WP1 FAQS
> How do I make real contact with you?
It is very easy to make an appointment by email to meet with me in my office or to speak with me by phone. Other methods meet with much less success.
> Are we allowed to use programs such as Dreamweaver to complete assignments,
> or do you require us to hard code them using just a text editor?
It is only a problem if you use a program like Dreamweaver as a "crutch" to create code that you do not understand. Mastering the fundamentals of programming using Javascript requires you to understand both the Javascript AND the HTML code in the programs that you create. You should never submit anything in which there is HTML or Javascript code that you do not understand 100%
As long as you can approach it that way then it doesn't matter what you use. (I often use FrontPage to create specific HTML effects, then I study the code that it created to learn how it is done. I also sometimes take advantage of its "Preview" feature to test JavaScript code.) If there is any doubt in your mind, it's probably best to start off using a strict text editor and then decide later whether or not to transition to something else. (The best thing that I have seen as of 05/08/2007 is the MS Script Editor 10.0. It provides many of the advantages of the Visual BASIC IDE.) Many (most) students have completed the entire course using nothing more than Notepad.
> Why can't I
view the source code of your sample solutions in the middle column at
http://www.coedu.usf.edu/webprog1/tasks.html ?
I purposely made it more difficult for you to view those. You should be able to make the intellectual leap to the assignment from the code in left-hand column demo programs, which are all readily visible. You'll see how to "hide" code like this later in the course. It's not that hard to defeat because it's not really intended to hide code -- it just has that consequence.
> I have to ask the obvious question…why no BB? The students can use
> it to email and communicate, but I notice you don’t populate your
> course shell. Your course is structured great, the site for the course
> is informational and thorough, the samples are useful (and in some
> cases funny!), and your site makes the expectations clear. I ask
> because I often find that reasons faculty don’t use BB are as
> important and interesting as the reasons faculty do, my guess is
> because your website already works.
Your guess is right on target. I think that what I have works for the given learning audience, instructional method, content, expectations, and other variables.
However, that doesn't mean that you can't also make individual or group use of the Blackboard site, too. Most of the worthwhile features are enabled by default and I will be happy to open a forum or try to implement any other features desired.
> What’s up with the “parse” in parseInt() and parseFloat() ?
parse – “To describe the syntactic role of (a word) in a sentence or phrase. Also: to resolve (a sentence, phrase, etc.) into component parts of speech and describe each part syntactically.”(OED) A perfectly good English verb of relatively ancient origin widely used in the field of computer programming. It was not a part of the common American lexicon until the “Monicagate” scandal, as illustrated by this St. Pete Times newspaper clipping from that era.
> What is the function of the following code that appears in the demonstration programs?
<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
var SymRealOnLoad;
var SymRealOnUnload;
function SymOnUnload()
{
window.open = SymWinOpen;
if(SymRealOnUnload != null)
SymRealOnUnload();
}
function SymOnLoad()
{
if(SymRealOnLoad != null)
SymRealOnLoad();
window.open = SymRealWinOpen;
SymRealOnUnload = window.onunload;
window.onunload = SymOnUnload;
}
SymRealOnLoad = window.onload;
window.onload = SymOnLoad;
//-->
</script>
None of my programs contain this code. It is being inserted somewhere between you and me, most likely by Symantec (Norton) internet security software that you may be using, probably a pop-up blocker.