Course Aims
Commercial web applications frequently utilize advanced tools that support the rapid
development and deployment of web-based systems. A knowledge and use of these tools
provides people with the skills to become immediately productive. This course aims to
achieve two primary objectives for non-design majors’ students. First it provides the
student with knowledge of software tools for developing multimedia enhanced web sites.
Second, it prepares the students have hand-on experience in using the web development
software to build up professional looking web site. Upon completing this course, students
will be ready to plan, build, upload, and maintain a professional Web site. This course
will use a combination of lectures, small group discussions, SPSS workshops and written
assignments as teaching and learning activities.
TLA1: Lecture
Lectures introduce students to the major concepts and principles of social statistics,
demonstrate the use of popular statistical tools, and illustrate how to interpret statistical
results critically with concrete cases in everyday life.
TLA2: In-class small group discussion
Students are divided into small groups to discuss the concepts and principles of social
statistics in lectures. They also need to do some basic exercises together to practice the
statistical techniques that they learn in class. Real life cases are provided so that students
can learn to do critical interpretation of the statistical information that they encounter in
everyday life.
TLA3: SPSS workshop
Most statistical analysis can be done more efficiently with the help of statistical tools,
especially SPSS. This TLA provides students with a number of datasets including
Healey’s GSS dataset 2006 and the CGSS (Chinese General Social Survey) 2006. With
actual practicing with SPSS, students are expected to have a more concrete idea of how to
generate seful statistical figures with computer softwares.
TLA4: Written assignments
Students are required to complete problem-solving assignments, which are designed to
enhance students’ competence in applying key statistical concepts and principles
Teaching Approach
Both lectures and workshops are used. Lectures are designed to introduce the concepts of
web basics and illustrate the concept with real-life examples. The interactive workshops
provide students with hands-on practice they need to build and manage professional web
sites using Dreamweaver CS5, so as to develop confidence and practical skill in the usage
of the application software. Eating is an enjoyment to the general public; unfortunately,
people who suffer from eating disorder cannot agree with it. Eating disorder, including
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, is a kind of psychological disorders. “Anorexia
is characterized by a weight loss of at least 15% of expected body weight, a devastating
fear of weight gain, relentless dietary habits that prevent weight gain, and a disturbance in
the way in which body weight and shape are experienced” (Bernstein, 2010) Although
they weight far below the normal level, Anorexic people usually neglect this fact and
can’t help but keep thinking that they are too fat, thus they would try hard to resist
gaining any weight (Smith, Nolen-Hoeksema, Fredrickson, Loftus, 2007, P.533).
Moreover, Bulimia patients would uncontrollably eat more than how much his or her
body needs, but followed by vomiting or taking laxatives in order to avoid gaining
weight. (Coon & Mitterer, 2010, P.330). Eating disorders can make people lose their hair,
suffer from kidney damages and dehydration, and even erodes their tooth, due to
repetitive vomiting.(Coon & Mitterer, 2010, P.330)
Most of the anorexia patients are adolescent girls (Cooper, 2005 as cited in Coon &
Mitterer, 2010, p. 329), yet, it does not mean that men are safe from anorexia. Refer to
the article ‘Men and Eating Disorders: The Facts’ from Beat, the UK Eating Disorder
Association, there are between 10% and 20% anorexia patients are male, and it shows an
uprising rate too. It seems that not just girls mind their body shape, men also have their
reasons to eat little; it may because of following the rapid changing fashion trend, in
attempt to have more body muscles or a desire to have a body-shape similar to their idols,
usually artists or models. However, as the major anorexic patients are female, most of the
treatments on combating eating disorders in public are designed for them; therefore, there
is obviously a need to have more related treatments for male.
