HTML 1 - Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that isn't answered here, let me know what it is and I'll consider adding it.- How do I know what the assignments are?
- How do I know when the assignments are due?
- Do I really have to purchase the text?
- How do I view the online lectures?
- How do I participate in the online office hours?
- How can I do well in the class?
- How do I get the file extension to display for my files?
- Should I be working on a real, meaningful web site when I do my assignments?
- Will I lose points if my web site doesn't look great?
- Each time I do an assignment should I build a new web site from scratch?
- Is it OK if I include features in my web site that we have not yet covered in the class?
- What does it mean when I get a validator message saying "No referer heading found!"?
- What is the template that we use for our assignments?
- What does that %*#!@ W3C Validator error message mean? (This link will take you to a new page.)
How do I know what the assignments are?
In the navigation area at the top of each page in the class web site, in the row labeled "Assignments", there is a list of 8 numbers. Each one is a link that takes you to the actual assignment.
How do I know when the assignments are due?
Toward the bottom of the Syllabus page, there is a calendar showing assignment due dates. Assignments are always due a week after they are assigned. For example, this class starts on a Monday, so the work assigned in a particular week is due the following Sunday night at midnight. Holidays sometimes force changes, and I will let you know if and when your work will be due at a different time.
Do I really have to purchase the text?
Absolutely! The text is the central core around which the course is built. It will be your friend for the duration of the course. It is an excellent, easy to read book, but it doesn't have a great index. Get in the habit of tagging pages with critical information, so that you can access it quickly. All of the assignments and quiz questions will be based on the content of the text.
How do I view the online lectures?
You will need to click on the link provided on the Assignment page, and you will be connected to a web page where you have to agree to download the necessary software. Only then can you view the lecture. (Some browsers will automatically block the download, and you will have to click on the warning bar to allow it.) Unfortunately, the system doesn't remember that you previously downloaded the necessary software, so you will have to go through this process every time you want to start a new session.
How do I participate in the online office hours?
I will hold online office hours every Tuesday evening (7-9) during the eight-week class. Using the Elluminate software, you can actually share your desktop and show me the problem you are having! As with the online lectures, you will need to download and install the necessary software each time you participate. Click here to participate.
How can I do well in the class?
The best strategy for doing well in this class is to do the required reading from the text CAREFULLY! Don't skim. Read every word, and then re-read. When the text suggests that you do an exercise, actually sit down and do it before you go on to the next page! In addition, you must watch the online lectures! I demonstrate everything you have to do in your assignments.
How do I get the file extension to display for my files?
Windows:
Open Windows Explorer
Windows 7 - click on Organize button, choose Folder and search options
Windows XP - click on Tools..Folder Options
Click on the View tab
Make sure the checkbox next to "Hide extensions for known file types" is DESELECTED
Mac:
Open Finder
Click on Finder..Preferences
Make sure "Show all file extensions" is checked
Should I be working toward a coherent, meaningful web site when I do my assignments?
I think that you will enjoy the course more and get more out of it if you attempt to create a web site that is meaningful and coherent. You can add to it as we progress through the course. You could present your pets, your family, a good vacation, a hobby, or some other topic of interest. In assignment 5 you will be including pictures in your sites, so a topic with good visuals would be nice. However, in the grading of your assignments I will be paying much more attention to your coding than to your content.
Will I lose points if my web site doesn't look great?
No. In the grading of your assignments I will be paying much more attention to your coding than to the aesthetics of your pages. This is a class that focuses on the technical skills required to create web pages; it is not a design class. I will be looking for good, correct coding techniques and design issues that affect the user, such as easy navigation and quick loading speeds.
Each time I do an assignment should I build a new web site from scratch?
No. The assignments should build on each other. Each time you do an assignment, you should add your new work to your existing web site. This will mean, for example, that your navigation bar will have to be updated if you decide to add a new page to your site.
Is it OK if I include features in my web site that we have not yet covered in the class?
No. This usually ends up confusing the student who tries, not to mention the instructor trying to grade the work. Please avoid this.
What does it mean when I get a validator message saying "No referer heading found!"?
This message appears when you try and validate a page that lives on your home computer, not a page that resides on the server. Your home computer cannot automatically communicate with the validator web site, whereas the the server does.
Actually you can validate your code from your home computer if you take a few extra steps.
- First copy the code of your web page.
- Then open the web page in a browser and click on the validation button.
- When the "No referrer heading found!" message pops up, click on the link that says "Validator Home Page".
- Then click on the tab that says "Validate by Direct Input".
- Paste your (copied) code into the text box and click Check.
- You will get a response like the one you get by checking from a page that is on the server.
What is the template that we use for our assignments?
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">
<head>
<meta http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text/html;
charset = UTF-8" />
<title>Placeholder text for title (shows up in title bar)</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Placeholder text for the main header</h1>
<h2>Placeholder text for a second level header</h2>
<p>Placeholder text for a paragraph</p>
<h2>Placeholder text for a second level header</h2>
<p>Placeholder text for a paragraph</p>
<p>
<a href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer">
<img src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/valid-xhtml10"
alt="Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict" height="31" width="88" />
</a>
</p>
</body>
</html>