Planning Your Project

Requirements

• Distinguish the problem from the solution.
• Clients can be too flexible; elicit their real requirements.
• This is a co-authored paper, written in HTML. 1-2 "pages."

Design

• How will you meet the requirements?
• Be very explicit: leave nothing unspoken or undocumented.
• PLAN the work: determine all the tasks, assign them, and set deadlines for each.
• Provide a listing of all directories and files. This can be done just like the computer would. This allows your partner to link to files you're creating, and vice versa.
• This is also a co-authored paper, written in HTML, as long as necessary.

Coding

• The first version ("beta" version) of your web site, all contained within a folder called "beta."
• Also, a "changes.html" document that explains changes you made to your design, and tells us where your "start" page is. This is outside your beta folder.
• Ideally, you will have divided the work well so that you can work largely independently.
• However, keep in touch with each other and ensure that each partner is meeting her deadlines. Support one another and help without interfering.

Testing

• Have others test your site and objectively evaluate it.
• Write a short document about the feedback obtained and the changes made.
• Implement (and document) the changes described in your testing document and other problems you've found.
• The finished code is all contained in a folder called "final".
• This is your final version.

Class Presentation

• Short (9-10 minute) presentation describing your web site, touching on all the features you've developed over the semester: how you tailored it for your target audience, your content, your navigation, and any fancy features.
• Cover your design decisions: why you did things the way you did.
• You'll want to have good presentation skills and smoothly interact with your partner.
• LTC has special tutors for this, if desired.

Delivery

• Make sure you give the finished site to your client!
• Academic, administrative and other official Wellesley sites can go on the CWIS.
• Student homepages and unofficial sites can go on Wilbur.
• Off-campus clients will have to arrange with their own ISP.
• Think about how the audience will find the site. Who links to it?

Requirements Revisited

• Requirements assignment is here.
• Be precise!
  • You and your client must clearly articulate the site's goals. Are you trying to persuade, inspire, inform, debunk, delude, ...
• Describe the audience:
  • who is a typical visitor, why is she visiting, what is she looking for, what is her background?
• What is the subject matter?
  • Focus, focus! You can't provide everything to everyone.
  • Estimate resources and time, so you can plan accordingly.