HTML and CSS

The past couple of weeks, in Educational Media, we have been exploring HTML coding and cascading style sheets (CSS). Our assignment in HTML was to create a basic web page, although we did not actually launch it to a site. It needed to have an image, headings for different sections as well as a bulleted list. For CSS, we were given a webpage's coding and asked to make changes only to the style (font, font size, font color, background color, borders, image placements, etc).

For a moment, I would think I had it figured out and then start trying it out and nothing seems to work. UGH. There is a great website though that provides tutorials for almost anything imaginable. www.w3school.com It was a lifesaver.

Some things I have learned:

• Take your time! Even though it is hard you can do it.


• HTML really makes sense when you look at the end product.


• CSS is great for adding flare to your site (if you understand it)

HTML and CSS are definitely tasks that I need to know but will always need a cheat sheet to help me out. I am sure those that do it often commit all the coding to memory though. In agricultural education, it is nice to have a working website that students and parents can check for announcements and upcoming activities.

Introduction to Education Media

Hello Blog World!

I have not posted in a while due to a busy schedule at school and work!

This semester I am taking statistics, principles of technological change and introduction to education media. Statistics is mostly computerized and has not been too difficult thus far.

Principles of Tech Change is a ton of reading and writing. I am not learning a lot from it but trying to have a good attitude and maybe I will become interested in something about it!

Education Media is teaching me to use technology in the classroom. We have learned about Word and PowerPoint so far and are beginning HTML. Its odd to think that as a graduate student I am being taught how to use these seemingly simple programs.
In Microsoft Word we learned about accessibility options within these programs and how to set up documents for readers and students with disabilites. This can be as simple as using the true heading options and making sure that your photos have alt texts. I will post my word assignment soon. I did an instructional guide on downloading a screen capture program (SnagIt). It was hard to get use to doing things a little differently than normal and to think about future uses, not just utilizing this for the assignment.
In PowerPoint, I had a little bit tougher time making the connection to my content area. We designed a PowerPoint for something in out content area. I choose to teach on a Introduction to Plasma Arc Cutters. It was difficult to find internet based help links to enhance to the PowerPoint since the lab component of an ag classroom would normally be used. As ag teachers I think we depend heavily on what we have instead of what is available.
Reflecting back, it will be interesting to see how all of this can be incorporated in the classroom. Agricultural classrooms depend on problem based and experimental learning. With a new generation, we (ag teachers) have to be proactive in relating the experience to technologies students are comfortable with.