Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g3HIiLu09916; Wed, 17 Apr 2002 14:44:21 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 14:44:21 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <F45vZmDvHbYxPoLMOEY00007b35@hotmail.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Eric Appleton" <eric_appleton@hotmail.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2412] Re: A few "techy" questions for web-publishing teachers X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Status: O Content-Length: 3629 Lines: 74 Steve, I'm wearing a propeller beanie as well, so I'll try to respond to your questions. >1. Do you tend to think of your sites. . . like plants that need regular >pruning and watering? How often do you find yourself revising and updating >your sites? How much time do you spend doing it? How do you budget that >time? I definitely think of my sites like plants that need regular pruning and watering, and to stick with the analogy, I feel like I have a few plants that are doing great, get lots of sunlight and water, but I also have at least one that has been forgotten in the closet without water. I tend to water (okay, I have to give up the analogy) I mean, update some of my sites every day. I write my lesson plans directly in HTML while editing the site and upload them that day. This generally happens after 9am while I'm waiting for my class to begin at 10am. I guess I spend 5 hours a week updating the site, but this also time that I am putting together lesson plans. So, the growth happens incrementally and is part of my every day routine. What isn't part of my routine is going back and pruning. I need suggestions on how to do this on a regular schedule. >2. Did you come across any of these topics when choosing/learning/using >the tools you picked to create your sites? > >- HTML validation >- ADA/Section 508/WAI/Bobby compliance for accessibility to users with > disabilities >- Browser compatibility (IE vs. Netscape, new vs. old, requirements for > plug-ins (QuickTime, Flash, etc), page and media size (and transfer > speeds), and so forth) > >If so, were they presented as: > - essential > - recommended but optional > - only important for advanced authoring > - not mentioned or important at all I have run across validation, accessibility and compatibility while creating sites for the last few years. I've spent some time checking into each but, wow, is it confusing trying to deal with all of this. It is so much easier to ignore it. Of course, we don't want to do this. HTML-kit does validation with the software and offers corrections. It also has some suggestions for accessibility, as far as using alt tags and table summary tags. Beyone that, I'm kinda lost. As far as compatibility with Netscape/Explorer, plug-ins, modem speeds and older computers. . . I try to look at all my sites in at least the newer versions of Netscape and IE, but I don't find time to check into Opera and Lynx and all the older versions. I try not to use plug-ins, though I upload a fair amount of MSWord docs as they are to the web, but these are for my students to download in the lab. I design my pages to be seen best at 800 x 600 pixels and try not to use large pictures. Then again, I don't have to worry much about audience because my students in the lab are the main ones looking at the site. Usually, web design trainings are perpetually focused on the beginning steps (HTML vs. editors, free hosting vs. pay, etc.) and these concerns tend to be down the road a bit. It would be nice if those of use who are wearing beanies could support each other in finessing the rest. . . >3. Do you track your site's access statistics? I wish I could! This is one of those bureaucratic entanglements where it took me 2 years to get the username and password to the site, so I can upload files, but I still don't have (and no one I know has) the capability of looking at the admin page for our web hosting. Argh! Eric _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
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