HomePage or Classroom Page Creation

• "the most powerful application of Web technology for classrooms is as a publishing tool"
• "The Web offers the opportunity to build and refine verbal and written communication skills"
• allows for cultural exchange and collaboration among students and teachers(Heide & Stillborne)
• Allows for greater parental involvement and participation

Web 66 is a great place to see School Pages from around the world at http://web66.coled.umn.edu/schools.html

My own bookmarks of Great School Pages at http://www.stfx.ca/people/rjmackin/ed467/edmark.htm#Great School Pages

Many teachers have neither the time nor inclination to develop their own web pages. However, it can be as easy as using a word processor.

A WYSIWYG type HTML Editor is the key to making this possible.
Netscape Composer is one such editor that works much like a word processor. There is an excellent tutorial on using Composer at http://wally2.rit.edu/instruction/web/composer/index.html

There is even a web site where a teacher can get one made to order. The Teacher's Net Home Page Maker at http://www.teachers.net/sampler/ allows you to make an instant page by just filling out a form - and they send you the page by email.

You will begin creating your homepage  by starting with a student template: http://iago.stfx.ca/internet/student-homepages.html

1. Copy URL and Open page in Composer. Paste URL and Open Once you have  the student template in Composer, FILE®SAVE AS® if you don't already have a HomePage, name it welcome1.html to your w drive
2. Start by substituting your own name and personal information in the appropriate places.
3. Delete any information or links you don't want
4. Any plain text can be replaced just by first selecting and over typing.
5. Any text can be made a link to another page (hypertext ) by first selecting the text you want to become a link . INSERT®LINK® In the Link to Location box, either type in or paste the URL for the Page you are wishing the link to go to ®APPLY®OK. You can also remove any links not wanted in this screen

To replace Education for Biology, replace the name Biology with Education. Note: in order to find out the URL for the Education Department, find the Education Home Page, copy the URL, and then paste the URL into the location box. You can also type the URL in yourself. Clicking on the character tab allows you to change some attributes (color, bold, blinking, etc.) of your hypertext.
6. To see what the web page will look, click on Preview found in the Composition Button Toolbar. You will be prompted to save your changes first ® YES
7. To return to the Composer, minimize the Netscape Navigator window. It will remain open and you can access it to repeatedly view your changes by just clicking back and forth between the Navigator and Composer. Every time you make a change in Composer, Save and Reload when you switch to Netscape.
8. To replace the St. F.X.U. Crest with our own image, click where the crest is, INSERT ® PICTURE®FROM FILE ® get your ClipArt or Photo file ®INSERT®CLOSE. Resize the Image at the corners to make it an appropriate size for the page. Make sure that the image is in the directory at the Location chosen. Other attributes of the image available for change: Image vs text alignment, space around image, use it as a background, and alternate text in case viewer can't receive images. You can also drag and drop your image from Netscape directly into Composer. Any cropping must be done previously in another application such as Word or Photoshop or if you have the application program available, right at Edit Image. The gif or jpeg fomat is most universal and all of your images should be saved to these formats. BMP files are automatically changed to jpeg by Composer.
9. To substitute your e-mail address at the bottom , delete the e-mail address ® Link® type the following into the Display text box : your email address, and into the Link Location box type : MAILTO:your username@stfx.ca Apply®OK.
10. To make a bulleted or numbered list, select the all of the lines to be bulleted, FORMAT ® LIST® either BULLETED or NUMBERED (Note that only the # signs appear in Composer - will be 1,2,3 etc. when viewed in Netscape)
11. Aligning and Indenting text: Select Text® click on Increase Indent , Decrease Indent, or Alignment Buttons. The drop down menu under alignment allows you to choose left, center, or right alignment.
12. Changing fonts: Select text ® change face, size, and color to suit.
13. Inserting a horizontal line: Where appropriate click on Insert H. Line button. You can set Horizontal Line Properties by right clicking on line
14. Background color: FORMAT®Page Colors and Properties® Colors and Background tab. Click on Color schemes button which gives a choice of attractive ready made color schemes. You can also pick the Location of an image you wish to use as a background - it should be subtle enough not to interfere with the text on the page. Readability is the most important objective here.
15. Inserting a table allows you to organize information into a grid of rows and columns. At the Insertion point, click on Insert Table button® pick the number of rows and columns and other attributes you wish your table to have®APPLY®CLOSE. You can also organize your links by placing them into the cells of the table. Alternatively, you can use button images to act as links.
16. Spelling: Check it before you publish - it is most embarrasing to see spelling errors for all the world to see.
17. When you are finished with your HomePage and all of your links work, you are ready to put it on the W drive.

Web Page Creation Links at http://www.stfx.ca/people/rjmackin/ed467/edmark.htm#Web Page Creation
Download the latest free version of Netscape Communicator (Version 4.76) at http://home.netscape.com/download/1206100/10000-en----_qual.html
 

Assignment Due: Create your HomePage and send the URL to me via e-mail by February 14, 2001

It will be graded on the following points:

• Overall readability and design - the simpler the better - be professional
• Appropriatenes of images and background color - avoid dark or busy backgrounds - don't crowd or leave large spaces
• Links to at least 3 of your favorite sites external to St. F.X.U.
• Link to your email address
• Link back to St. F.X.U. Home page at the bottom
• Last date updated by at the bottom of the page
• A place holder for a link to your:
• Bookmarks Page
• Resume

St. Francis Xavier University
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