Week One | Part One

Introduction - Why are you here?

Many of you reading this can barely imagine a time when there wasn't the Internet. Yet once there was such a time, and though we use the Internet to the point of mundacity it's important to know how this amazing technology entered our lives.

The craft of building a good Web page goes beyond what people see on their screens. Rather it is a blend of good design, an understanding of Internet technology, organizational discipline, and marketing skill.

It is not expected for you to master all these principles; certainly not during this class.

When it comes to the Web, the greatest frustrations for most people is that its technology, design style, and delivery methods constantly change. It is a never-ending track of education, application, and refinement. Many people give up, figuring they just can't be bothered.

Fortunately, you enjoy several advantages:

1. You know a computer is not some mysterious beast you must obey, but a tool you can harness.
2. You posess an above average sense of what looks good. For you, making something look good is not an accident, but a systematic process of creativity and analysis.
3. You grew up with the Internet. You understand its culture, its conventions, and its language.

It might even seem odd to you that a person would want to become a student of the Web. Yet, that is precisely what this course is about.

Please go to Week One Part 2 ».