I have only had extremely limited success with HTML (currently more problems than actual success stories in this area), and have been blogging almost continually, but for only one month.
However, I do feel that my limited experience allows me to conclude that both HTML and Blogs have pros and cons that need to be considered before attempting a choice between both.
At this stage of writing I am personally more comfortable with my blog on 'blogger.com', as I have had relatively few problems.
Each day I have learnt something new by either clicking all the available Tabs on my page, by viewing other bloggers pages, and also from following tips left behind from our tutor Peter or classmates.
Having said that, I also believe that with more time and experience, I should become comfortable with the basic aspects of creating and publishing a Web page via HTML tags through the use of Notepad.
Ultimately, whether you choose HTML or Blogging will depend upon your goal and reason for publishing.
HTML Pros:
* Can design the page to *completely* reflect your needs
* Could possibly reach a wider audience, especially if the Web page produces a high number of hit's when people search your particular topic.
* More freedom to do what you want
HTML Cons:
* The need to be aware of the 'Invisibility of difference' while creating your page, so people with differently configured computers will still be able to view it's contents as opposed to navigating away
* Addressing *specifically* but *briefly* what your page is about through the page title - which is likely to return more hits and views than if labelled improperly
* Not understanding how to use the software adequately (my main problem!)
* Your page can be viewed by *anyone*, so content, especially personal content, should be guarded closely.
BLOG Pros:
* Your page is already set-up according to a template - which you choose
* There are choices which allow you to decide who will ultimately view your page (eg 'all internet users', 'registered blogspot users only', 'only those who you have allowed access to'.
* there is a choice to write in text or in html. Thus far, I have only tried text. My html ventures have come back with angry red writing that says: tag not closed (I wanted to make a word bold by using the bold tag). It looked perfectly fine for me, but I will obviously need to work this peculiarity out!!!
BLOG Cons:
* If you don't understand how to do something, the process can be difficult (ie no 'help' menu)
* If a wider audience is needed, it would be essential to check your permissions page - or your blog may become 'hidden'
* Internet users with no blogging experience may not know how to navigate to your page (I'm a major example of someone who had *absolutely no* experience with blogs prior to the start of this course (!) - whereas a random web page can be easily navigated to if the search criteria typed in, connects with the search parameters (set by the words typed in) of that Web page.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Module 3 HTML - the continuing project: Stay Tuned \0/
I was able to put the validate icon on my HTML Page - even though it does not like the Google links I put in (which were directly copied then pasted into my tags.
Is this bogus or what????
By the way, when you click on the W3C Validator, it takes you to a page that says it could not find the URL - I'm sure this is because the WebCt is behind a firewall.
My main concern though, is if it was this easy to download the W3C Validation Icon - how many other "Bogus" pages are out there?
Does anyone police/regulate this?
My other concern, is that the major problems were with an http:// link that I merely copied and pasted - I didn't write the html code for it!
Bogus!!!
Posted on : January 22, 2009
Unsure how to fix this.
May have to post my question onto the board.
Is this bogus or what????
By the way, when you click on the W3C Validator, it takes you to a page that says it could not find the URL - I'm sure this is because the WebCt is behind a firewall.
My main concern though, is if it was this easy to download the W3C Validation Icon - how many other "Bogus" pages are out there?
Does anyone police/regulate this?
My other concern, is that the major problems were with an http:// link that I merely copied and pasted - I didn't write the html code for it!
Bogus!!!
Posted on : January 22, 2009A Problem I am currently experiencing, is that when my page is expanded to fill the whole computer screen, it shows four copies of the background photo - instead of just one that fits into the entire screen.
Unsure how to fix this.
May have to post my question onto the board.
AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND \0/
Thanks to Amy, I was able to fix my page by centering the photo *and* I was able to remove some html text that had been placed inside my title section - thank you \0/
I also worked on my other photo uploads, and was able to add some html tags underneath words...which worked :)
All that I have left to do, is validate my page...more searching required here, as I must have glossed over that section/not understood it...so I have no clue where to go!
That will be today's task.
Meanwhile, enjoy the 4 photos I took of my finished page \0/ Woohoo!!!
This post will be updated as I progress further with my html page.
Please stay tuned :)
Please stay tuned :)
Module 3 HTML Success at 2:17am :)
I've finally had success at uploading a page with a photo on it :)
Massive thanks to Amy, Chriso, James, Louwna, Monique, Peter and the whole tribe at WebCt - I'd buy you all a round of drinks if I could :)
It turns out that I didn't accidentally delete *all* my attempts from Jan 12th.
One page was still lurking under the saved pseudonym of "mybackground.jpg" and I'm unsure how that misnomer came about but it doesn't matter - I still had evidence of Monday's work on my computer. I found it when I went to check my photo prior to uploading a newer version. phew!
My error is as follows:
* I saved as index
* This only saved the file as .txt
* I ignorantly believed that the notepad program would automatically add '.html' to the file in a similar way that word programs automatically save as '.doc'.
* After re-reading *ALL* the posts on the WebCt under 'Module 3 HTML Task', I realised my error.
* Thank you in particular to Amy, Chriso and Peter for suggesting that 'index.html' should be typed into the 'file name' area.
Again, many thanks - it's still a work in progress but I know what I'm doing now (can't believe I managed to upload the 'Blue Page' at the beginning of last week but couldn't remember the steps a week later - woeful!).
Will be re-working the page with renewed vigour from tomorrow...yikes!
It's after 3am in Sydney!!
Good Night :)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Module 3: HTML: Creating a web page...more problems
It's been a few days since my last entry (starting to sound like a confession...) due to the fact that I've been trying to re-do the html task...and having a zillion problems.
Firstly, I saved it at lesson 1 or 2 or 3 (can't remember *exactly* when) and then, as I added more to the page I re-saved...except that when I went to upload my beautiful page (and it really was going to be b e a u t i f u l ! ! !)...it only uploaded the writing that would have been evident at the very first 'save as'!!!
Duped.
I then posted my problems onto the discussion board and haven't been back yet.
Will go after this post, to see if anyone has responded.
I haven't tried to re-do the page for the third time yet either.
Maybe tonight or tomorrow.
That's all for now - feeling just a little bit despondent :(
Firstly, I saved it at lesson 1 or 2 or 3 (can't remember *exactly* when) and then, as I added more to the page I re-saved...except that when I went to upload my beautiful page (and it really was going to be b e a u t i f u l ! ! !)...it only uploaded the writing that would have been evident at the very first 'save as'!!!
Duped.
I then posted my problems onto the discussion board and haven't been back yet.
Will go after this post, to see if anyone has responded.
I haven't tried to re-do the page for the third time yet either.
Maybe tonight or tomorrow.
That's all for now - feeling just a little bit despondent :(
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Music on my Blog
WooHoo...I've added an mp3.com control onto my blog.
Try it out!
My favourite is 'Sunshower' but we couldn't figure out how to just load *that* one without the others coming too.
All songs are by my partner (yes, one of his favourite caves to retreat to is his home music studio).
His name on mp3.com is 'Armchair Musician' (very appropriate for his ambient style).
One of his other 'hobbies' is writing for film/TV/corporate videos...so if you need a composer, let me know!
I seriously think there should be one called 'Tessa'...do you agree?
Am off to see if I can somehow create my own playlist, so that hopefully, only those songs come up.
Stay tuned :)
Try it out!
My favourite is 'Sunshower' but we couldn't figure out how to just load *that* one without the others coming too.
All songs are by my partner (yes, one of his favourite caves to retreat to is his home music studio).
His name on mp3.com is 'Armchair Musician' (very appropriate for his ambient style).
One of his other 'hobbies' is writing for film/TV/corporate videos...so if you need a composer, let me know!
I seriously think there should be one called 'Tessa'...do you agree?
Am off to see if I can somehow create my own playlist, so that hopefully, only those songs come up.
Stay tuned :)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Module 3: Cybertextspace by Dr Karin Wenz
The more I read the article, the more I understood.
In fact, the content helped me to understand what was written on the Module 3 tutorial notes page - seriously!!!
I was so unimpressed by the text (on the Mod 3 page) that I couldn't concentrate yesterday.
Maybe I was in a flippant mood 24 hours ago.
Unsure.
Anyway, I must've had my thinking cap on today.
Perhaps the best idea from the article (for me personally), is that each person has their own set of beliefs, experiences, and background knowledge - so any information received will ultimately be influenced by these variables, and in turn, will affect what they choose to do with the information.
I think Dr Wenz was trying to describe the internet and the content it holds - however, she kept referring to the game Myst, which I have, but which I played about 10 years ago (and haven't played since).
A check of references showed that the most recent article used dated from 1997 or 1998.
However, despite the age of the article, I don't think the basic way the internet works today is any different to the way it worked back then...except, of course, that it is much vaster and computers are more powerful, making access and ease of access, more immediate and astonishingly quicker.
Another valid point mentioned, was that due to the speed with which information is generated today, the way people experience the world has changed.
It's the internet that has promoted this change.
Hypertext and linking to other sites or explanatory notes (which Wenz used in almost every sentence...and which annoyed me excessively until I realised that each of these 'links' was actually just another point along the linear list on the home/contents page) can also affect what the reader learns or takes away with them.
Wenz's explanation reminded me of the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books popular with pre-teens in the late '70's-'80's (which allowed children choice in the story).
The hyperlinks in an online text allow the viewer the options to:
1. read in-depth about a particular point
2. skim ahead to the next point
3. jump to another site
4. close the window!
As a result, information gleaned will depend not only on the depth of information read, but also on the paths taken to read that information, as well as the personal background and experiences which the reader brought with them prior to reading.
In all. I found the article 'voiced' many things I already knew, and quite a few which I hadn't previously considered.
Well worth the effort!
In fact, the content helped me to understand what was written on the Module 3 tutorial notes page - seriously!!!
I was so unimpressed by the text (on the Mod 3 page) that I couldn't concentrate yesterday.
Maybe I was in a flippant mood 24 hours ago.
Unsure.
Anyway, I must've had my thinking cap on today.
Perhaps the best idea from the article (for me personally), is that each person has their own set of beliefs, experiences, and background knowledge - so any information received will ultimately be influenced by these variables, and in turn, will affect what they choose to do with the information.
I think Dr Wenz was trying to describe the internet and the content it holds - however, she kept referring to the game Myst, which I have, but which I played about 10 years ago (and haven't played since).
A check of references showed that the most recent article used dated from 1997 or 1998.
However, despite the age of the article, I don't think the basic way the internet works today is any different to the way it worked back then...except, of course, that it is much vaster and computers are more powerful, making access and ease of access, more immediate and astonishingly quicker.
Another valid point mentioned, was that due to the speed with which information is generated today, the way people experience the world has changed.
It's the internet that has promoted this change.
Hypertext and linking to other sites or explanatory notes (which Wenz used in almost every sentence...and which annoyed me excessively until I realised that each of these 'links' was actually just another point along the linear list on the home/contents page) can also affect what the reader learns or takes away with them.
Wenz's explanation reminded me of the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books popular with pre-teens in the late '70's-'80's (which allowed children choice in the story).
The hyperlinks in an online text allow the viewer the options to:
1. read in-depth about a particular point
2. skim ahead to the next point
3. jump to another site
4. close the window!
As a result, information gleaned will depend not only on the depth of information read, but also on the paths taken to read that information, as well as the personal background and experiences which the reader brought with them prior to reading.
In all. I found the article 'voiced' many things I already knew, and quite a few which I hadn't previously considered.
Well worth the effort!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Blog Features Used: Edited Posts and Labels
This morning I edited all my blog posts to reflect:
TITLE: I changed these to reflect the Modules where the task was requested.
e.g. "Module 1: Telnet Task"
then I added 'Labels' so that all tasks could be accessed easily when my blog is submitted for assessment:
LABELS: These included "Module 1", "Telnet", "Optional Task", and any other 'markers' I thought would enable a viewer easier access to my page.
Of course as I progress further and learn more, I may edit again.
TITLE: I changed these to reflect the Modules where the task was requested.
e.g. "Module 1: Telnet Task"
then I added 'Labels' so that all tasks could be accessed easily when my blog is submitted for assessment:
LABELS: These included "Module 1", "Telnet", "Optional Task", and any other 'markers' I thought would enable a viewer easier access to my page.
Of course as I progress further and learn more, I may edit again.
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