The purpose of this class is to provide instruction on an as needed basis to anyone who wishes to learn the basics of building a Digital Portfolio using Dreamweaver / Fireworks MX.

The goal is to convey the basics in 5 Steps that should take the average user about an hour each to complete.

Total Class Time: Approx 5 Hours

|| Key Points || Who Should Take the Course || How Long Will it Take? || What is the Case Study? ||
|| How to Go Through the Course || Course Objectives || Assessment || Contact Information ||

• The class is designed to be self-paced and instructor-free. You can access the class any time of day or night, from any location that has an internet connection. You can take the class on your own schedule.
• Although instructor-free, the class will be monitored. If you have a problem or have a question, go to the Discussion Forum and ask a question. You should get an answer within 24 hours, if not sooner.
• The class is designed to be always available. You can access the class from any location that has an internet connection. The class will remain up for the foreseeable future.
• We use Macromedia's Dreamweaver/Fireworks MX. Although the non-educational price is several hundred dollars, you can buy the suite at JourneyEd for about $149. You may also download a free evaluation copy of both Dreamweaver and Fireworks MX from Macromedia.

The assumption is that your class or program requires a digital portfolio, and you have no idea how to begin.

Maybe you have looked at Dreamweaver and have been overwhelmed.

This self-paced class will show you the least you need to know about Dreamweaver and Fireworks in order to build a basic digital portfolio.

Further, if you go through each step and complete each "Case Study," you will end up with a digital portfolio published on the WWW.

Back to Top

Approximately five hours.

Each self-paced lesson is designed to last about an hour.

Obviously, mileage will vary depending on previous skills, ability, and interest.

Back to Top

The case study is where you immediately apply the skills you just learned by building a digital portfolio, step-by-step.

There is a case study section after each Step. Each case study starts where the last one left off.

It's called a case study because you will be building YOUR portfolio, designed around the particular needs of YOUR class or program.

If you go through each case study, you will have a completed digital portfolio published by the end of Step Five.

Back to Top

The COURSE GUIDE is the key to the content of the class. All how-to information, review questions, and skills application are linked to that one page.

Work from the course guide. Do each step.

• Skill session first.
• Then Review.
• Then apply what you have learned in the Case Study.

If you have a question, go back into WebTycho and post it in the Conference Section.

Back to Top

The PRIMARY GOAL of this course is for the student to be able to build a digital portfolio using Macromedia's Dreamweaver / Fireworks MX.

This includes:

• creating a site
• creating folders and pages within that site
• creating a simple background in Fireworks and exporting it for use in portfolio
• editing (crop, resize) an image and exporting it for use in portfolio
• being able to edit the site (change folders; rename files)
• being able to add text, tables, and hyperlinks in such a way that the user can easily navigate and understand the content of the portfolio
• being able to publish the site to the WWW.

The end product (and primary assessment) of the course is a basic digital portfolio

By the end of MODULE ONE, you should be able to:

• change your workspace to MX settings
• use the Design View
• find Properties Inspector and Objects Inspector
• open site panel
• create a site
• create a page

• use tables effectively
• use text and text editing features effectively
• make relative hyperlink using Point-to-File feature
• make absolute hyperlink using Link Box feature

By the end of MODULE THREE, you should be able to:

• use the toolbars effectively
• resize an image
• crop an image
• make a background
• save work in PNG
• export work to jpg or gif.

By the end of MODULE FOUR, you should be able to:

• add images (that you have edited in Fireworks) to your pages
• add a background
• use an image folder
• name and rename files
• apply some basic design concepts

By the end of MODULE FIVE, you should be able to:

• create a personal account on TRIPOD
• FTP your Portfolio site to the WWW

Back to Top

Since this class is self-paced and designed to get you started on building a digital portfolio appropriate for other classes, there is no final assessment per se.

If you have built a portfolio shell with graphics that load and hyperlinks that link, and if you have published the portfolio and can link to it online, then the basic objectives of the class have been met.

Design issues? Well, be careful. It is safest to build on the color schemes and design layout we suggest. Believe us--what might look cool and fun today, might embarrass you a few months down the road.

Digital portfolios are built for professors, hiring managers--people who are judging your professionalism. They are not built for teens or novice users or people who think dancing cats look cute. Be conservative in your digital portfolio design!

Since you are building a portfolio shell to be assessed in another class, the content of your portfolio (what you link to and include) is a matter of your particular instructor's assessment.

However,

1. if you want assessment on the shell that you have built, post the URL to your portfolio in the Assessment tread in WebTycho's Conference section; you will be given feedback within 24 hours.
2. if you want to examine portfolio assessment rubrics, check out Prentice Hall's Electronic Portfolio Rubric .

Back to Top

You can contact the designer of this course by email: skerby@mcdaniel.edu

Back to Top