Abstract:

In this lesson students will create their web pages using a web-based application like Claris Home Page, Microsoft Front Page, and Adobe PageMill. Students will find graphics suitable for their web page design by using the graphics provided by the application and searching the internet for free graphics. Students can also create their own art work by using a draw or paint program like Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn to copy and paste text, select and set different backgrounds, select graphics and pictures suitable for their pages, and link their pages together.

Standards for this lesson

NCTE National Standards for English-Language Arts:

8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

Technology (ISTE) Standards

1.Basic operations and concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

3.Technology productivity tools

Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.

4.Technology communications tools

Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

5.Technology research tools

Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

Pre-requisite Skills

Successful completion of Lessons 1 & 2.

Assessment

Created web folder and pages

Completed web portfolio

Oral Presentation of web portfolio

Student Activities

Activity #1 Teacher demonstrates the use of the web page application (in this case, Home Page). Students take notes for future use. Teacher presents two-three student models of web pages that are posted on the school's web site. Teacher reviews the handout, "Directions for a Successful Web Site Project" that follows:

DIRECTIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL WEB SITE PROJECT

• You will begin by creating a new folder in your folder on Professor Zarro. You will also save these files on your floppy disk. Use your first initial and last name. For example, my disk would be named jzarro. This is important because all pages will be saved on this disk.
• Inside this folder, create another folder and name it mygraphics. In this folder, you will save all your graphics and photos.
• Read through the requirements. Be sure you understand what’s required. If necessary, draw a flow chart of all your pages and links. Gather all your files. Search and make copies of all your graphics and store them in your graphics folder.
• Load Claris Home Page and name the first page of your web site My Web Portfolio and name the file index.htm and include the following information: Your Name, Date, Class, links to all your other pages and other web sites. Save this file in your folder.
• Create new pages as instructed below, and save each page in your main folder:
  • Index: follow directions above in #4.
  • About the Writer: name this page About the Writer (or About Me or About Josephine) and give the file a short name (for example, jz-aboutme) and save it in your web page folder. Home Page will add an extension to your file name (.htm) which identifies it as a hypertext file. Copy and paste your biographical sketch on this page and include a scanned photo of yourself or graphics that reflect your personality.
  • Favorite Assignments: name this page [Your First Name]'s Favorite Assignments and give the file a short name ( for example, jz-assign) and save it in your web folder. Here you will include information about 1-2 assignments from any of the classes you had this year. These assignments should be those that you are especially proud of.
  • Log of Books Read: name this page Books and Stories I Read This Year and give this file a short name to identify it. Here you will create tables for the list your created earlier of all the books and/or stories you read this year.
  • My Role Model: name this page My Role Model (or [Your First Name]'s Role Model or the name of the famous person). Give this file a short name and save it in your web folder. Here you will copy and paste the essay you wrote about your role model. Add a picture or graphic and be sure to include the permission notice that you received from the webmaster of the page where you found the graphics.
  • Reflection: name this page Reflection of My First Year in High School and give this file a short name. Copy and paste the essay that you wrote earlier.
• Students create the web folder which contains blank pages for each section noted above and a folder in which to store their graphics.

Activity #2: Teacher demonstrates features of Home Page while students take notes for future use. The features include, copy and pasting text, changing the background color of a page, changing the style of font text, inserting a graphic, making tables. Teacher reviews with students stylistic suggestions for creating pages which are aesthetically acceptable. Students complete this assignment and save all their work in their folders.

 

STYLISTIC SUGGESTIONS:

• Use a white or a very light background (pastels are best) for your pages, and black or dark colors for your text.
• Don't use large text. Viewers do not like to scroll long pages.
• Be uniform and consistent. Strive for a theme design, for example, u se a color theme for all pages, use a graphics or logo that appears on all pages, add links in the same area on the page.
• Use italics sparingly; they are difficult to read on some web browsers. For books and plays, use all caps and for short stories use quotation marks.
• Make your pages pleasing to the eye with small graphics, and line spacers. Use tables to place graphics and text side by side.

Activity #3: Teacher demonstrates creating links on web pages. Students create links and test them on two different web browsers. Students link all their pages back to the "home" page, which is the file labeled index.htm. Students check to be sure their pages have no dead ends. (When they go to a page, can they click somewhere to get back to where they were?) Check to be sure all links work.

Activity #4: Student presentations of web pages: Students present their web pages to the class and explain the content and the process they went through to create pages.

Technology Requirements/Integration

Available computers with internet access, large t.v. monitor connected to computer or an LDS projector.