HITS meets every Monday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students will complete a course of study (see course description), including the creation and maintenance of a school- or community- based Web site. Students can earn a total of 10 units per year.

HITS students will learn and develop:

• An ability to acquire and use information. How to be accomplished:

  students will be required to use the Webmonkey/HITS online and print tutorials, and apply their knowledge to the production of Web sites.

• An ability to identify, organize, plan and allocate resources.

  How to be accomplished: students will be required to plan, design, and organize a Web site. Students will keep a project binder for each Web project they are involved in. Students will incorporate the needs of the client into the planning, design and organization of the Web site.

• An ability to work with others.

  How to be accomplished:

  students will be required to work in student teams on each of their Web production projects. Each student will also be assigned a HITS production position (managing editor, graphic designer, project manager, etc.) in which capacity they will work with the entire HITS staff. Students will be required to work closely with clients, think creatively, make decisions and solve problems. Students will work closely with, and take direction and instruction from, the Web professional volunteers from San Francisco.

• A mastery of various technologies: How to be accomplished:

  students will master both PC and MAC platforms; students will be required to learn and teach basic and advanced HTML and JavaScript as well as software programs including, but not limited to: Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Adobe Premier, Bbedit, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, Gifbuilder, Freehand, Netscape Navigator/Communicator Microsoft Internet Explorer.

HITS students will learn, develop and practice: basic and advanced reading, writing, computational, listening and speaking skills.

How to be accomplished:

• students will be required to read various Web production tutorials and apply the information garnered from their readings to the creation of a Web site.
• students will be required to write the text included in their Web site projects.
• students will be required to listen respectfully and carefully to the HITS instructor, clients, and the Web professional volunteers from San Francisco as well as fellow HITS students.
• students will be required to articulate their ideas and suggestions to project team members, clients, teachers, and volunteers.
• students will be required to compute the amount of time a particular project will take to complete, as well as the number of web pages that will be required to fulfill the expectations of the client.

Thinking skills. How to be accomplished:

• students will be required to design a Web page so that the information contained on that page is logical, visually pleasing, and easy to understand.
• students will be required to make design decisions that require them to think critically and problem solve.
• students will be required to learn from others, including, but not limited to: HITS teacher, Web professionals, clients, tutorials, and other students.

Desirable personal qualities.

How to be accomplished:

• students will be required to be responsible for their decisions, their actions, and their words. Students will be required to arrive on time to each class session and keep scheduled appointments with clients.
• students will be required to demonstrate self-discipline in their management of Web projects, and react appropriately to criticism and/or direction.
• students will be expected to demonstrate respect toward themselves and others.
• students will be expected to act in a trustworthy and ethical manner.