CONTENT DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Instructional goals

The course focuses on the fundamental digital skills needed to productively interact with digital information and how to create websites. During the course students will learn how to interact with online databases, how to use online databases or online forms to collect data, how to use spreadsheet software for data analysis, word processors for data reporting, and web technologies for online presentation. During the course students will also learn to work with data archives. They will learn how to query data in different repositories and search engines and how to extract data for use with reports and analyses. The course also introduces students to the fundamentals of web-based applications and media creation.

Prerequisites

None

Intended learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to collect digital data from various online sources, import and analyze data in Excel, report the results of data analysis with Word, and disseminate data, reports and analysis on the web through a website they will learn how to build.

Course Contents

Collecting data performing query on specific digital platform. Assessing quality and reliability of data found online. Using Google Form for collecting data. Analyzing a dataset using MS Excel. Using MS Word for describing analysis results. The “Web-based application” concept. Using a CMS site for configuring a personal web site, integrating some applications in the website. Video and audio editing basics.

Reference Books

Slides and other materials will be provided during the course using the official e-learning platform

Teaching Methods

During the course, every student will work on a personal project using her own laptop, implementing the data collection-analysis-reporting-presentation workflow, applying the concepts and using the tools introduced during class.

Assessment Method

Multiple choice test

Thesis assignment criteria

Serious and motivation interest to study the topics of the course. Individual interview.

Week 1

Course introduction. Using digital platforms for retrieving data. How to perform a proper query. How to assess quality. Some examples. Using Google Forms for collecting data.

Week 2

Introduction to data security.

Week 3

Introduction to video and audio editing.

Week 4

Introduction to MS Excel. Basic functionalities and the use of formulas

Week 5

Analyzing data, creating diagrams and charts using MS Excel

Week 6

Introduction to the use of pivot table and pivot charts on MS Excel

Week 7

Importing external data in Excel.

Week 8

Introduction to the fundamentals of MS Word. Word styles, how to use table of contents, reviews and comments.

Week 9

Web: web-based applications and content management systems. Introduction to web sites

Week 10

How to set up a personal website

Week 11

Optimize your contents and digital media.

Week 12

Recap. Questions & Answers