for MA Digital Publishing and MA Publishing
This is a semester 2 module for the MA Digital Publishing or MA Publishing at Oxford Brookes University and runs from February 4 2009 to May 13 2009
The computer is considered both as a publishing medium and a tool, in the context of other media. Great emphasis is placed on audience, the realities of the market, and the practicalities of production.
This module is an examination of forms of web publishing with particular reference to standards of mark-up and accessibility. It provides an opportunity for the practical investigation of the strategies to publish digital media. Emphasis is placed on keeping content separate from presentation through semantic markup and the use of XHTML and various web server technologies.
Assignments
There will be 4 parts to this assignment:
- Blog Posts: Post entries (at least weekly) to your 'blog' (online journal) and personalise the blog templates by changing the CSS | 15%
Marks will be given for: frequency of posts, evidence of research, relevance to topic, use of expanded text. There will be an opportunity for online comments by everyone. - Blog Design: Through changes to the CSS and the HTML templates, you will redesign the blog to your own preference | 15%
Marks will be given for: amount of change from the original layout, fitness for purpose (ie. readablity, usability), code validation. - Convert a public domain text or collection of texts to an ‘Interactive Book’. The document must be structured and marked-up with XML and then delivered as an ‘eBook’ on your web site. The ‘eBook’ must also include a commentary on how you created the work on a ‘colophon’ page. The ebook will be delivered as an interactive PDF and distributed on the web. | 50%
- A presentation of the ebook | 10%
- The XML file that represents the data in the eBook | 10%
Software used on this course will include:
- Photoshop
- Dreamweaver
- InDesign
- Acrobat
- ExpressionEngine (web server content management)
Method of delivery:
Although there are several eBook formats currently in use, and we will discuss these during the early lectures, your eBook should be delivered using Adobe Acrobat Reader format (PDF):
- The PDF (or collection of PDFs) must be made available from your web site
- A CD-ROM must be created to include:
- The eBook PDF (or collection of PDFs)
- The original text in revisable form (XML)
- A 'readme' file, that explains the contents of the CD-ROM
Your Electronic Book should be submitted and fully tested prior to the submission date. The files should be submitted as a link on your Web Publishing web site.
The 'eBook' must include a colophon page which explains how the work was created and the source of the text. A colophon is an inscription placed usually at the end of a book, giving facts about its publication.
Criteria for Assessment:
The 'eBook' should provide evidence that you are competent in the use of electronic text technologies introduced in the course. Credit will be given for:
- A well designed electronic book
- attention should be paid to consistent layout
- readability on the system for which intended
- visually compelling
- the use of hypertext
- Accurate preparation of electronic text, including care in proof-reading
- Structure and layout of the Electronic Book
- Technical performance of the Electronic Book
- Creative and imaginative approach to illustrate the potential of an Interactive Media eBook
Course Programme and Calendar
This course takes place on WEdnesday afternoons 1.30pm to 4.30pm weeks 1 to 12 Please note Easter Break - 6 to 37 April. The lectures and workshops will take place in the IT Suite for Publishing in the Tonge Building. We will be joined by Mark Rogerson for some surgery sessions.
Assignment Deadlines
All work must be completed by 18 May 2009. CD-ROMs need to be delivered to the assignment slot. Online work needs to be announced on your blog.
There are ScreenCasts available that relate to this course and you can find them here
Get a PDF of the presentation explaining the assignments here.
