Build a Joomla website based on a topic of your interest and choosing. The topic should be legal, ethical, and moral. If you have questions about the appropriateness of your topic, please ask before you start.

This project is due March 3, 2017, at 11:59 PM.

90% of your grade consists of the following:

• Site should contain at least 10 pages of content. This could be blog posts, product information, general articles, etc. A “page” should consist of at least a paragraph of information or something similar. “Lorem Ipsum” or similar placeholder content is not acceptable. Do not take content from other websites unless you wrote that content yourself, or unless it’s content for your company, your client, or a site you’re redesigning in some way and you have permission to use the content. Include the permission in your submission (see below).
• Site should demonstrate that you understand Joomla’s category, article, and menu structure.
• Site should contain images. You do not have to have images on every page, but you should demonstrate that you understand how to insert images into articles in your website.
• Site should include a blog. This blog will likely come from Joomla’s core. However, if you’d like to use a blog extension instead, this is acceptable. The blog extension would count as a “big” extension.
• Site should contain a menu visible and accessible on each page of the site. The menu may be styled however you choose, with or without dropdowns. You may use an extension to create dropdowns or other types of functionality if you wish.
• You need to include two “big” extensions and two “little” extensions for your site for the purposes of the project. You may include more extensions than this if you wish, so this is a minimum.
  • Two must be “big” extensions. A blog, a Joomla native full-featured calendar, full-featured image gallery, Paypal-based shopping cart, a customized form (not the one that comes with Joomla), online forum, or portfolio of work would count toward this. These extensions should add some interactivity to the site. It’s expected it will take 1½ -5 hours for you to research, identify, install, and configure each of these extensions. If it takes significantly less time or significantly more time than that, the extension may not be “big” enough.
    • Special note for those with shopping carts: Please do not plan to configure a shopping cart with your own payment system (i.e. you take your own credit cards online). This is expensive, time-consuming, and will not be covered in class. If you know how to do it, then fine, but we cannot provide support for this. If you are going to include a shopping cart, use PayPal for processing payments. You may leave the cart in “test” mode if desired.
    • Special note on calendars: Integrating a Google calendar into your site would be considered a “small” extension. Integrating a Joomla native calendar like JCalPro or jEvents would count for this requirement. Your calendar should have at least 10 unique events to count as a “big” extension. (In other words, one event with 10 repeats does not count as a “big” extension – though it could count as a “small” extension.)
• Include at least two “small” extensions. This is a minor functionality enhancement to your site. It might include something like a rotating image banner, quote/testimonial module, site map, etc. In other words, this extension would likely take 30-90 minutes to research, identify, install, and configure, outside of time required for image preparation (if required). Extensions that come with Joomla may count as small extensions, so if you create a contact page or add a search box, these are small extensions.
• Akeeba Backup and JCE do NOT count toward these extensions for your site. It’s expected that you have these installed as part of previous lectures. Please don’t count these as extensions in your final extension count.
• Your site includes a custom template. As described in Week 4, you need to build a custom template, including creating a static HTML web page, converting it to Joomla format with codes and additional files, and tweaking the result to get the look you want. One basic custom template is required.
• Site should work in at least one browser. Specify Mac/Windows and Firefox/Chrome. The site does not need to work in more than one browser.

Then you have a choice:

A. Advanced templating options

If you love templating, you may expand on this. Choose at least one of the following options (you may pursue more than one if you wish, for "instructor's choice" credit -- see below):

• Use Bootstrap 2 to lay out your custom template. Include a responsive navigation bar (as described in the lynda.com templating video Links to an external site., chapter 6, video 4). It is not required to style the bar in a custom manner, unless you wish to do so. (Customization is also described in the lynda.com videos in chapters 6 and 7.)
• Include at least one example of a template override or a layout override. (These are also described in chapter 8 of the lynda.com templating video Links to an external site..)
• Include an “optional region” and an alternative layout in a single template. An example of an alternate layout would be a right column that appears when modules are assigned to the right column position; otherwise, there is no right column on the page.  (This is described in chapter 8 in the lynda.com templating video Links to an external site..)
• Explore Joomla template styles further ( lynda.com templating video Links to an external site. chapter 9). Create at least one different style for the site, assigned to at least one page on the site. You should have at least one interface control in your template style interface to make changes to parameters. (For example, a blank to enter a color, a dropdown menu with a template choice, a box for entering text, etc.)

B.    Demonstrate Joomla’s Access Control List (ACL) system

Create a portion of the website hidden from public view. All items below are required for this option.

• Include a login interface, either through menu item or module.
• Three users should belong to three different user groups. One user may be the super user. One user may be part of Joomla’s default user groups. The third user should belong to a custom user group that you create. (All 3 users may be in custom user groups if desired.)
• Upon logging into the website, each user should see different types of information. It’s likely the super user will see all information, while the other users will see some part of the information. There should be three different combinations of information seen, so each user has a unique view. (If the super user sees everything, the other users see only some of the content, not all of it.)
• Provide a way for users to edit their profiles from the front end of the website via a menu option.
• For this portion of the website only, it is acceptable to have articles with little content, but only if you have 10 pages with “real” content on them already. Indicate on these pages which user groups/access levels should be able to see the page.

10% of your grade is "Instructor's Choice:"

"Instructor's Choice" means that you go above and beyond with this project to include additional work beyond what's described. There are many ways to work for these remaining 10 points. Some ideas include:

• A particularly lovely color scheme or professional-looking layout
• Nice use of type in the design
• Well-structured, interesting, engaging content (not eligible if you use existing content)
• Making the site mobile-compatible using responsive design (a great option for DGMD E-27 students)
• Stretching beyond what's covered in class, digging a little deeper. Examples might include: translating the site into a 2nd language using Joomla's tools (NOT Google Translate), using ACL to control which users can manipulate (not see) content, use of several "big" extensions, you suggest other ideas! (See below for more information on language translation.)
• Completing an advanced templating option AND the ACL option
• Completing more than one advanced templating option
• Creating two templates for the site that are significantly different in their layout, IF APPROPRIATE (please justify why you did this)
• Something else that catches our eye

What Jen Cares About

• You have demonstrated that you know how to research and identify a quality extension.
• You have installed that extension successfully.
• You have spent time configuring that extension to work with your site.
• The extension compliments the content on your site. Including a calendar in a site with one event per year does not make sense, for example.
• In general, you will find modules and plugins will be more like “small” extensions and components will be more like “big” extensions.
• You have demonstrated that you can create a custom template and get it installed, successfully, in Joomla.
• You have created a minimum of ONE template for your site (you are welcome to create more). Note that you do NOT need to create a template for EACH PAGE. A single template can control your entire site!
• Your template is at least minimally styled so parts of the page are recognizable: site identity (like logo or text identifier), navigation, main content, supporting information (like columns, modules, etc).
• You understand the CAM (categories, articles, menus) and can manipulate this to create content for your website.
• You post “real” content for your site. The C in CMS stands for content, so show that you know how to create some and make it work in a website.
• Whichever option you choose (advanced templating or ACL), the option is completed as described. Remember to choose ONE (or more) of the bullets for templating, but ALL of the bullets for ACL.

What Jen doesn’t care about

• You are an awesome graphic design with great color choices and beautiful layouts. This is not a graphic design course. Your site should be recognizable as a web page and should be navigable. It does not have to be beautiful. (If you are submitting graphic design for "instructor's choice" points, this doesn't apply.)
• It only took you 1¼  hours to download and install a shopping cart! Does it still count? Yes, it does. The times above are a guideline to give you an idea of how much work I’m thinking it will take to get this work completed on your site. It may take longer! It may take less time!
• The extension isn’t “pretty” or the colors don’t match. I’m interested in functionality more than anything else.
• Cross-browser compatibility: The site only has to work in one browser, so don't spend time trying to make it work in IE also (unless you really want the practice).
• Your site is responsive or "mobile friendly". While this is completely possible in all 3 CMSs, it's not a focus of this course and may require some additional knowledge to make this happen. 

How to turn in your assignment

Make an assignment comment in Canvas. In this document, include the following information:

• Your name.
• Your URL for the front end of the website.
• A super administrator login for the back end of the website. It’s suggested that you create a separate login for this. You may delete this login as soon as you get your grade.
• Your site must be online and available for our access through March 31, 2017, or when you receive your grade, whichever comes first. After that, you may make any additional changes to your site that you wish (like swapping out templates, adding/removing functionality, etc).
• Detail your extensions added to the site. Include the extension name and a link to its listing on the JED or to the website where you downloaded it. Indicate where on the site this extension is in use. For example: “calendar” link in main navigation; right column on “about” and “contact” pages; addition to administrator template within the article manager.
• If you are using content and/or images that are not your own: Detail where the content and/or images came from, and your permission to use these. (Hint: Free image websites generally have an attribution you should include, so include it.)
• If you choose the advanced templating option: indicate which of the options you have included. Indicate where those options are used on the site. For example: template override displayed on “about” page; site is coded with Bootstrap 2 and responsive nav bar is on the top of the page; blog shows layout without right column and contact page shows the layout with the right column; etc. Comments in your HTML are appreciated to indicate where the advanced templating options are happening.
• If you choose the ACL option: Include logins for the 3 users we need to test. Outline the behavior we should observe. For example: Teachers can see student and teacher information, but students can only see student information.
• Instructor's Choice: Indicate what you think sets your work Above and Beyond the assignment. Provide any details that convince us (specific pages, justification of technology/design choices, etc).

Oh no! I can’t make the deadline!

This project is due on March 3, 2017, at 11:59 PM Eastern time. It is expected that you will turn the assignment in on time.

You have one "free pass" to turn in one assignment late for this class. You may use this pass with assignment 1 or 2, but not assignment 3 (due to Extension timelines and end of term). 

Should you choose to use this late pass for this assignment, your assignment is due on March 6, 2017, at 11:59 PM Eastern time. You do not need to do anything special to activate the pass. Simply turn the assignment in late, exactly the way you would have done earlier. We will mark that you've used your free pass in the grade book. Make sure you turn Assignment 2 in on time, or you will receive a zero for that assignment.

If you don't turn in Assignment 1 by March 6 at 11:59 PM, you will receive a zero for this assignment.

Exceptions: In our experience, the #1 reason students need a late pass is due to poor planning. The lectures may look easy, but once you start working on your site, you may hit snags along the way. You need to plan for bad things to happen, both personally and professionally. If you have the assignment done early, that's not a tragedy!

However, we know that life happens when you are in graduate school, and we are willing to work with you in extreme cases if you need an additional extension beyond the one provided. These exceptions include things like being in the hospital (or having a significant other or children in the hospital), a car accident or other debilitating accident, and so forth.

Traveling for work or pleasure is NOT an exception -- budget your time to get the assignment in on time.

Being sick is NOT an exception, either for yourself or your children or significant other, unless this is an extreme case (like being in the hospital).

Grading timeline

Grades will be posted online in Canvas. Jen will send an email to the class when these are ready for viewing. When this email is sent, Jen will indicate the date that regrade requests are due. Typically it takes 1-2 weeks to grade all assignments.

Regrading of assignments

You are permitted a regrade for either assignment 1 or assignment 2. Regrades are not permitted for assignment 3 due to the timing at the end of the term.

Should you wish for a regrade on your assignment, submit your regrade within 3 days of the completion of grading. Jen will send an email when grading is complete with the due date for regrades. A courtesy email to Erin Schroeder is appreciated, to indicate you'd like a regrade.

Typically, regrades take longer than the first round of grading, because these are fit into our schedules as possible. If you have not received your regrade within 2 weeks of submitting it, email Erin Schroeder to check on status.

Additional guidelines

Some of you are overachievers and read way too much into the guidelines listed above. For those of you with additional questions, or requiring additional guidance, clarifications are listed below. Please note: We cannot approve extensions individually for each project.

- A “page” may be an article or other component displaying on the site. It does not include "administrative" items like create or edit something.

- Blog extension: Joomla has a blog functionality built into it (described in week 3 material), but it does not have comments or other “bloggish” functionality as part of its core. (In other words, this ain’t Tumblr or Blogger.) You are required to have a “blog” — think functionality, as in “a series of entries displayed in reverse chronological order”. This can be press releases, frequently asked questions, executive biographies, etc. Blog extensions are ALSO available. These extensions typically have commenting, tagging, maybe different types of data entry (think photo post vs. text post), user management, etc. Most Joomla blog extensions also cost money. Should you choose to use a blog extension, you may count this as a “big” extension AND you fill this blog requirement. If you use Joomla’s core blog functionality, you fill this blog requirement, but you need to include 2 “big” extensions as well.

- Big vs little extensions: Read the requirements carefully and pay attention to the description, particularly that of time. A “big” extension is one that takes time to install and configure. In the videos, you’ll note that I can install and configure an extension in a minute or two for core functionality. They are small extensions. The site map? It’s a component, but still a SMALL extension — it only took me a few minutes to install and configure it. I have not demoed anything that takes significant time to configure, like a calendar, image gallery, shopping cart, etc. Note the time estimates for research, installation, and configuration of these extensions and factor this into your decision to call something “big” or “little”.

- Broadly, components are “big”, while modules and plugins are “small”. That isn’t true 100% of the time though (note the site map example). Time is a more important metric. We want you to dive deeply into the “big” extensions and get to know a more complicated piece of functionality that isn’t part of Joomla’s core — that is the point of this portion of the assignment. 

- Full-featured: Take an image gallery as an example. “Simple Image Gallery” will take a folder full of images and display them on a page for you. There’s no way to upload individual images or add captions, for example. It will only take you 30 minutes to install and configure this extension. Therefore, this is clearly a “small” extension. Other image galleries allow you to configure captions, categorize images, tag images, display different sizes/resolutions, allow multiple users to upload images, take front-end image submissions, etc etc etc etc. Does an image gallery have to have all of these functions to be “full-featured”? No, but if it’s a “big” extension, it’s going to take you more than an hour to get it set up. 

- Languages: Some of you have expressed an interest in translating your site. If you are curious about this, please see “Joomla 3 Essential Training” at lynda.com, http://www.lynda.com/Joomla-tutorials/Joomla-3-Essential-Training/110275-2.html, chapter 11. You will have major site adjustments to make, including language installation, adjusting categories, articles, menus, modules, components, etc.

• If you are willing to follow the steps outlined in this video, you may translate your site and have this count for BOTH “big” extensions AND both “little” extensions — it’s that much work to do.
• Following these steps is NOT the same as installing a Google Translate extension that simply translates a page via dropdown. (You may use GT to translate the text on the site if you wish, but you must follow the above instructions in the lynda.com video for the final result.)
• If this language option counts towards "Instructor's Choice", then you need to ALSO include the "big" and "little" extensions.

- The template will likely take 10-12 hours to create. For those of you without strong HTML/CSS skills, it will take longer. Don’t wait to get started!

- To identify your project, pull together content (including text and images), ponder functionality, and come up with a plan likely takes 3-8 hours, depending on your level of interest, whether you’re redesigning a site or building a new one, and other factors.

- Content entry shouldn’t take that long, once the content is written. It might take 1-3 hours to create your categories, articles, and menu items. It might take another 30 minutes to an hour to configure all of the additional data information (show/hide author, show/hide hits, etc).

- The ACL portion of the assignment will likely take you 2-3 hours to complete. The alternative template options are also geared to take you about this amount of time. If you are learning Bootstrap from scratch, then clearly this step will take longer, but then you have a very hot job skill to add to your resume!

- If you do the math on the extensions, they should take somewhere from 4-12 hours to choose and configure these. If you’re taking less than 3 hours to research, install, and configure 4 extensions, you haven’t done enough work. 

- In general, we like to see that you are keeping with the spirit of the assignment rather than the letter of the assignment. When in doubt, write a justification of what you've done and why in your submission, and why you think you meet the assignment requirements through what you've completed.