Web Design Course Instructions
Teachers Details
Israel Course Instructors
USA Course Instructors
Equipment Needed
Before your training session you will need the following equipment:
- Basics of web design E book, can be bought using this link.
- Website hosting & domain name: approx. $50 per year + approx $15 (will need to be renewed yearly) *You will be given directions for purchasing hosting and a domain name during your course.
- Highspeed internet connection (Suggested minimum speed: 5mb, you can test your speed by taking a speed test )
- Computer mouse suggested
- Headset with microphone: It is advisable to use a plug-in headset and microphone as the inbuilt Mike pick up background noise.
- Webcam (An internal webcam is suitable. If your computer does not have a webcam inbuilt, you can purchase one online.)
- An external device to backup your work.
- Filezilla: Install the (free) Filezilla program prior to your first class. (You don’t need to know how to use it; just make sure it is installed.)
- Chrome/Firefox: You will need to use either the Google Chrome or Firefox browser for classwork, so make sure one is installed on your computer prior to your first class.
- Please ensure you are using Google chrome and not Microsoft edge browser.
How to Join Class
You will find your courses on your dashboard.
Click on ‘class’ button to join your class.
You will have to set your timezone
10 mins before your class join button will be orange and you can join.
Software Details
Students will require Adobe Photoshop to be installed and functioning on their computers before the course commences.
Details of the text editor the teacher will require you to install will be given to you via email by your teacher
Course Instructions
Course Structure
- Module A: The course begins with 11 HTML/ CSS classes which will teach you coding. You will produce an HTML site.
- Module B: There are 7-8 UX UI classes and Design basics for the web
- Module C: The majority of the course concentrates on CMS- in depth WordPress. You will build 2 websites in this part of the course, the final one being a live client site.
- Module D: Advanced WordPress customization and E commerce
- Module E: Intro to social media, Google Analytics, SEO and marketing taught by a specialist in the field
- Module F: Business classes, contracts and pricing jobs, client interaction and management will also be covered.
- To add cool effects to your sites, 4 Jquery pre-recorded classes will be given to you to watch in your own time.
- Alot of the above modules are taught side by side as per student calendar.
General info
- Each class is approximately 2-2.5 hrs
- Please log in on time
- Lessons generally build on the material and content of the previous lesson so it is important to attend each session.
- In case of any planned absence please inform your teacher prior to the class that you will not be attending.
- If you have missed a class, you are required to catch up via the recording before the next class. The recordings are not a substitute for class attendance and Design Alive reserves the right to refuse to critique or grade assignments for students absent too many time without a valid excuse
- It is important to point out that this course requires full attention and a degree of self-motivation. It is a very intense course so please ensure you allow adequate time in your schedule for this course. If you require advice about this please email the office.
- Web is an area that is constantly developing and changing. The more hours you can invest in the course the better as one can devote unlimited hours to exploring, researching and experimenting to improve your skills.
- The course is fast-paced so if you feel you are falling behind please liaise with your teachers as soon as possible so they can help you get back on track.
Homework Assignments
- There are assignments given after each class. These assignments will be posted on moodle. Assignments need to be uploaded to moodle for grading.
- Unless otherwise stated the homework assignment is due the next class. It is in the student’s best interest to complete and upload the homework assignment before the next class and to review the material taught in the past class.
- There are often quizzes at the beginning of class too.
- You may email your teacher with short questions between sessions if you absolutely cannot wait until the next class to receive an answer. The teacher will either respond via email or address the question in the next class if she feels it can wait. We set up a google group so students (and tutors) can assist with questions.
- If you have not managed to do your homework it is still worthwhile attending the next class so as not to fall further behind.
- Your grades and comments can be viewed on moodle by checking the grade option in the left side menu under my profile unless the teacher prefers to email your feedback.
Filter/Whitelist Info
Design Alive recommends the following filters as students have been very happy with these filter companies and the support they provide.
- Techloq
- Gentech
- Nativ USA
- Netfree filter has also be approved for Design Alive but please note that having a filter which blocks skin content may be frustrating at some point
Before you begin the course please ensure that all the following sites below are unblocked: You can copy the list and send it to your filtering company.
- designaliveschool.webex.com
- webex.com
- designalive.com
- school.designalive.com
- for cisco webex- exclude multiple EXE
- You will need the cisco webex app working.
- autodesk.com (for Autocad students)
For more information regarding filter issues and troubleshooting please use this link
Tutor Assistance
Design Alive offer tutor assistance if you need extra help and support.
Once you have been linked up with one tutor, you should please stay with that tutor. Tutoring is not unlimited, we offer up-to 5 hours thereafter you can carry on privately.
Please Note: If you set up a tutoring slot and you do not show up you will be charged $25. If you need additional tutoring outside Design Alive then the charge is usually about $25/hr paid directly to the tutor.
- Esti Wolodarsky: e.wolo1203@gmail.com (Israel hrs)
- Shira Sukenik: shiralsukenik@gmail.com
Computer Specs
Design Alive does not assist with helping you buy a computer suitable for the course, but below are suggested computer specs and details of a computer technician/salesperson who can help you.
Students doing 3D rendering or video editing/animation will need a top-end computer whereas students doing graphics only can get away with a slightly lower spec.
Please refer to these computer specs that are appropriate for all of our courses ranging from Interior & Graphic Design to the very robust 3D modeling applications (Autocad & Revit)
- An i7 or i9 CPU
- At least 16GB of RAM & 256GB of storage
- A 64-bit operating system
- A dedicated (internal) graphics card (ex. NVIDIA) – not integrated!
- Besides being more expensive, we do not recommend Apple especially because our instructors use a PC (and Revit is not supported on Macs.)
- While a 17 inch laptop is easier to see what you are designing, it would be too heavy to carry when visiting clients. Instead; we suggest a standard 15.6 inch screen and when working from home, you can opt for a secondary & larger 27” monitor (about $200).
- An (external) SSD drive to safely hold your projects and ensure that your computer does not get overloaded.
Design Alive has partnered with B&H Photo in NYC to handle all of these technical requirements and queries. They are a well-known and established company and are up-to-date with the most current specs and performance. Our contact is Boruch Berman and he can be reached at Boruchb@bhphoto.com. Please mention Design Alive when you send an email for his personal call back to select a machine that’s right for you (please do not call).
Here is a link to the current computers he currently suggests which are priced from low to high. Bear in mind that spending more money does not necessarily mean you are getting anything better and he will discuss this. Please feel free to do your own research for comparisons. (If this link becomes invalid then please let us know)