Course Title: Customise a complex IT content management system
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2014
Course Code: COSC6119C
Course Title: Customise a complex IT content management system
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5300 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact : Paul Lewis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1615
Course Contact Email:paul.lewis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 80
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to customise an IT content management system (CMS). Students will work in teams to plan, develop, customise and test small business Websites.
This unit is delivered using a blend of classroom based and self-paced learning activities.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ICAWEB507A Customise a complex IT content management system |
Element: |
1. Analyse specifications and requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Determine the required functionality of the website as per client requirements |
Element: |
2. Develop customisation |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Plan and outline requirements of the additional functionality |
Element: |
3. Create CMS powered website |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Install and configure chosen content management system |
Element: |
4. Validate and evaluate |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Validate final website markup against current website standards |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
Learning activities will include laboratory-based sessions on a variety of topics as shown in the weekly breakdown. Learning activities will generally consist of practical computer exercises based on teacher handouts. Students should attend all sessions.
Students will also be expected to undertake work on Websites and other activities for homework.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment |
| 1 | 7th Jul 2014 | Pre-training review: |
|
| 2 | 14th Jul 2014 | Hosting options. Installing WP on a local host. DBMS’s for MySQL. The Dashboard. Adding Posts. Tags & categories |
|
| 3 | 21st Jul 2014 | Adding new Pages & images. Page templates. Sidebars & widgets. Updating plugins etc. Activating Akismet | |
| 4 | 28th Jul 2014 | Client requirements for travel Website project (TASK 1) outlined. Adding image galleries, audio & video | TASK 1 - Project Specs issued |
| 5 | 4th Aug 2014 |
Managing menus, users & comments. Adding widgets & RSS feeds. Class work on project |
|
| 6 | 11th Aug 2014 | Adding new themes. Customising themes. Useful plugins. Database backups & SEO. Class work on project |
TASK 1 - Project Draft feedback |
| 7 | 18th Aug 2014 | Final class work on project. Validation & browsers. Creating FTP accounts. FTP tools. Class work on project |
|
| 8 | 25th Aug 2014 | Child themes. Customising CSS in themes. PHP & Page templates. Final project demonstrations (to teachers & class) |
TASK 1 - Final Project due (at beginning of class) |
| MID SEMESTER BREAK (Mon 1st Sep to Fri 5th Sep 2014 inclusive) | |||
| 9 | 8th Sep 2014 | Client requirements for hotel Website project (TASK 2) Fresh installation of WP on a sub-domain. Important plugins |
TASK 2 - Project Specs issued |
| 10 | 15th Sep 2014 | Introduction to WooCommerce. Hotel management plugins. Class work on project |
|
| 11 | 22nd Sep 2014 | Searching for themes. More important plugins: WP SEO, full WP backups. Class work on project |
|
| 12 | 29th Sep 2014 | Caching & statistics: W3 Total Cache & Google Analytics. Class work on project |
TASK 2 - Project Draft feedback |
| 13 | 6th Oct 2014 | Validation: browsers & client requirements. Class work on project |
|
| 14 | 13th Oct 2014 | Final class work on hotel Website project | TASK 2 - Final Project due (at end of week) |
| 15 | 20th Oct 2014 | Project presentations (to visiting IT staff in class) | TASK 2 - Project Documentation due |
| 16 | 27th Oct 2014 | Course & assessment feedback. Re-assessment if required |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Plumley, R. (2nd edn, 2011), WordPress 24-hour Trainer, Wiley Publishing (Wrox), Print ISBN: 978-1-118-06690-4 |
References
Sabin-Wilson, L (2011), WordPress Web Design For Dummies, Wiley Publishing (For Dummies), Print ISBN: 978-0-470-93503-3 |
Other Resources
Students may also refer to various Websites, magazines, textbooks and e-books as indicated their teacher.
Overview of Assessment
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
- direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
- review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
- demonstration of techniques
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 2 assessment tasks. You must successfully complete each section of each task to be deemed competent in this unit.
TASK 1 - Website Project 1 (Due Date: Week 8)
For this preliminary assessment task you will be required to create a fully customised Website for a travel agency in consultation with a client, in this case your teacher. In particular you will learn some of the key features of WordPress and how a simple site can be planned, configured, developed and tested. You will work individually on this project.
In order to be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including the following key areas:
- Analysing specifications & requirements for a Website
- Customising WordPress to further its functionality
- Creating a WordPress powered Website as per requirements
- Validating a Website against current standards, browsers & client requirements
TASK 2 - Website Project 2 (Due Dates:Week 14)
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is the term given to an activity which integrates academic learning with its application in the workplace. This semester, as part of RMIT’s focus on global WIL projects in 2014, you are asked to develop IT infrastructure for a small business overseas.
For this task in this course you will be required to create a fully-functional customised Website for a small hotel business, from scratch, in consultation with key stakeholders, such as your teacher and a client located in overseas.
You will expected to use SEO techniques to improve Google rankings. It will also be necessary to research a suitable hosting plan for the client, and write clear instructions for the client. You will need to explain how to transfer and how to maintain the site.
Knowledge and skills will be required in key areas of Web hosting, HTML, CSS, PHP and WordPress in order to develop customised functionality for the Website. These skills will be developed in the early part of each class.
Key stages in the project will include planning, configuring, developing and testing the site using WordPress. You will work in pairs on this project. Work for each stage of the project should be demonstrated on the due date, as per the Teaching Schedule.
In order to be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including all key stages outlined below.
You will be expected to submit and retain soft copies of any documentation required. In some cases printouts may also be required.
Project Documentation (Proposal or Plan) including: Due: Week 15
- Summary of business operations as well as purpose & scope of Website project
- Any domain, hosting & CMS requirements
- Any business constraints & other limitations on developer
- Key functional requirements for Website eg image gallery, contact form, shopping cart etc.
- Any additional specifications such as content, navigation, page layout, colours schemes etc.
- A simple sitemap and wireframes for key Web pages
- Requests related to caching, SEO, spam control, security etc.
- Any issues requiring further clarification from the client
- Outline of timeline for project stages, including simple Gantt chart
- Screenshots as required for clarity of presentation
Project Draft Stage:
- Configuration of WordPress & customised functional elements as required
- Draft versions of individual Web pages as per client requirements e.g. home page, image gallery, contact form
- Attractive theme to be customised by the developer
Final Project Version:
- Final version of Website, including all key plugins & fully customised theme
- Validation of Website against W3C standards, browsers & client requirements
Each time you demonstrate your Website you will be questioned on key concepts and techniques in using WordPress. You will of course receive feedback in relation to the appearance and functionality of the site, particularly in relation to the initial client requirements. Timely completion of each stage is therefore essential.
Late submissions of work required for any stage of these projects will be eligible for grading at CAG (Competency Achieved) level only.
Assessment Matrix
Not applicable
Other Information
Submission Requirements
Assessment tasks need to be submitted via the Learning Hub (Blackboard).
You should:
- Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
- Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks (hard copy and soft copy).
- When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
- Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (Competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT).
So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
Please refer to the Final Grades table below.
Marking Guide (Grading):
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading will include the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications given to in class. You should endeavour to demonstrate a high level of initiative in your approach to planning and developing viable and feasible Websites for the various business scenarios investigated.
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required in planning and developing a variety of business Websites. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the techniques and concepts you have learnt in all assessment tasks.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
We are looking for appropriate use of a modern CMS to produce effective business Websites as per client requirements. You should aim to consistently demonstrate your skills in each assessment task.
You also need to be able to overcome the various problems which that can arise in developing a business Website. You will need to demonstrate a degree of perseverance, and be able research possible solutions via the Web.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
You should aim to attend all class sessions and save your solutions to all exercises and assessment tasks you have completed, for example on your home drive or USB device. An organised folder structure is highly recommended.
It will be very advantageous to prepare for and review class materials using suggested resources, such as the recommended textbook or Websites indicated by your teacher.
We also expect to see ongoing progress your portfolio of documents for the project, full utilisation of Blackboard as per course guidelines and timely submission of all assessment tasks.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions in class and with your team members. For the projects in particular you will need to work effectively in a team, and manage your work to ensure timely completion and client approval. You should therefore also liaise with your client on a regular basis throughout the project.
Final Grades Table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview