Journal of Course Experiences- Three Web Page Project

I intend to use Dreamweaver to create a website for keyboarding resources for fourth graders at my school. The website will provide links to practice exercises and online keyboarding activities. Additionally, the students' accomplishments will be acknowledged on the website.

Dreamweaver Lesson Plan- Students

AS: How will we display your web 2.0 projects throughout the year?

Objectives: Students will use Dreamweaver to create an online anthology to describe and display their web-based projects throughout the year

Subject: Technology, Web Page Design

Activities:

Creating the website:
Students will launch Dreamweaver CS3 from the Start Menu
Students will choose a webpage template from File> New
Students will name their site so it can be easily identified as their own
Students will create a page for each subject area and set page titles for each page created

Creating :
Students will develop their anthology website throughout the year as curriculum units are completed
Students will include static and linked images in their site

Updating the website

Students will open their anthology website to update it with links to their new work

Closure

Differentiation: Creating a class website

Students will create a class website that links to each student in the class' work

Students will update the class website as each project has been completed

Vocabulary: website, links, title, images

Materials: Dreamweaver CS3, URLs to online work

Evaluation: Teacher Observation

Standards:

TEC.K-4.8.1 - All students will use computer applications to gather and organize information and to solve problems

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A - Basic Computer Tools and Skills

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A.1 - Use basic technology vocabulary.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A.3 - Input and access text and data, using appropriate keyboarding techniques or other input devices.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A.5 - Produce and interpret a simple graph or chart by entering and editing data on a prepared spreadsheet template.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A.7 - Create and maintain files and folders.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 A.9 - Use basic computer icons.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 B - Application of Productivity Tools

TEC.K-4. - Social Aspects

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 B.2.d - Personal security and safety issues

TEC.K-4. - Information Access and Research

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 B.7 - Locate specific information by searching a database.

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 B.8 - Recognize accuracy and/or bias of information.

TEC.K-4. - Problem Solving

TEC.K-4.8.1.4 B.9 - Solve problems individually and/or collaboratively using computer applications.

Journal of Course Experiences- Dreamweaver CS3, Day 360 (or so)

So I think I've established that it is a challenge for me to complete online and independent courses. I really need to be present and accountable because life gets in the way.

The exercises from the text thus far have been a good review of website design and a good introduction to Dreamweaver CS3. I am excited at the prospect of gaining new skills with this software.

Assets Panel- Maintains a listing of all the asset types (images, colors, links, movies, scripts, library items, and templates) within the current site

Spell check- SHIFT+F7

vs
controls the line spacing

Property Inspector= Formatting Toolbar

Linking can be accomplished by browsing for the file, using Point to File or highlighting text and holding shift while pointing to a file in the asset box. Links can be made to html files, PDFs or zip files. Anchors can be created to link to specific areas on the page.

Point to File icon prevents linking to misspelled urls. Click, hold and drag to file in Files panel

Image maps can be creating by clicking on the whole image, and using the image map section of the image properties box. Hot spots can be square, round or polygonal. Alternate text must be provided for each hot spot.

Cascading Style Sheets

Finally, something I have no prior knowledge of. :)

CSS2- second recommendation of cascading style sheets containing about 120 properties.

Cascading- how the browsers interpret your style sheet

Rules consist of two parts- the selector (specific tag) and the declaration (how the specific tag should be displayed- property, value)

The easiest way to define a style sheet is in Page Properties.

Chapter 6 has to do with CSS, which I've never really understood. Looking forward to learning a lot and getting how to use it.

CSS- Cascading Style Sheets

Cascading refers to how browsers interpret your style sheet, i.e. which rules the browser follows when it encounters conflicting CSS information

You can use CSS to control basic formatting of a web page. In DW, use CSS formatting by editing the preferences.

Property Inspector- located at the bottom of the page

Page Properties controls: appearance, links, heading, title/encoding, tracing image, margins (amount of space to edge of browser, color-background, links- visited and unvisited, underline-/rollover

Types of Style Sheets:

Embedded- apply styles to a single page

External (linked)- most powerful, can format lots-o-pages

Inline- override style definition of a single element

Professional Development at the Library of Congress

In these tight economic times, school districts are cutting or discontinuing reimbursement for educators to attend professional development workshops. The Library of Congress offers self-paced online modules for you to take and earn a certificate of completion. Each module is about an hour in length.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/selfdirected/

IXL Math

If you've ever spent time with me, you know that I LOVE math! I love anything that has to do with logic and figuring things out. I am also really good at being distracted (Squirrel!) and came across this website while checking out ideas for my new Cricut Cake. IXL Math currently has math practice sets for grades PreK-8 with advanced topics coming soon. You are able to do 20 practice problems for free each day and a membership is pretty reasonable at $9.95/month or $79/year for families. I love the fact that the skills are tested in the form of word problems (my favorite!). Skills can also be connected to state standards.

http://www.ixl.com/

Inserting a document in OnCourse

Steps to insert a document into your website with OnCourse:

1. Click the Pencil (edit section) to open the section for editing
2. Type the text for viewers to click on
3. Highlight the text
4. Click the Globe w/chain
5. Choose Other under Protocol
6. Click Browse Server- takes you to your uploaded documents
7. Choose Document
8. Click OK
9. Save & Close
That's it!

I Just Need to Make One Little Change to this PDF

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