COURSE SYLLABUS Hybrid class - 3 meetings on campus - 2 lessons online

CBTE 177 - Acrobat PDF Creation

CRN

 1 Unit
Spring 2009
Instructor Office Phone E-mail Address
Karen Owen 619-388-2235

 kowen@sdccd.edu
Website support http://homework.sdmesa.edu/kowen/CBTE177/CBTE177.htm

Class Schedule

This hybrid course meets on campus for the 1st, 3rd, and 5th class meetings. The lessons for the 2nd and 4th classes on completed online. Map of the Mesa College campus

  Place Date Time
Lesson 1 Mesa Campus rm. K-404 TBA 5:30 - 8:20
Lesson 2 Online TBA  
Lesson 3 Mesa Campus rm. K-404 TBA 5:30 - 8:20
Lesson 4 Online TBA  
Lesson 5 Mesa Campus rm. K-404 TBA 5:30 - 8:20

To sign into your online course, go to:
http://online.sdccd.edu
login = your student ID
password = your birthdate in this format 01041980 (Jan. 4, 1980)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Course Description

Students will develop the skills to create documents that are secure and can be posted online or distributed in print format. Students learn to create Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) documents, the standard file format for portable documents, for print and for the Internet. Students master file optimization and accessibility, editing features, embedding multimedia, interactive navigational tools, creating interactive forms, and implementing security. Students will learn to identify and handle the critical issues relating to clients, printers, web masters.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

  1. Explain why PDF documents are widely used in business and organizations and their role in the gathering and distribution of information.
  2. Convert print documents and Webpages to PDF format to ensure security, authenticity, and document format predictability.
  3. Analyze the need for and customize PDF output by adding multimedia, form fields, navigation tools, and layers.
  4. Explain the role of Acrobat in the document review cycle.
  5. Add document navigational features such as bookmarks, linked table of contents and indexes, add pagination, and insert page thumbnails.
  6. Create interactive multimedia presentations.
  7. Create PDF fill-in forms.
  8. Implement security measures appropriate to the intended audience.
  9. Evaluate the document for ease of use, appropriateness of any navigation, multimedia, form fields, security and signatures.
  10. Test the electronic PDF document for usability and accessibility.
  11. Manage fonts, color, and compression issues for both print and electronic PDF output.
  12. Identify and demonstrate the skills needed to work with clients, printers, web masters, and team members.

Advisory: CBTE 114 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and CBTE 161 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent

Grade only

POLICES

Disabled Student Programs and Services

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with the Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) immediately.

Call or visit Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) located in the H-200 Building on the San Diego Mesa College campus. 

Academic Integrity

Enrollment in college assumes maturity, seriousness of purpose and self-discipline.  Every student is expected to fulfill the requirements of all classes for which they are registered. (See College Policy 3110.)

Important Dates

First day of course
TBA
Deadline to receive, process and pay for Add Codes; and to drop classes with no “W” recorded
TBA
Last day to drop and be eligible for refund of enrollment fees and/or non-resident tuition
TBA
Withdrawal deadline - No drops accepted after this date; will receive a "W"
TBA
Last day to submit on line work; all work must be turned in by 12 midnight
TBA
Last day of on-campus class meeting
TBA

COURSE TEXTBOOK AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Textbook—optional: Adobe Acrobat 8: Visual Quickstart Guide (for Windows and Macintosh) by John Deubert ISBN 0-321-47079-6. (Be careful NOT to buy the Adobe Acrobat 8: Visual Quickstart Guide, Adobe Reader; you may be tempted as it is much cheaper.) This book is optional and will act as a reference book for you.

Software: Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional PC or Mac (If you do not have Acrobat 8 Professional, go to K-404 at Mesa College during open lab hours.)
NOTE: There are minor differences between the PC and the Mac version.

You can purchase your software anywhere; here are a few places you can consider:

  • The Foundation for California Community Colleges
    The Foundation for the California Community Colleges has negotiated a special price for students. - CollegeSoftware.org
    • Adobe software is also available through CollegeSoftware.org
      • Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional for Win or Mac = $64
      • Adobe Creative Suite 3 bundles for Win and Mac
        (selected Adobe software and Acrobat 8 Professional)
        • CS3 Web Premium = $264
        • CS3 Master Collection = $519
        • CS3 Web Standard = $214 (Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Flash)
        • CS3 Design Standard = $214 (Acrobat, In Design, Photoshop, Illustrator)
      • Other Adobe software for Win and Mac also available
    • Microsoft Office 2007 Professional (Publisher, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Word) = $84.98 - You will need to verify your enrollment, either online, email or fax. Follow the steps on the Websites.
    • Gradware
    • Store http://www.gradware.com/default.asp
  • Mesa College Bookstore http://www.bookstore.sdccd.edu has a variety of software. Call the bookstore, visit their Websites, or stop by to see their selection.

Make sure that any software you purchase will work with your computer and operating system. Shop around for the service and price that best suites your needs.

Vista Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware

Software
  • Acrobat Reader (click here for a free download) Please note: the reader allows users to READ PDF documents, but NOT create them. You need Acrobat 8 Professional to create PDF documents.
  • A file compression application; both Windows XP and Mac OS 10 come with a compression application. Right-click on the folder to access the zip (compression) application.
  • Flash Player (click here to download)
  • QuickTime Player (click here to download)

Students who do not have access to the equipment, software, and services necessary to complete this course at home may use the resources at Mesa College. Computers are available for use in the LRC or the CBTE Department classroom K404

Internet Access

You will also need to have an ISP (Internet Service Provider) in order to take the online portion of this course.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CBT 177

  1. Print out this syllabus and read it.
  2. You may order the optional textbook for this course online or buy it in the Mesa College Bookstore.  For complete ordering directions, read the section in this syllabus on textbook and ordering Information. 
  3. Before starting work on the online portion of this course, study the Using Vista's tools section, which shows you how to use the Vista tools so that you can successfully complete the online lessons. You will find the link to the student tutorials on the homepage.
  4. The assignments and quizzes that you will be turning in to be graded are listed in this syllabus. Work is due within the week it is assigned. Please email me if you cannot complete the work that week.
  5. If any of the assignments or quizzes are missing, you will receive a ZERO for that assignment.
  6. Each quiz may be redone. You will receive the higher of the two grades.
  7. Please allow a minimum of 72 hours for assignments and tests to be corrected, a response to be sent to you, and your grade to be entered into the grade log. If I do not check your submissions or email during the weekend, I will do so on Monday.

  8. Any changes to this syllabus will be posted.
  9. Be sure to check both your E-mail and the Discussion Board frequently.
  10. Sometimes unforeseen circumstance arises that prevents the student from finishing his/her work for the course. The final decision on whether to grant an incomplete grade will be based on several factors and is entirely up to the instructor.  If you are requesting an Incomplete to be given to you for this course, you must contact your instructor before the end of the course.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING SCALE

Week Topics Activities and Assessment

Pts

Watching tutorials (All video tutorials are optional and an alternate presentation of the information in your textbook.)
Week 1 - on campus K-303

Textbook, Adobe Acrobat 8 (optional)
by John Deubert

  • Ch. 1- Starting with Acrobat
  • Ch. 2 - Viewing a Document
  • Ch. 3 - Saving and Printing Files
  • Ch. 4 - Making PDF Files

Read the syllabus

In-class lecture and activities

 
Homework assignments (online)  
  • les1-1_read_out_loud (assessment)

10
  • les1-2_createPDF
10
  • les1-3_createPDF_from_webpages
10
  • les1-4_createPDF_multiple_files

20
  • les1-5_savePDF_other_file_formats
20
Week 2 - online
  • Ch. 8 - Manipulating Pages, pp. 121-130
  • Ch. 9 - Adding and Changing Text and Graphics, pp. 131-148
  • Ch. 10 -Adding Simple Navigation Features, pp. 149-160
 Read the assigned chapters and complete assignments  
  • les2-1_extract_delete_insert_pages (ch 8)
20
  • les2-2_adding_changing_text_graphics (ch 9)
20
  • les2-3_adding_navigation_links (ch 10)
20
  • les2-4_adding_navigation_bookmarks (ch 10)
20
Week 3 - on campus K-303
  • Ch. 13 - Creating Forms with Acrobat Pro , pp. 185-204
  • Ch. 16 - Read pp. 232-233 only (Typewriter feature)

In-class lecture and activities

 
Homework assignments (0nline)
  • les3-1_converting_electronicDocs_forms
20
  • les3-2_creating_forms_liveCycle_design (in-class)
20
  • les3-3_editing_forms_liveCycle (in-class)
20
  • les3-4_adding_fields_buttons_distribute_collect_forms
20
  • les3-5_typewriter_feature
10
Discussion Board - tell the class about the subject for your 4-5 page presentation, which you will share with the class on the last day. (See week 4 for details.)
10
Week 4 - online
  • Ch. 5 - Adding Comments to a Document, pp. 73-96
  • Ch. 11 - Creating an Acrobat Presentation pp. 161-176
Read the assigned chapters and complete assignments  
  • les4-1_adding_textbox_stickynotes - 20 pts.
20

Presentation project - 100 pts. (See criteria and instructions below.)

This week, you will create a PDF presentation. You can use any software application you'd like, such as Powerpoint, Illustrator or InDesign.

Instructions

  • You will share your presentation online with the class at the last on-campus meeting.
  • Submit it online by Sunday at midnight, the day before the last on-campus meeting, and I will share it with your classmates.
  • Use the Multimedia database or other Mesa College online resources. Click on the Mesa Online Library button on the homepage to access the library databases.

Criteria

  1. 4-5 pages (Use PowerPoint, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.)
    • Text
    • Images
  2. Bookmarks
  3. One link to a webpage
  4. Navigation buttons to each slide and to the first page
  5. Audio or video for extra credit

PDF project - 100 pts (to be completed by the end of week four and presented at last on-campus class meeting)

100
Week 5 - on campus K-303
In-class performance final exam

In class you will create or modify the following:

  • Create a PDF file from an Excel file (les 1) 10 pts.
  • Create a PDF file using multiple files (les 1) 20 pts.
  • Manipulate pages (les 2) 30 pts.
  • Add a note to a PDF file (les 4) 10 pts.
  • Create a simple form (les 3) 50 pts.
  • Add navigation and links to a PDF (les 2) 30 pts.
150
Participation points for attending and participating in the on-campus lecture
75
 

Your grade will be based on your assignments, quizzes, and projects.

Grading Scale
A =
90
- 100%
B =
80
-89
C =
70
-79
D =
60
-69
F =
59
 - below