Saturday, March 20, 2004
Hi Ladies,
Since you are getting into the groove of being web goddesses, I figured I would start sending some tips and hints your was as I see things on the site.
Invisible Borders vs Visible Borders :
Phil showed you many examples of how to use tables in layouts, but every example used invisible borders. Because of that, you may have missed his mention of the fact that there are definitely times when borders are advisable. If you are doing layout of pictures and graphics, invisible tables are handy, but when you are doing chart or calendar type work, borders often make a better presentation.
Background Color:
Some of you are creating a single cell table and setting the background color of the cell as a way of setting the background color on the page. That may actually be a good choice in some cases but you should be aware that if you are Editing a page and go to Format > Page Properties, you can change the background color and other page properties of the entire page.
Preventing Lost Student Work:
When you make writing prompts, when students click on a link they move to a web site and the current page is replaced. If they don't use the back button properly, they can lose their work. One way to prevent that is to have links open in a window of their own. That way they can just close the window when they are done and the prompt page is right there. Caution: Make sure you set all links on your prompt page to open in a new window. If students get used to closing the pages and one page doesn't open in its own window, they might close it and lose their work (nothing is perfect). To set links to open in a new window, when you create the link, at the bottom of the Link Properties screen where it says Target Frame, just change the selection from Default to New Window then Click on OK. If you have a page already created and want to change the links to open in a new window, Edit the page, Right-click on the link and select Link Properties and then do the preceding steps.
Art
Since you are getting into the groove of being web goddesses, I figured I would start sending some tips and hints your was as I see things on the site.
Invisible Borders vs Visible Borders :
Phil showed you many examples of how to use tables in layouts, but every example used invisible borders. Because of that, you may have missed his mention of the fact that there are definitely times when borders are advisable. If you are doing layout of pictures and graphics, invisible tables are handy, but when you are doing chart or calendar type work, borders often make a better presentation.
Background Color:
Some of you are creating a single cell table and setting the background color of the cell as a way of setting the background color on the page. That may actually be a good choice in some cases but you should be aware that if you are Editing a page and go to Format > Page Properties, you can change the background color and other page properties of the entire page.
Preventing Lost Student Work:
When you make writing prompts, when students click on a link they move to a web site and the current page is replaced. If they don't use the back button properly, they can lose their work. One way to prevent that is to have links open in a window of their own. That way they can just close the window when they are done and the prompt page is right there. Caution: Make sure you set all links on your prompt page to open in a new window. If students get used to closing the pages and one page doesn't open in its own window, they might close it and lose their work (nothing is perfect). To set links to open in a new window, when you create the link, at the bottom of the Link Properties screen where it says Target Frame, just change the selection from Default to New Window then Click on OK. If you have a page already created and want to change the links to open in a new window, Edit the page, Right-click on the link and select Link Properties and then do the preceding steps.
Art
Friday, March 19, 2004
Hi Ladies,
Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember you telling me that you were going to have to stop with the technology stuff because of all the pressure to prepare for the ASK4 test.
One of the last things I did before I took my two week "leave of absence" from my regular Thursday visits was to show Janine and Brook how to use Contribute. Immediately after that you slowed your tech work by showing each other how to use it and you really slowed things down by cranking out work on 50 web pages!!! You stopped by posting bios. You stopped by posting lessons, writing prompts, and resource links. You stopped by taking and posting pictures of your kids, work from your kids, and writing in your journals. And finally, things to a grinding halt by beginning plans for a huge project that will have real impact on your students and others. Yup, things sure did come to a grinding halt. I can't wait to see what happens when you finally decide to get down to work. LOL!!!
Well, maybe there is a chance that you will be able to get back with the program. Today started out started with an email from Brook at 9:07 AM. By 2:30, nineteen messages had passed between us and she had created more than ten pages and two separate lessons. I guess that qualifies as a start.
Well, cross your fingers. I just called the number for jury duty and the message told me to report on Monday morning. If I'm lucky, I might make it in on Thursday to see if I can get you folks started after being idle for so long.
Take care,
Art
Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember you telling me that you were going to have to stop with the technology stuff because of all the pressure to prepare for the ASK4 test.
One of the last things I did before I took my two week "leave of absence" from my regular Thursday visits was to show Janine and Brook how to use Contribute. Immediately after that you slowed your tech work by showing each other how to use it and you really slowed things down by cranking out work on 50 web pages!!! You stopped by posting bios. You stopped by posting lessons, writing prompts, and resource links. You stopped by taking and posting pictures of your kids, work from your kids, and writing in your journals. And finally, things to a grinding halt by beginning plans for a huge project that will have real impact on your students and others. Yup, things sure did come to a grinding halt. I can't wait to see what happens when you finally decide to get down to work. LOL!!!
Well, maybe there is a chance that you will be able to get back with the program. Today started out started with an email from Brook at 9:07 AM. By 2:30, nineteen messages had passed between us and she had created more than ten pages and two separate lessons. I guess that qualifies as a start.
Well, cross your fingers. I just called the number for jury duty and the message told me to report on Monday morning. If I'm lucky, I might make it in on Thursday to see if I can get you folks started after being idle for so long.
Take care,
Art
