Certificate: Web Professional in the Stanford Environment, Level 1


Contents

Course Title

Web Professional in the Stanford Environment, Level 1


Course Description

This one-day workshop serves as a final exam/certification for demonstrating proficiency in creating a multi-page website in the Stanford environment. A few days prior to the workshop, IT Services will provide you (via email) with the raw materials and content you will use to demonstrate your proficiency.

Note: Although you are expected to do your own work, the exam/certification itself is open book, open note, and you may use any and all resources available to you (short of having someone else create the web site on your behalf).

The criteria upon which your web site will be evaluated include: (see table at the end of this web site for suggestions on training for these topics):

  • Four (4) linked pages (using the raw materials and content provided to you by IT Services as the basis for the web site)
  • At least one form demonstrating interactive feedback (at a minimum, create a simple registration form which collects data, stores it to a text database, and sends the data in an email)
    • CGI requirements: demonstrate ability to use a script that must be installed and customized (Participants will be provided two scripts -- one in PHP, the other in Perl -- that they may use. If they prefer, participants may create and use their own PHP or Perl script.)
    • Data that the form collects must be:
  1. stored in a location on AFS that is unreadable by the web servers and
  2. protected by WebAuth
  • External CSS (character formatting as well as page layout)
  • Images (including a button, logo, or other image manipulated using a tool such as Photoshop, Fireworks, or GIMP)
  • Navigational elements (e.g., a graphical or textual navigational bar with links to the home page and all of the subsequent pages that comprises the web site).
  • Footer shared by all pages with copyright information and contact information
  • Structured content (headings, sub-headings, lists, divisions, spans as appropriate)
  • Validated HTML, CSS, and Javascript code
  • Code that complies with the W3C WCAG 2.0 Guidelines AA (for guidance, see the Stanford Online Accessibility Program - http://soap.stanford.edu, or take either the IT Services class "Web Design: Designing a Web Site" or the Continuing Studies course "CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design")


In addition, the following proficiencies must be demonstrated:

  • Ability to copy files ("publish") using AFS
  • Advanced .htaccess file manipulation (e.g., redirect a URL, or use a custom error document)
  • Ability to restrict access to web pages using at least 4 kinds of WebAuth (restricted to any SUNet ID, restricted to only certain SUNet IDs, restricted to one of the University-created groups -- students, staff, faculty, administrative, academic, and restricted to a personal group you have set up)
  • Ability to give others write access to the directory via ACLs and PTS groups


Class Structure

The workshop will meet from 9am to 4pm.

  • Prior to the workshop, participants will be sent an email detailing the specific website they will need to create (see criteria above for an idea as to the scope of the project). Participants must come to the workshop with a completed draft of this website.
  • On the day of the workshop, the following will occur:
  1. a presentation by the student of the website's components
  2. peer review and feedback of the website
  3. review, critique, and evaluation of the website by the instructor and a panel of Stanford web professionals (see Certification Evaluators) Following the review and critique, students may update and re-submit their websites if they choose. The final submission will be used to determine the participant's mastery of the proficiencies described above.

Participants must adhere to the Stanford Honor Code -- no outside help other than that already received in the workshop is allowed.

Final evaluation of the websites will commence the following week by the instructor and panel; approval of the website will result in certification.

Stanford Honor Code: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/guiding/honorcode.htm


Audience

Stanford Unviersity staff who create/edit/maintain websites for departments, programs, and groups, as well as for those who would like to pursue a career in web design at Stanford.


How to Prepare

In addition to meeting the course requirements (or equivalent experience), come to the certification workshop with a completed draft of the website. Prior to the workshop, you will be sent an email detailing the specific website you will need to create. Bring any collateral material (e.g., PDFs, graphics, word documents) that you will need for the website.

Coaching and Information Meeting

Interested in the Web Professional Certification, but you don't know if you're ready or have questions? Come to our FREE brown bag lunch Coaching/Information Meeting to:

  • Get your questions answered about your preparedness
  • Plan the next steps in your curriculum
  • Meet others with the same goal and network with them
  • Find out more about what it takes to pass

We want you to succeed!

The Coaching and Information meetings convene the last Friday of each month in Turing Auditorium during the lunch hour.

Next Coaching and Information meeting: Friday, December 4, 2009, Turing Auditorium, 12:00 - 1:00

Pre-requisite tracks to prepare for certification (or equivalent experience)

Track 1 (IT Services)

  • Web Design Level 1: HTML Your Way to the Web (The Basics)
  • Dreamweaver 101: Start Here (Dreamweaver Lite)
  • Web Design Level 2: Enhancing Your HTML Skills (Making Your Web Site Work)
  • Web Design Level 3: Cascading Style Sheets
  • Web Design: The Top 10 Misteaks (sic) in Web Design and How to Avoid Them
  • Web Design: Forms using PHP and HTML
  • Web: Securing Computers, Documents, and Web Sites
  • Photoshop 101: Start Here (Photoshop Lite)

Track 2 (IT Services)

  • Web Design Level 1: HTML Your Way to the Web (The Basics)
  • Dreamweaver Level 1
  • Dreamweaver Level 2
  • Dreamweaver Level 3
  • Web Design: The Top 10 Misteaks (sic) in Web Design and How to Avoid Them
  • Web Design: Forms using PHP and HTML
  • Web: Securing Computers, Documents, and Web Sites
  • Photoshop 101: Start Here (Photoshop Lite)

Track 3 (Continuing Studies)

  • CS 21: Beginning Web Site Design
  • CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design
  • CS 38: Using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Fireworks: Graphics Production for the Web
  • CS 41: Beginning Programming

 

Training Opportunities for Specific Skills

Certificate Criteria Training Opportunities (from IT Services) Training Opportunities (from Continuing Studies)
Linking pages Web Design Level 1, Dreamweaver 101: Start Here (Dreamweaver Lite) CS 21: Beginning Web Site Design
Form creation and basic CGI skills Web Design: Forms using PHP and HTML

CS 21: Beginning Web Site Design

CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design

CS 41: Beginning Programming
Image manipulation Photoshop 101: Start Here (Photoshop Lite) CS 38: Using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Fireworks -- Graphics Production for the Web
Navigational elements, Footer, Structured content, Validated HTML code Web Design Level 1, Web Design Level 2, Dreamweaver Lite, Dreamweaver Level 1, Dreamweaver Level 2

CS 21: Beginning Web Site Design

CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design
Validated HTML code, WCAG 2.0 Accessiblity Guidelines

Web Design: The Top 10 Misteaks (sic) in Web Design and How to Avoid Them

Stanford Online Accessibility Program (http://soap.stanford.edu/show.php?contentid=58)

CS 21: Beginning Web Site Design

CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design
Publishing using AFS Web Design, Level 1 N/A
Advanced .htaccess manipulation, WebAuth Web: Securing Computers, Documents, and Web Sites CS 22: Enhanced Web Site Design
All Topics Training By Appointment (http://tba.stanford.edu):
These highly successful one-on-one, customized training sessions can be the answer to your training needs in your office or in the One-On-One Training Room, Room G20 of Redwood Hall located at 243 Panama Street (in the Jordan Quad area of campus). Pick your own learning objectives, then register for a 90-minute training appointment. An expert will work with you on YOUR learning objectives.		 N/A

How to Register

Using STAP Funds:

  1. Sign in to https://axess.stanford.edu
  2. Click the Training (STARS) tab
  3. Click Search Catalog
  4. Enter the course number - ITS-2606
  5. Click Enroll to see more information about the class and to enroll in the next workshop.

Note: In order for Axess to work properly, make sure your pop-up blockers are turned off, and that cookies and javascript are both enabled. If you experience problems, it is recommended you clear your browser's cache / cookies.

Using Department Funds, Hospital Tuition Assistance or Personal Funds:

  1. Download and fill out the paper registration form found at http://techtraining.stanford.edu/form.pdf
  2. Fax the completed form to 725-0995.

If you have questions, call 723-4391.


Certification Evaluators

  • Mark Branom: Instructor, IT Services and Lecturer, Continuing Studies
  • John Foliot: Program Manager, Stanford Online Accessibility Program
  • Dave Ream: Lead Web Designer & Editor, IT Services
  • Scott Stocker: Director of Web Communications, University Communications
  • Tim Torgenrud: Information Systems Specialist, IT Services
  • Marco Wise: Senior Web Developer, IT Services
  • Brian Young: Web Designer & Developer, IT Services


Resources

Related Courses

IT Services Related Courses

http://techtraining.stanford.edu

  • Web Design Level 1: HTML Your Way to the Web (The Basics)
  • Dreamweaver 101: Start Here (Dreamweaver Lite)
  • Dreamweaver Level 1
  • Dreamweaver Level 2
  • Dreamweaver Level 3
  • Web Design Level 2: Enhancing Your HTML Skills (Making Your Web Site Work)
  • Web Design Level 3: Cascading Style Sheets
  • Web Design: The Top 10 Misteaks (sic) in Web Design and How to Avoid Them
  • Web Design: Forms using PHP and HTML
  • Web: Securing Computers, Documents, and Web Sites
  • Photoshop 101: Start Here (Photoshop Lite)

Continuing Studies Related Courses

http://csp.stanford.edu/

  • CS 21, Beginning Web Site Design
  • CS 22, Enhanced Web Site Design
  • CS 38, Using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Fireworks: Graphics Production for the Web
  • CS 41, Beginning Programming

School of Medicine Web Courses (for updating/creating web pages in the School of Medicine)

School of Education Web Courses (for updating/creating web pages in the School of Education)

Dreamweaver Resources

Image Resources

HTML Resources

Stanford Resources

Central Web Service Resources

  • Stanford Web Forms Service -- Stanford community members can use the Stanford Web Forms Service to make contact forms, short surveys and polls, instructor evaluations, and other forms free of charge. No knowledge of HTML, Javascript, or SQL is required.
    http://webforms.stanford.edu
  • Stanford Web Service is a starting point for understanding all web services at Stanford.
    http://web.stanford.edu
  • The Web Services Wiki is a source for developer resources and a place to collaborate on standards and best practices.
    http://web.stanford.edu/wiki
  • The Stanford Web Guide is a starting point for information about building and maintaining web sites for Stanford offices and departments. It contains style guidelines, design elements, best practices, downloadable artwork and page templates, and a list of additional resources.
    http://webguide.stanford.edu
  • Techcommons is an online hub that brings together dispersed resources and technology groups on campus.
    http://techcommons.stanford.edu
  • At the Web Service FAQ, you can Browse or search in the web services section of the Stanford Answers knowledgebase.
    http://answers.stanford.edu/guest/index.jsp?toolbar=true&TBQueryText=Web%20Services//&T3=37
  • SOAP: The Stanford Online Accessibility Program has been established to provide guidance to the Stanford Community as they use various online means to share information to their respective constituents.
    http://soap.stanford.edu
  • Stanford Webmasters Mailing List: All webmasters and designers of Stanford organizational websites are encouraged to join this list.
    https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/su_webmasters

School Web Resources and Requirements (note that many Schools and Departments have specific guidelines and restrictions on the content and design for their sites -- be sure to contact them to ensure your web pages meet their requirements)

Business Unit/Departmental Web Resources

Web Design and Accessibility Resources