Advanced Web Apps for Communicators

JOU 4364 | Spring 2019 | Section 2F03 | Class number 16413 | 2056 Weimer Hall
Tuesdays 11:45 a.m.–2:45 p.m. (periods 5, 6, 7)

Instructor: Mindy McAdams, Professor, Department of Journalism

Email: mmcadams@jou.ufl.edu
Office: 3049 Weimer Hall
Office hours: Wednesdays 1–3 p.m. | And by appointment
Office phone: (352) 392-8456 (NOTE: Email is better. Much better.)
WEBSITE: https://webappsplus.wordpress.com/

Course Description
This course adds server-side (back-end) web skills to the client-side (front-end) web skills students have
developed in the preceding course, with the goal of developing web apps that include a server-side
component to support presentations of stories and large data sets for media organizations. Web
scraping is also covered to enable journalists to gather open data from the web for analysis and/or
informing audiences.

Prerequisite: JOU 3363 Introduction to Web Apps for Communicators

Course Objectives
In this course, students learn how to:

1. Use SQL (Structured Query Language) to create databases and to read/write data for use in
applications for media audiences.
2. Scrape websites to collect public data (such as government data for an informed electorate) that
can be stored, analyzed and reused, as is typically done in media organizations.
3. Write custom programs in Python for communications applications.
4. Create server-side web apps suitable for media industries using Flask, a Python framework,
which is widely used by journalism organizations including the Los Angeles Times.
5. Solve problems in setting up and using command-line tools to support innovative storytelling.

Attendance and Attitude

Students are expected to show respect for one another and for the instructor. Attendance and arriving
on time for class are necessary. Lateness and unexcused absences will result in a lower final grade (see
details below for point breakdown). If you have been absent, you are responsible for finding out about
any missed material by consulting another student and/or going to the instructor’s office hours. These
matters will not be handled via email.

Mobile devices must be turned OFF and placed out of sight during class. Do not check text messages,
social media, email, etc., during class, as your instructor considers this quite rude and therefore grounds

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for disciplinary action. Give your full and undivided attention to anyone who is speaking in class,
including your fellow students.

Students are expected to use their own laptop computer during class. However, if you are seen checking
social media or any other sites unrelated to the immediate topics being discussed in class, penalties may
be imposed. Penalties range from a warning (first offense) to grade point deductions. It is hoped you will
get the most value possible out of your in-class time.

See Attendance and participation under “Course Requirements” below for grading specifics.

UF Attendance Policies
> https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/attendance-policies/

Course Deadlines and Makeup Work

Late assignments are not accepted unless an emergency can be documented. This means that an
assignment submitted late is graded as a zero. Assignments are not accepted via email unless requested
by the instructor. If an illness or a personal emergency prevents you from completing an assignment on
time, advance notice and written documentation are required. If advance notice is not possible because
of a genuine emergency, written documentation will be required. No work for “extra credit” is accepted.

NOTE: Assignment deadlines in Canvas are usually set for 11:59 p.m. If you submit after the deadline,
your assignment is late.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty of any kind is not tolerated in this course. It will be reported to the student’s
department chair and to the university’s Dean of Students. It will result in a failing grade for this course.

UF Student Honor Code (see pages 12–14 especially)

> https://sccr.dso.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/08/The-Orange-Book-Web.pdf

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

▪ Using any work done by another person and submitting it for a class assignment.
▪ Submitting work you did for another class or course.
▪ Copying and pasting code written by another person in place of solving the assigned problem(s)
on your own. (Note: In some cases an assignment will instruct you to use code written by
others. Those cases are exempt.)
▪ Sharing code written by you with another student. You may talk about their incomplete code,
but do not show them your completed code or allow them to copy your code. (Note: If you are
asked to collaborate with another student for an assignment, this does not apply to you and
your partner.)

Required Books and More

Students are required to read several assigned chapters in these books:

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 Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, by Al Sweigart (No Starch Press, 2015)
https://automatetheboringstuff.com/

Web Scraping with Python: Collecting More Data from the Modern Web, 2nd edition, by Ryan
Mitchell (O’Reilly, 2018) — make sure you have the SECOND EDITION

All students are expected to possess their own copy of each book, whether printed or electronic. Quiz
questions are taken from the books and other assigned materials. Students might need to use the book
during class. Books might be cheaper at Amazon than elsewhere.

Web hosting
Students must have full-service web hosting. The recommended provider is Reclaim Hosting. Your
professor receives no kickbacks or other deals from Reclaim. Shared hosting costs $30/year and includes
registration for one domain. Domains must be renewed yearly or they will expire. Other hosting
companies are acceptable if they provide SSH access and provide MySQL (or MariaDB) via phpMyAdmin.

> https://reclaimhosting.com/

GitHub
Each student must have his or her own GitHub account.

> https://github.com/

Laptop
All students in this course must own a laptop they can bring to class with them. A tablet will NOT be
sufficient for this course. Any operating system is okay, but Mac OSX is strongly preferred. For assistance
with your operating system or hardware, please use the UF Computing Help Desk if you cannot solve a
problem. Bring your power cord to class with you.

Headphones or earbuds
During class, you might find you need to watch or re-watch videos. For this reason, please be sure to
always bring headphones or earbuds with you.

Students with Disabilities

Students requesting accommodations must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of
Students Office will provide documentation to the student, who must then provide this documentation
to the instructor when requesting accommodations.

UF Disability Resource Center

> https://disability.ufl.edu/

Course Requirements
Read this entire document in the first week of classes. If anything is not clear to you, ask me for
clarification on or before Jan. 11, 2019. This syllabus is a contract between you and me.

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Please make sure to check the relevant Canvas module early in the week. Plan your work accordingly so
you have enough time to absorb the material. All your deadlines are in Canvas.

Quizzes
There will be a weekly quiz. Quizzes are in Canvas and are always open-book. Quizzes cover the assigned
readings or videos for the coming week. These are always listed in the module’s “Assigned readings”
document in Canvas. Deadlines are in Canvas. Any quiz not submitted by the deadline is graded 0.

Assignments
There will be a mix of assignments in this course, somewhat different from Intro to Web Apps.
Sometimes the assignment is largely done during class (when a new technology is introduced). In some
cases, the work for one assignment will span two weeks (when you are applying what you learned).
Sometimes the assignment is a set of exercises you must complete.

Assignments are provided in Canvas along with exact deadlines. It will be necessary for students to work
on all assignments outside class to complete them. Students are encouraged to help one another on
assignments but NOT to give solutions to others. Please look ahead and be prepared to spend
substantially more time on some assignments than others. Study groups are a great idea!

Presentations
Once during the semester, each student will be responsible for presenting an interesting web app or
website that uses back-end technologies. The student is responsible for finding and “deconstructing” the
app/site and telling the class what is interesting, admirable, especially cool, etc. The purpose of the
presentation is to inspire the class and show how current web technologies and techniques are used.
Students are encouraged not only to view source but also to find “how we made this” articles or
interviews about the app/site. Students might contact the makers of the app/site and interview them.
Think of this as a show-and-tell that educates the whole class and offers creative inspiration.

Final project
In the final three weeks of the course, each student will produce and complete a web project suitable
for your professional portfolio. The project must include at least two of the following: Python, web
scraping, a SQL database, a Flask app. It may also include web forms, JavaScript, Bootstrap and any
additional technologies you desire. The project must be live and functional at your domain by the
deadline.

Your final project should be included in your professional portfolio. For that reason, you are strongly
encouraged to think ahead about a suitable topic You should choose a topic that interests you — but it
should also be of interest to others. Note that this project must use the technologies from this course in
a substantial way.

Attendance and participation

Points will be subtracted as detailed below. There are 10 possible points, which are 10 percent of your
final course grade. Everyone starts with 10 points. It’s up to you whether you lose any points.
Participation is expected; you will be working on assigned projects during class some of the time.
Absences due to illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements, etc., will be
handled in accordance with UF policies, to which you will find a link on page 2 of this syllabus.

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 • For each class meeting you do not attend at all: –1 point
One (1) missed class meeting is excused (no points taken); no formal excuse is needed.
Roll will be taken in class and entered into Canvas.
• For chronic lateness—
o If you have been marked late 5 times or more: –1 point
o If you have been marked late 10 times or more: –2 points
• Leaving class early will not be acceptable for most weeks in this course. If you’re given free time
to work on assignments, you may leave as you like, but this will not be the norm. For leaving
before the class is formally ended: If this happens more than once, the second and all
subsequent incidents will be –0.5 point each. Special circumstances such as a job interview will
be handled as excused (no penalty) unless the student is missing 30 minutes or more each time.
• For repeatedly showing inattention, e.g. checking your phone during lecture, or chatting socially
with friends during lab: You will be warned about this. After two warnings, a third incident will
be –1 point.

Grades and Grading Policies

Quizzes 20 percent
Assignments 50 percent
Presentations (1 per student) 5 percent
Final project 15 percent
Attendance and participation 10 percent
TOTAL 100 percent

92–100 points A 72–77 points C

90–91 points A– 70–71 points C–
88–89 points B+ 68–69 points D+
82–87 points B 62–67 points D
80–81 points B– 60–61 points D–
78–79 points C+ 59 points or fewer E

UF Policies about Student Grades

> https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/grades-grading-policies/

UF Dates (Spring 2019)

Classes begin Jan. 7 MLK Jr. Day Jan. 21
Drop/Add Jan. 7–11 Spring Break March 2–9
Classes end April 24
Final Exams April 27–May 3

Course Evaluations
Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10
criteria. These evaluations are conducted online: https://evaluations.ufl.edu/

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Evaluations are typically open during the final weeks of the semester. Students will be given specific
dates when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students:
https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results/

Course Schedule and Required Readings

Please note that many important details are in Canvas and do not appear herein. Assigned readings,
links to videos, resources, etc., are in Canvas. Quizzes due every Monday are based on the assigned
readings in that same week.

Week 1 | Jan. 7–11

Introduction to the course. Tools, technologies and outcomes.

Week 2 | Jan. 14–18

Introduction to SQL and databases.
Introduction to XAMPP, an Apache web server that runs on your computer.

Week 3 | Jan. 21–25

SQL and databases, part 2. More advanced SQL queries; security issues; prepared statements.

Week 4 | Jan. 28–Feb. 1

Your own SQL database project.

Week 5 | Feb. 4–8

Introduction to Python. Also: The command line; Jupyter Notebooks.

Week 6 | Feb. 11–15

Introduction to web scraping with Python and the BeautifulSoup library.
Using PIP and virtualenv.

Week 7 | Feb. 18–22

Web scraping, part 2. More Python. Introduction to regex. Student presentations.

Week 8 | Feb. 25–March 1

Introduction to APIs.
Your own web scraping project. Student presentations.

Week 9 | March 4–8

Spring Break — class does not meet.

Week 10 | March 11–15

Creating web apps with Python; introduction to Flask, a web framework. Student presentations.

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Week 11 | March 18–22
Flask: Basic application structure and templates. Student presentations.

Week 12 | March 25–29

Flask for web forms and databases. Student presentations.

Week 13 | April 1–5

Your own Flask project. Student presentations.

Week 14 | April 8–12

Student’s individual web project.

Week 15 | April 15–19

Student’s individual web project.

Week 16 | April 22–24

Student’s individual web project. (Wednesday: Last day of classes.)

All projects are due on Monday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m. This is the Monday of finals week.

Weekly topics are subject to change. Please check in Canvas for the latest updates.

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