BN2234 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT Module Number: Module Title: IT and Web Development Number of Aston Credits: 10 Total Number of ECTS Credits: 5 (European Credit Transfer) Staff Member Responsible for the Module: Dr Victoria Uren Operations & Information Management Group ABS Building, Room TBC, Extension TBC V.Uren@aston.ac.uk Availability: Please use online booking system ( or group administrator, John Morley, ABS266, Extension 3236 Other Staff Contributing to the Module: Pre-Requisite(s) for the Module: None BN IT in Business Module Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the module students will be able to: Define the key elements of the IT infrastructure that support the World Wide Web; Explain how IT and Web development can be used in, and can be benefit to the business environment; Apply systems design methods to an organisation to analyse their needs; Design a Website to meet business needs; Construct a prototype of the Website using software development tools in generating tables, frames, forms, etc.; Describe the client side and the server side Web applications; Create the dynamic effects on the Website, ranging from a mouse-over effect to a database-driven page; Recognise the security threats a Website faces and how security can be managed. Module Content:

2 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT The module content is divided into four interrelated areas: IT & Network Infrastructure, System Design for Business, Website Design, and Dynamic Web Systems: 1. IT & Network Infrastructure Reviews the basic elements of IT, namely the computer, and the hardware involved in creating networks. The mechanism for controlling the hardware will be explained. The general nature of Web pages, Web communication, and the role of applications programs will be described. 2. System Design for Business The role of business design in the systems development process will be emphasised, and the implications that this has for the development process. The students will apply the design principles to an organisation and construct a system design. 3. Website Design The next phase of the course involves the students building a small Website. They will construct a Website. This practical task, together with the use of examples, is used to ensure that the often abstract concepts are incorporated into practically useful knowledge. 4. Dynamic Web Systems The final stage introduces more advanced topics such as the mechanisms for creating dynamic Web-based systems, connection between Websites and databases, etc. Scripting will be described and used as mechanism for creating dynamic effects. Other programming environments and databases may be referred to in illustrations of practical examples. This can be a challenging topic and students will be required to develop some basic programming skills. International Dimensions: The focus of the module is on World Wide Web technologies, which are the main medium of international communication between organisations. The module will teach the underlying international Internet protocols (HTTP, TCP/IP) and software tools/languages (HTML, CSS, PHP scripting) to facilitate developing focused Webbased systems for networked, multi-national organisations. Corporate Connections: The students will design a Website based on any small organisation they choose. They will focus on the business needs of that organisation. Examples of corporations using IT and Web techniques to improve their business will be described in the lectures. Links to Research: This is an introductory course designed to provide foundational understanding of the relevant domain. The course wil be informed by the research interests of the course instructor.

3 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT Learning and Teaching Rationale and Methods: Lectures will be used to present basic ideas, give general guidance, and to address common problems. Workshop sessions with tutorial support for individuals and small groups will be available for the development of practical skills and for working through the details of ideas that have been presented formally. Additional practical work and private study will be required for the students to become fluent with the techniques being studied and to fully explore the range of IT tools and techniques that have become (and continue to become) available. Materials will be provided on Blackboard to guide the private study. Contact and directed learning: Lectures 11 hours Workshop tutorials (including presentation) 11 hours Examination 2 hours Indirect learning Reading 16 hours Practical work design and build Website 30 hours Presentation and report preparation 10 hours Examination preparation 20 hours Total 100 hours Ethical Approval: This module does not require any primary research and no ethical approval will be necessary. Assessment and Feedback Rationale and Methods: The assessment is combined with group presentation of the Website and a supporting report (40%), and a two-hour closed book examination (60%). The group presentation and report demonstrates that students have effectively been able to analyse the organisation s needs and to design and build the Website using the techniques described in the learning outcomes. The students have the opportunity to work in Web development teams which echoes the way Websites are developed in industry. The groups will consist of approximately 4 and no more than 5 students. Students will be able to choose who they are going to work with and should follow the guidelines of group work as described in the beginning of this handbook. This includes producing minutes and notes of their meetings (which must be included as an appendix in the report) and also completing a group contribution sheet. The marks will be allocated as follows: Understanding of business needs 5%

4 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT Presentation 20% (including Website design and functionality) Business Report 15% (including minutes/notes of meetings) All groups must complete a group contribution sheet (attached to this module outline) and all marks will be awarded according to the group contribution sheet. Students who feel they have not been given a fair contribution rating can appeal to the lecturer who will adjudicate with the Curriculum and Student Support Manager. Written feedback on coursework assignments will be provided within the normal turnaround time specified. The examination paper will be in two equally weighted parts. The first part will consist of short questions to establish the extent of understanding across the learning outcomes. The second part will consist of questions related to the Web development languages/scripts and the students are asked to sketch the initial Web pages as well as describe any dynamic effects. This half of the examination is designed to assess students understanding of basic programming skills.

5 IT AND WEB DEVELOPMENT GROUP CONTRIBUTION SHEET PLEASE COMPLETE AND ATTACH TO THE GROUP REPORT MODULE: (E.g. 100 means that the student will receive 100% of the Final Grade, 50 means the student will receive 50% of the Final Grade.) DATE: MODULE: GROUP: Group Members Signatures (Should correspond to candidate numbers given above):