Intro to Multimedia Software

Welcome to the CDM 510/ETD 514: Intro to Multimedia Software Course Weblog!

2011-11-09T19:09:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the CDM 510/ETD 514: Intro to Multimedia Software Course Weblog! This site will serve as a repository for course information, including course slides, assignments and resources.

Please send me an email if you have any suggestions regarding the weblog.

Adding Flash Video to our blogs...

2011-11-09T19:00:00.007-05:00

To add a Flash video to your weblog, upload your .swf file to your SVSU web space and paste the code below into a post or HTML/JavaScript gadget on your blog.

In the above code, substitute your username, i.e. 'nlryan', where it says username in the URL (src="http://www.svsu.edu/~username/myflash.swf").

You will also want to modify the width and height settings to match the size of your movie. You can find out the exact size of your movie under Modify -> Document on the Flash menu bar.

Creating Custom Graphics for our Projects

2011-10-12T15:41:00.002-04:00

We have explored how templates can increase the layout possibilities of our websites and weblogs, but often the templates that we implement are not enough to create a fully developed theme. Often we will want to add our own touches by customizing the color scheme of the template, adjusting the layout containers, and/or adding custom graphics such as logos, banners, or navigation buttons.

Today we will explore PhotoShop further and apply what we are learning to create a custom graphic for our website and weblog projects. I encourage you to be creative and attempt to create something that enhances your project and fits with your theme. You may create a graphic for either your website or weblog, or use it in each.

~Nicole

In case you are interested, here's the ORIG Audio Rock-it...

2011-09-28T17:50:00.002-04:00

Trying our hand at CSS Layouts and Templates

2011-09-28T11:33:00.002-04:00

Tonight we will continue to explore working with CSS Layouts and Templates in Dreamweaver. We will briefly look at the essential topics covered in Dreamweaver Chapters 4 & 5 (expanding upon working with images and links), and then we will explore some of the free templates, layouts and tutorials that have been added to the course weblog.

I will be encouraging you to look for CSS templates or layouts which will help you build a base for your website projects, and help you get started with the process of downloading and customizing your chosen templates. You may decide that you need to try a different template later, or even want to design your own layout after experimenting with some of the templates, and that is okay. The goal for this evening is to further our understanding of CSS and HTML as they are used to create custom looks and interfaces for different types of websites, and most importantly how we can apply these ideas in our website projects.

We will also continue to explore working with weblogs and customizing these templates. I'm sure that many of you will have questions related to last week's assignments, so we will set aside some time to address these as well.

Introduction to CSS and it's role in Web Design

2011-09-21T10:52:00.001-04:00

This evening I will introduce you to Cascading Style Sheets and the role they play in creating effectively designed web sites.

We will explore how this works using a CSS template generator, and experiment with it in a similar fashion to 'Experimenting with Dreamweaver' exercise from last week.

Chapter 3 in our text is an excellent source for gaining more experience in adjusting and applying cascading style sheet rules in the Dreamweaver interface. If you would like an additional guided exercise, I highly recommend following the steps outlined in chapter 3. This is an enrichment exercise designed to further your understanding of style sheets and html. As such this will not be a graded assignment and is optional.

Getting started with your weblog

2011-09-21T10:16:00.001-04:00

...We did not get to this last week, so we will explore how to get started with our weblog projects this evening using Blogger.

Whether you choose to create your project as a website or a weblog, blogs are easy to use and can be fun to customize and work with.

To get started we will watch the perky Blogger Help tutorial on creating your first blog. After that we will look at customizing the blog template, changing basic settings, and adding content to your blogs.

Blogger also provides an extensive Help section with both video and text tutorials. You should get familiar with the topics available as they are an invaluable source with regard to working with your blogs.

But for now, without further ado, here's Blogger..... (cue dancing frog : )....

Using Social Media to your Advantage / Building your Web Presence

2011-08-30T23:43:00.007-04:00

These days, you don't just build a 'website' or a 'weblog', you build a web presence.

A web presence is your identity as it exists throughout the world wide web. It is you, or your brand, on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, FourSquare, YouTube, Google+ and/or whatever social networks you are using, in combination with your blog and / or your website.

Today in class we will explore some of the social media venues and develop a social media branding and web presence plan for our sites.

Please read the following article on Mashable.com on 4 Elements of a Successful Business Web Presence, and then begin exploring some of the social networks outlined below.

Once you have thoroughly explored some of these communities, outline a plan for developing your web presence and set up the corresponding accounts. Use a consistent identity (i.e. logos, images or slogans) across the various communities. Be sure to detail how you will connect and integrate the accounts to drive traffic to your main sites.

Submit your Web Presence Plan as a PDF document in VSpace in class next Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Your plan should detail in writing which project option you will follow (a website project, or weblog project) and how you will develop your identity within your main site and secondary social media venues. I encourage you to include a storyboard or other visual aids that help illustrate how you will develop your site's identity and presence on the world wide web. Please ask questions in class today!

~Nicole