Kim Woodard

Standard IV

Communicate Information

     Communicate information in different formats and for diverse audiences.

Reflection

     With the makeup of today's classroom, communicating information in different formats and for diverse audiences is a must.  This is a concept that seems to be reiterated over and over as each school year begins.  However, this does not only apply to the school environment.  With the technological tools available today, audiences normally expect information to be formatted in various manners, whether it be basic presentations, handouts, videos, etc.
     From the various TATC assignments, I have seen how important it is to be able to prepare information in a variety of formats.  Before creating the products for each assignment, we first had to determine who our audience would be.  We then were required to develop a product that was appropriate for that audience, whether it be a unified or diverse audience.
     My goal is to always research the makeup of the audience before I develop the communication tool to be used.  On the other hand, for the classroom situation, a majority of the time this will entail revamping information I already have prepared for the topic.  I also need to analyze how well the students learn the topic at hand and decide if I need to create another tool to re-teach any necessary information. 

Caption 12

Indicators:
     Standards I, II, TA TEKS 8.13s, 9.1s, 9.23s, 9.25s, 9.26s, 9.27s, 9.29s, 9.40s, 11.7s, 11.15s, 11.16s, 11.17s, 11.18s, 11.19s, 11.20s, 11.24s, 11.25s, 11.26s, 11.29s, 11.30s, 11.32s, 11.36s, 11.37s, 11.39s

Artifact #12

Descriptors:  
     Using JavaScript to Add Security to a Web Page, Web Page Creation using a Simple Text Editor, Creation of User ID, Creation of Password

Title:  
     Password Design

Course:  
     102 Web Authoring

Date Created:   
     September 29, 2002

Source:   
     Individual Assignment

Media:   
     Notepad, HTML Source Code

Description:
     For this assignment, I was given the task of looking up data in simple databases so that a password protected web page could be developed.  I was given a series of steps to follow that would lead me to the creation of two different web pages.  The first web page required me to ask the viewer for a user ID and if that ID was valid, then it would ask for a password.  If the password provided by the user was also correct, access would be gained to the second web page.  If either the user ID or password were incorrect, the viewer would be sent to a default page.  This was an individual project on the part of creating the web pages, but a group assignment in that each member of the class was given a code word and position number.  When every class members' code words were arranged properly, a "Wheel of Fortune" quote would be revealed.  The person who first guessed the quote correctly would be given a surprise.
     The steps that were required to complete the password page for this assignment included opening Notepad, typing in a basic HTML structure, defining variables and arrays in the HTML code, add a for-next loop and saving the page with a .html extension.  In order to show the actual code word and position number, a second web page was then created using the basic HTML code. 

Rationale:
     The password design assignment included presenting JavaScript in a different manner than what I had been accustomed to.  For this class, we really did not go into great detail about JavaScript and its functions.  We were merely given a brief description of JavaScript and then the actual information we were to type into the HTML.  There were very few changes we made to the actual coding.  They wanted us to concentrate more on looking up information from simple databases.  In actuality, I still feel that I learned a lot more about password protecting web pages that I had known before.
     I included this assignment because it shows a unique format of communicating information.  I had very little knowledge of what it took to password protect a web page.  I think this assignment shows that through a unique presentation manner, I was capable of studying the information needed to successfully complete the task at hand.  I feel that this is a great activity to reach those students who need that fun, hands-on activity to learn an otherwise stressful topic.

Implications for Future:
     I have always struggled teaching this topic to my web authoring students.  In turn, this has created a topic that was hard for the students to grasp.  The activities I assigned were not fun and they seemed to complain more during this time than during any other time of the class.  
     This password design assignment has given me a wonderful and unique manner in which to introduce securing a web page.  I think the student will have fun trying to come up with user IDs and passwords that will be hard for their classmates to guess.  In addition, having a reward for the first person to guess the quote will make it even more of a challenge for all students.  I think all of the students will be able to have fun learning in this manner.  What they will not realize is that they actually are learning at the same time.  Therefore, overall, I feel that this unique assignment will enhance my lesson over password protecting web pages using JavaScript for all types of students.  

Reviewer's Comments:
     Thanks for getting yours posted.  I have been working on mine..several hours.. and it just wouldn't work.  Just a few glitches here and there.  After I read your HTML, I found my errors and corrected what I had done!! Your are a life saver!!

Reviewer's Name:   
     Leah Franco

Title:   
     02-03 TATC Student

Date Reviewed:  
     September 29, 2002