 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ode to HTML artifact report
Statement
of problem
The World Wide Web has become a powerful and useful tool in communication
and sharing information. The concept behind it was simple: use a system
of codes, called tags, to format and connect documents located on different
computer systems, no matter how far apart the machines are. This tag system,
called Hyper Text Markup Language, or HTML, is the underpinnings of the
entire web. Having an understanding of HTML and being able to quickly
create pages with it is crucial to producing documents for the Web.
Analysis
I have been using HTML since 1995, right before the World Wide Web exploded
in popularity and revolutionized information distribution. I initially
coded websites by hand in a text editor, so it was important for me to
be able to quickly recall and apply HTML. Using a text editor also trained
me to write HTML with as little code as possible, as I didn't like having
to type long strings of tags over and over. Today web designers can use
WYSIWYG HTML editors to quickly create pages, but I still maintain my
philosophy that simple is better.
Rational
for Approach
I wanted to create a series of pages that would capture the basic elements
of a web page to quickly show what possibilities and limitations HTML
offered. The pages would be built to work the same in older web browers
as well as current versions. I also wanted to create the pages using a
text editor, so purposefully limited the design as well as the code. I
created pages that are small, load quickly, but also convey the design
range HTML offers.
I added comments to the source code, so that people looking at the HTML would have notes telling them what different tags. This way the code is documented, and people can return to the source anytime for a refresher on what tags perform what functions.
Report
on Results
The entire series of pages, including graphics, weighs in under 40K of
data. All pages were hand coded using BBEDIT, and once uploaded to CUDenver's
Ouray server, tweaked with the VI editor. Graphics used were free clip
art downloaded and touched up in Photoshop, or created by myself. I did
decided to include some JavaScript action, which I obtained from http://javascripts.internet.com.
I have used the site several times for demonstrating examples of HTML
as well as showing how a little code can create somewhat complex Web pages.
Evidence
of Value
The best evidence of the value of the site is how often HTML beginners,
upon seeing the pages, say "Wow, that's pretty easy". The pages
are reassuring in the fact that there isn't a lot of code, it is easy
to see how the tags relate to what is rendered by a browser, and any changes
to the code (such as changing a color value) show immediate results in
the browser. Also, because I tried to make flow of the pages feel like
a lighthearted sonnet, people find the content humorous and unimposing.
One person I showed the pages to said "If that's all there is to
it, anyone can make a web page!" My response: "That's what geocities.com
was banking on."
Reflections
These pages were fun to make; I literally threw the basic code together
on a class break, then refined them during a free hour one weekend (mostly
creating the Duck graphic). I am well versed in HTML code; I approached
coding the pages as I would write a poem – the content drove the
development and the HTML flowed out to support it. I also like how the
pages can be used as a reassuring example to people unfamiliar with HTML.
Simple pages are easy to make once one has a basic understanding of the
underlying structure.
Responsibilities
Met:
Responsibility 2: Designs instruction to meet the needs of learners
Ode to HTML, while created for my own enjoyment, supports instruction by providing a series of examples that demonstrate basic concepts. By using the pages to introduce HTML concepts, learners are able to see how HTML tags are organized and applied; and by changing tags learners are able to explore the code and see how changes appear in a web browser. Overall, the pages show learners that while HTML code may appear complex, it actually is fairly basic. This fact helps reassure and put learners in a mindset that they, too, can "get it" and "do it".