Standards: Standard XI

Kim Woodard

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Standards I-XI

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Standard XI

Web Mastering

     The Web mastering teacher has the knowledge and skills needed to teach the Foundations, Information Acquisition, Work in Solving Problems, Communication strands of the Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in Web mastering, in addition to the content described in Technology Applications Standards I-V.


Reflection

     In creating web pages, I merely had the knowledge that I had taught myself as I prepared my lessons for my students.  I developed my lessons around the only web authoring software our school has, which is FrontPage 2000.  I incorporated the ideas covered in our textbook concerning the design elements of web pages.  While many of the ones covered in my text were also covered in this course, I also realize that there are many more that I need to teach.  I also now see how important it is to make sure these techniques are covered in addition to the software.  As I covered the topics in this class, I learned a lot about the various aspects that should be taken into account when building a web site.  The cross-platform assignments were a real eye-opener for me.  I never realized the impact a software program can have on how a page is viewed in the various options available.  This not only showed me how I need to have my students look at their sites in various browsers and platforms, but also how much our school website also needs to be revamped.  The other assignment that had a major impact on me was the web site design.  This assignment had us, as students, create a complete website for a travel company.  This assignment helped me prove to myself that I am capable of creating an entire website while implementing the various techniques (navigational schemes, storyboard, site map, tones, graphics, etc.) that make a website usable.
     My main goals for web authoring revolve around the various aspects that I need to improve not only for my teaching of this subject, but also for my personal projects.  I see that I need to learn more of the HTML code, since it appears this is the best way to control the elements of a web page.  In addition, I need to learn more of the web authoring software packages that are out there.  I have realized that FrontPage 2000 is not one of the best to use.  Finally, I need to improve my ability to add elements from other programs that will enhance a website, such as animation and digital graphic elements. 

Artifact #2 / Artifact #15

 

Caption 2

Indicators: 
     TA TEKS 7.9s, 7.15s, 7.32s, 9.15s, 9.20s, 9.21s, 10.9s, 11.1s, 11.4s, 11.7s, 11.10s, 11.12s, 11.13s, 11.18s, 11.19s, 11.21s, 11.23s, 11.24s, 11.26s, 11.27s, 11.28s, 11.29s, 11.32s, 11.35s, 11.39s  

Artifact #2

Descriptors:  
     Web Authoring, Internet, Storyboard, Site Testing, Photo Editing

Title:   
     Web Site Design

Course:   
     102 Web Authoring

Date Created:   
     September 23, 2002

Source:  
     Individual Project using FrontPage

Media:  
     Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe PageMaker

Description:  
     In this assignment, I was commissioned by a travel company to develop a simple site of 3 pages or more about at least one of their most traveled destinations.  I was required to include the following in my website:  global, parallel, and local navigation schemes, the information architecture of "bread crumbs", storyboard, home page, company services page, map, office hours, links to external sites, site map, company logo, photos, and results from a test performed on at least one page.  
     Therefore, using FrontPage and the Internet, I found graphics and a background that followed the trendy/contemporary tone.  For my logo, I decided to create a name that was based on "TATC" .  I then went to the Internet to find pictures and information about the destination of Jamaica.  Once this information was found, I created four main pages for this site.  These pages are the home page, a destinations page, a services page, and a documentation page.  
     On the home page, I included basic information such as the site's purpose and the company's contact information.  On the destinations page, I included a map with links to information about the various resort towns that could be visited.  I also included external links to more information about Jamaica and to sites which show the current weather for the resort towns.  On the services page, I included information about what services are provided by the company.  Finally, on the documentation page, I included a site map, storyboard (created using Adobe PageMaker), results from testing performed on the site, and a list of resources.

Rationale:  
     This artifact is an assignment that uses various aspects of web authoring.  There was a tone that was set and used throughout the site for consistency.  Also, the various navigation schemes were used to create easy navigation for users of the site.  
     This artifact was included because I feel that it demonstrates many of the aspects stated above that are required to develop a functional website.  I learned much more than I thought I would in developing this site.  I learned that it takes patience to create a site that is useful and easily navigated.  I learned the importance of including various navigation schemes to allow functionality of the site.  I also learned how to incorporate aspects such as a storyboard and site map to help give the "big picture" of the site.  Finally, I learned the satisfaction of taking a large project one step at a time until it is completed  
     As for my goals, I feel that I was able to accomplish some of them with this assignment.  I feel that I did complete this assignment to the best of my ability, however, I did not fulfill part of  "without stressing too much."  This was a large assignment and I did stress over the time it took to create it.  However, in the end, I felt that I did the best I could for the time I had to complete it.  Another of my goals that I was able to achieve with this assignment was that of applying the knowledge towards my instruction in the classroom.  I will be able to take new concepts learned, such as the storyboard, and use it in my classroom instruction.

Implications for Future:  
     Before this course, the only knowledge I had about web authoring was the concepts that were self taught for instruction to my students.  I am grateful to have gained knowledge about many concepts that were not emphasized in my class before, especially the importance of navigational schemes and cross-platform testing.  I realize that I am going to have to teach my students to be creative in their web design, but to never forget the concept of functionality.  I also realize that I can assign a large project and see success if I guide them one step at a time to completion.
     On a personal note, this assignment has proven to me that I can create a fully functional site.  Therefore, when I get more time, I would really enjoy creating a site to publish on the Internet.  Right now, I think it would be a great opportunity to be able to create one for a community organization or business.  However, I also realize that this would have to be in the future due to the fact that I am very limited on the amount of free time that I have.  I guess this can be placed on the list of long-term goals that I would like to get accomplished when I have more time!
     As for new learning goals, I need to remember to continue to learn about the topics we cover.  I do not want to cover them and just file them in memory.  I need to make myself come back to these assignments and enhance them with the topics I learn in the future classes..

Reviewer's Comments:  
     Very nice web design! I really enjoyed reading all about Jamaica – you definitely have me wanting to go there.  Your site is easy to navigate, and very user friendly. Great job!

Reviewer's Name:   
     Kayla Steiner

Title:  
     02-03 102 Web Authoring Instructor

Date Reviewed:  
     October 9, 2002

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Caption 15

Indicators:
     Standards I, IV, V, TA TEKS 7.4s, 7.10s, 7.11s, 7.19s, 7.20s, 8.1s, 8.2s, 8.4s, 8.6s, 8.8s, 8.11s, 8.13s, 8.14s, 8.15s, 8.17s, 8.21s, 8.22s, 8.24s, 8.26s, 8.27s, 8.28s, 8.29s, 8.30s, 8.31s, 8.33s, 8.34s, 8.35s, 8.36s, 8.40s, 8.42s, 8.43s, 8.44s, 8.45s, 8.46s, 8.47s, 9.1s, 9.4s, 9.6s, 9.10s, 9.13s, 9.15s, 9.16s, 9.19s, 9.20s, 9.21s, 9.21s, 9.22s, 9.24s, 925s, 9.26s, 9.27s, 9.28s, 9.29s, 9.30s, 9.31s, 9.35s, 9.36s, 9.39s, 9.40s, 9.41s, 9.43s, 10.28s, 10.29s, 11.7s, 11.10s, 11.11s, 11.12s, 11.17s, 11.18s, 11.19s, 11.20s, 11.21s, 11.23s, 11.24s, 11.25s, 11.26s, 11.27s, 11.28s, 11.29s, 11.30s, 11.32s, 11.33s, 11.35s, 11.39s

Artifact #15

Descriptors:
     Digital Graphics Unit Lesson Creation, Web Page Creation, Animation Creation, Digital Graphic Creation

Title:  
     Putting it All Together - Final Unit Lesson

Course:   
     101 Digital Graphics

Date Created:  
     November 2, 2002

Source:  
     Individual Project

Media:  
     Internet, Digital Camera, Adobe Photoshop 7.0, Swish v2.0, Microsoft Word, Microsoft FrontPage

Description:
     This digital graphics unit lesson was a combination of many assignments that were produced throughout the four weeks of the TATC digital graphics class.  In the end, for this assignment, I took all of the products I had created and developed a unit lesson using a web site as the presentation medium.
     For this assignment, the requirements included a home page for the web site that incorporated the animation created in a previous assignment, vocabulary, sample of the finished product, lecture notes/handouts, step-by-step instruction, a credits page, all pages clearly linked to each other, and downloadable versions of the vocabulary and lecture notes/handouts documents.  For my lesson, I chose to create a digital graphics unit of creating a twins picture.  I used the Internet and a digital camera to obtain the pictures I wanted to combine.  I then brought them into PhotoShop to actually produce the twin picture.  For my animation requirement, I used Swish v2.0 and included it on the home page of the web site, which was created using FrontPage.  Finally, I used Microsoft Word to create handouts that could be saved in a universally assessable format.  In the end, I have an entire digital graphics lesson that can be presented to a teacher and/or student in the format of a fully navigational web site. 

Rationale:
     The digital graphics unit lesson incorporated many of the technology applications courses.  Using the various areas of technology to create an actual unit that can be presented to the students created a lesson presentation technique that I think the students would enjoy.
     I included this assignment because it shows how the development of a web site can bring together areas from many of the technology applications classes.  I feel that it shows the growth I had in many areas from these TATC courses.   First, it shows that I can fully develop a lesson that can be used by many teachers to present a digital graphics lesson.  Second, it shows that I can use graphic editing software to combine various images creating a unique product.  Third, it shows that I can create an animation that will help enhance the presentation of a lesson.  Finally and most importantly, it shows that I am capable of creating a fully navigational web site.  Without a sight that is easy to navigate, teachers would get frustrated and never see all the resources that are available in that one site.  Therefore, creating a site that allows the teachers easy access to the various handouts, notes, etc. is very important.

Implications for Future:
     From this lesson, I not only obtained resources from my product, but also from that of my classmates.  I now have numerous fully accessible web sites that I can use to teach digital graphics lessons.  I have created many unit lessons for myself, but never for presenting them to other teachers.  I know that there are many web sites available to retrieve lesson plans from, but I have never thought of contributing to them.
     My goal from this lesson is that I would like to take some of my lessons and develop a web site for presenting them to the students.  Allowing them access from the Internet rather than merely through handouts would be a great way to get them prepared for the future.  Many of the college  and online classes require students to obtain information via the Internet.  Allowing them the opportunity to access information in this manner during high school would only help their transition after graduation.

Reviewer's Comments:
     What an awesome project to end this course!  This would be so much fun to create - after you create the Digital Graphic assignment - they could then take it into Animation and animate their twin like you did.  Overall very clear instructions and expectations.  Good work!

Reviewer's Name:   
     Rachel Newman

Title:   
     02-03 101 Digital Graphics Instructor

Date Reviewed:   
     November 9, 2002

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Goals / Observation / Reflection / Standards I-XI / Standards Matrix / Site Map
I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI