First Steps - Making a Teacher Web Page
Now that you've learned about some basic web page concepts and how to use the RWD software, you can begin to think about designing your own teacher web page.
Step 1: Plan
The first step is to plan. Your plan should include two elements - content & interface. Content is the "stuff" you want to put on your page, the information that you want to directly display or link to. The interface is the look & feel of your page, the layout and overall design. Working through a graphic organizer is one way of planning out your web page - or web site. Take a blank piece of paper and sketch out a preliminary plan for your web site. Think about the information you want to display - we suggest the following:
• Your email link
• Your school phone number, time you're available to take calls
• The courses/grade level you teach
• Class expectations
• Course description
Step 2: Build the Text Elements
Designing doesn't have to be a linear process. Although it's best to plan before you design, you can jump in and start throwing text and graphics around. You'll want to check the appearance of your web page as you work, sometimes things don't look exactly the way the do on the First Class Builder Form. It's best to launch your favorite web browser and load your home page while you design in First Class. You can toggle back and forth between the web browser and First Class while you work. The address for your home page is http://highschool.shs.k12.ny.us/HS_Teacher_Pages/name_of_your_conference. Web pages other than your home page are listed at the end of the address with the page name after a backslash. As an example, the URL for this page is http://webtraining.shs.k12.ny.us/Content.
If you want to follow a linear process, the next step is to build the text elements on your site. Remember the rules about typefaces - use fonts that are sure to be installed on almost any computer. See the chart below for a reminder. Remember to make use of adequate white space and use soft colors.
If you're having difficulty getting text to line up properly, you can insert a table and manipulate the columns and rows to precisely align text - or graphics and text.
Step 3: Build the Graphic Elements
You can paste graphics directly into the page body of your RWD Builder Form. If you want to grab a graphic off another web site, just press the Control key on your laptop while clicking on the graphic, and you'll get a pop-up menu that will allow you to copy the image (among many other things), which you can then paste directly into your page body. Control - Click works on any image, see the options that appear in a graphic below:
You can also add graphics to the folder you created on the left side of your site window entitled "MyImages" by dragging them into the folder. Once the graphics sit in a folder on First Class, you can point to them to display on multiple pages. The best format for graphic files is jpeg or gif. You can [Link]manipulate graphics in the graphic editor program that is on your laptop - it's called Preview, and it is a great multipurpose tool for working with graphic files.
Step 4: Build the Links & Apply the RWD Elements (sidebar, info bar, etc.)
We already reviewed how to create links with a navigation sidebar. If you want to create a straight link to a graphic or to a piece of text - follow the process listed below:
- Highlight the text or graphic element you want to set a link on
- Choose Edit > Make Link
- Type the link in the box that appears - you must type the exact web address or other address
Step 5: Preview & Tweek
Keep previewing your web page as you work. Make small adjustments until you are satisfied. If you have technical difficulties - call Don Feldmann at 1267. Have fun!!
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