, a list of resources including the full path to a file name from a route directory of a web site

Underpinning knowledge. The candidate will be able to

1. explain the importance of documentation in maintaining a web site

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