Instructor

Norman Lippincott, Asst. Professor
Dept. of Mathematical and Information Sciences
Curtis Hall, Room 105
610-606-4666 ext. 3697 (home phone provided upon request)
nlippinc@cedarcrest.edu

Office Hours: MWF 11:00-1:00, MW 5:00-6:00

Course Description

An exploration of techniques and technologies used in the development of web server-based applications. Topics include the Common Gateway Interface (CGI), form processing, cookies, and session management. Programming languages commonly used for web server programming, such as Perl and PHP, are presented. Client-side support for web applications, including JavaScript and the Document Object Model, are also discussed.

Prerequisite: CIS 135

Course Objectives

Textbooks

Castro; HTML for the World Wide Web, with XHTML and CSS: Visual Quickstart Guide, Student Edition, 5th ed., Peachpit Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-321-15068-6.

Castro; Perl and CGI for the World Wide Web: Visual Quickstart Guide, 2nd ed, Peachpit Press, 2001. ISBN: 0-201-73568-7.

Ullman; PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual Quickstart Guide, Peachpit Press, 2001. ISBN: 0-201-72787-0.

Assessment

Grades are based on the following assessment items:

A final average is calculated according the the weights above and are rounded to the nearest full percent. The final grade is awarded according to the following scale:

  • 93-100: A
  • 90-92: A-
  • 87-89: B+
  • 83-86: B
  • 80-82: B-
  • 77-79: C+
  • 73-76: C
  • 70-72: C-
  • 67-69: D+
  • 60-66: D
  • 0-59: F

Homework

Homework will be assigned on a weekly basis. They will typically be short exercises intended as practice, development of basic skills, and quiz preparation. Homework that is complete and done on time receives full credit toward the homework grade. Homework that is partially (at lease half) complete or done late receives half credit. Homework not done within two weeks of the due date receives no credit.

Quizzes

Quizzes will consist of 25 true-false, multiple-choice, and short-answer questions. Quiz questions will be based on lecture material, assigned readings, and homework. The first 25 minutes of class on days designated for a quiz will be allocated for taking the quiz.

Projects

Four projects will be assigned throughout the semester. Each will involve development of a dynamic web-based application that uses technologies and techniques presented in class. The fourth project is given in lieu of a final exam.

Late projects will be accepted up to two weeks past the due date, and will be penalized 20% of the total possible score. Any project not turned in within two weeks of the due date receives a grade of zero.

Policies

Attendance

Regular attendance is an important factor contributing to the student's success in the class. Although much of the material covered in class comes from the textbook, some course content comes from the instructor's notes or other resources, and may be delivered only in lecture form. The student is responsible for all material covered in class, and should arrange to get notes from another student in the event of absence from class. The instructor's notes are not available for perusal by the students.

Your instructor keeps an attendance record for the class, however this record does not directly affect the student's grade. If a student has excessive absence and is not showing responsibility for the course material, a report of concern will be issued to the Advising Center.

If the student is absent on the day of a test, arrangements for a makeup must be made in advance of the test. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the test.

Honor Philosophy

The Cedar Crest College Student Guide includes the following under Honor Philosophy, Community Standards for Academic Conduct, Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity and ethics remain steadfast, withstanding technological change. Cedar Crest College academic standards therefore apply to all academic work, including, but not limited to, handwritten or computer-generated documents, video or audio recordings, and telecommunications.

All Cedar Crest students shall:

Unless specifically designated by the instructor, assignments for this course are individual assignments, not group projects. It is reasonable and appropriate for students to discuss an assignment outside of class, but the actual assignment work is to be one's own. It is not appropriate to collaborate on assignments, nor is it appropriate to copy another student's assignment, alter its appearance, and present it as one's own individual work. Such behavior is plajarism and a violation of the Honor Philosophy, and will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. A second offense will result in a grade of F for the course.

Classroom Protocol

The Cedar Crest College Student Guide includes the following under Honor Philosophy, Community Standards for Academic Conduct, Classroom Protocol:

Appropriate classroom behavior is implicit in the Cedar Crest Honor Code. Such behavior is defined and guided by complete protection for the rights of all students and faculty to a courteous, respectful classroom environment. That environment is free from distractions such as late arrivals, early departures, inappropriate conversations, and any other behavior that might disrupt instruction and/or compromise students' access to their Cedar Crest College education.

Computer Classrooms

When classes are held in a computer classroom, the computers are to be used only for organized class-related activities. Computers are to remain turned off or idle (with monitor turned off) during class time that does not require the use of the computer. Students should attend to e-mail, Instant Messaging, and related activities before and after class - not during class.

Class Visitors

Anyone not registered for the course who wishes to sit in as a visitor must obtain permission from the instructor in advance. Class visitors are to adhere to the same classroom protocol as is expected from registered members of the class. For classes held in a computer classroom, visitors will not be permitted to use the computers in the classroom.

Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss these needs with their professors during the first two weeks of class. Students with disabilities who wish to request accommodations should contact the Advising Center.

Release of Confidential Information

In order to remain in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the following policies will be in effect with regard to the release of information related to the student's academic record (i.e. grades):

Extra Credit

Your instructor may, at his option, offer the class an extra credit assignment, based on the overall need of the class. How such an assignment affects the grade will be determined if and when the extra credit assignment is offered. Individual requests for extra credit will not be granted.

Course Schedule

Date Topic Reading
1/26 Web Programming Overview, Using Linux, (X)HTML Basics, (X)HTML Validation HTML 1-4
2/2 (X)HTML Formatting, Hyperlinks, Using Images, CSS Basics HTML 4, 7-10
2/9 CSS Page Layout, Alternate Styles, Lists, Tables HTML 11-14
2/16 Quiz 1
Forms, Scripts, Perl/CGI Overview
HTML 16, 18
Perl 1, 3, 7
2/23 Perl Basics, Control Structures, Form Processing Perl 2, 9-11
3/1 Perl Arrays, Hashes, and Subroutines Perl 12-14
3/15 Quiz 2
Perl String Processing, Cookies, File Handling
Perl 15-17
3/22 JavaScript HTML 18, 19
3/29 PHP Basics, Form Processing, String and Numeric Data PHP 1-5
4/5 Quiz 3
PHP Control Structures, Arrays, Regular Expressions
PHP 6-8
4/13* PHP Functions, Files, Cookies, Session Management PHP 9-10, 12
4/19 PHP Database Integration, Other PHP Functions and Features PHP 11, 13
4/26 Other Topics
5/3 Quiz 4
Other Topics

* Tuesday April 13 follows a Monday schedule.

Here are the anticipated due dates for the course projects. All projects are due at 1:00 PM on the due date.