HTML Tips, Tricks and Links by Steve Bergen

As computer programming teacher (since 1974) and co-director of Summercore, I am frequently asked for my thoughts about CODING VIA HTML vs USING WEB MAKING PROGRAM ... see My Philosophy below ... Steve Bergen

• Beware of using SMART QUOTES in Microsoft Word or Appleworks or any word processor
• Practice SAFE TEXT as all good sex education courses suggest (i.e. SAVE in TEXT format not in HTML format or any other format)
• uppercase vs lowercase of file names matters; it is best to keep ALL file names lowercase with no spaces or punctuation, e.g. celticswillwin#17.html
• graphics should be in the SAME folder on your hard drive as the HTML file when testing
• JV Skills #1-5 ... HTML ... HEAD ... BODY ... TITLE ... P ... BR ... avoid SMART quotes
• JV Skills #6-10 ... H1 to H6 .. HR ... CENTER ... PROGRAMMER COMMENTS ... I for ITALICS ... B for BOLD
• Varsity Skills #1-5 ... UL, OL and LI ... FONT SIZE ... IMG SRC ... A HREF
• Varsity Skills #6-10 ... A HREF and A NAME ... BACKGROUND ... PRE ... AMPERSAND

HTML Links and References on the Web

• Accents, symbols & foreign HTML tips and tricks
• Annabella's HTML tips
• Bare Bones Guide to HMTL... an absolutely INCREDIBLE resource for HTML commands in alphabetical order with examples! HIghly recommended! The author is incredibly generous with permissions!
• Basic HTML Style Guide... listed in Oct 97 issue of Classroom Connect
• Beginner's Guide to HMTL... listed in Oct 97 issue of Classroom Connect
• Color Names from the wonderful www.w3schools.com Web site ... each color has both a name and a code number
• Colors on the Web ... excellent resource chart found by Alexandra Briggs that shows the COLOR and the SIX DIGIT HEXADECIMAL number used with BODY BGCOLOR = "#xxyyzz" where xx refers to "drops of red" and yy refers to "drops of green" and zz refers to "drops of blue"
• Colors on the Web ... click for another excellent Web page that shows hexadecimal numbers ... easy to magnify when in teaching mode!
• Dynamic Drive includes info on HT ACCESS PASSWORD protection
• EdWeb's HTML Crash Course for K-12 Educators... listed in Oct 97 issue of Classroom Connect
• Flashkit.Com contains resources for Flash Programmers but many of them are free and can be used for HTML projects including a library of easy to download SOUNDS
• HTMLcodetutorial.com looks excellent (1/2009)
• HTML Commands for Symbols from www.htmlgoodies.com (excellent resource)
• HTML QuickList from www.faqs.org
• Image Map Help Guide... listed in the Hip Pocket Guide to HTML 3.2 by IDG Books
• Internet Brothers web site has this portion titled Helpware for the Cybercommunity. Whatever it is, if you are working with students on webpages, this is a must read. What are layers? How do you do a Quicktime VR panorama, and make it easier to load? What is dynamic HTML, and which version should you try to implement? Update your HTML skills, or just visit the areas marked with a green dot (for beginners). Warning: the Community area (point your cursor over the Navigation menu to find this) may contain language more appropriate for adults.
• Introduction to HTML... listed in Oct 97 issue of Classroom Connect
• Web Style Guide... listed in Oct 97 issue of Classroom Connect
• WebMonkey ... contains "cheatsheets" with special characters, colors, HTML commands

• 3D Text or edit a graphic (or animated gif) from www.mediabuilder.com (they have removed their animated gif maker!)
• Altavista has always had a wonderful interface for finding sounds, images and videos
• Animated Gifs from www.webdeveloper.com can be freely downloaded and used via the IMG SRC command in your web page(s)
• Animated Gifs and Rollover Buttons from www.wilsoninfo.com can be freely used if you link to their site
• Animated Dragons, Snakes, Stripes ... The images on these pages are available for you to use as long as you credit the creator of the image, Lisa Konrad, and link back to these animated clip art pages. The creator retains all copyright.
• Arttoday.com ... has a public section but also a fee based section for wider access ... we at Nobles have an account with login of noblesddc that we subscribed to the first year of the DDC with Martin Bridge when he had 5 pioneer students named Andrea, Alex, Andy, Dan and Mal
• Banner Generator... online banner maker (no animation)
• Barry's ClipArt... Welcome to Barry's Clip Art Server. Here you will find thousands of images, all free for you to download... recommended from Connie, HumanWare Development!
• Copyright Friendly Pictures ... one source ... http://yotophoto.com/
• Copyright Friendly Pictures ... Springfield Township High School Virtual Library ... Copyright-Friendly and Copyleft Images and Sound (Mostly!) for Use in Multimedia Projects and Web Pages
• Ditto (incredible search engine for graphics!) ... ditto.com provides a visual mechanism to search the web using pictures instead of text. Users are directed to the originating web site on which the pictures are located. Should you wish to use any picture, photo or artwork you see during the search process, you must obtain the appropriate permission from the owner of the material.
• FindSounds.com
• Foto Search Clip Art and Images ... Fotosearch.com has an excellent collection of "royalty free" and "rights managed" graphics with explanations of both categories
• Icon Bazaar .. all your files stored under one roof: audio, video, images, games, apps, text
• Instant Online Banner Creator... and yet another online banner maker that will also make buttons
• Pics4Learning.Com

• AddMe lets you advertise your web site on 34 search engines for free. We have used it with mixed results on our Summercore page. In order to use it, you have to agree to add the AddMe icon to your web site which we have done. Steve Bergen
• Doctor HTML is a web page analysis tool (free service)
• Earthlink WebSite Garage... one time free trial usage or become a member ... looks excellent .. this variation of the page is NOT restricted to Earthlink members. It includes: Tune Up - Run monthly diagnostics on your site! (20 pages deep) ... !Register-It!Register your Web site with up to 400 search engines and directories! .. includes Tune Up to Run monthly diagnostics on your site! (20 pages deep)
• Get-A-Name
• Kindler, Gentler Validator... listed in the Hip Pocket Guide to HTML 3.2 by IDG Books
• TrafficBoost
• Ultimate Promotion For Your Web Site. If you want to increase traffic to your web site, reach your target audience, and make your web site profitable, check out this site that is sponsored by WIRED magazine and start getting some real results
• Validator for HTML Markup Validity ... from W3
• Validator for Markup or LINKS or CSS ... from W3
• Validator for the Mac called "Integrity" ... from Shiela from UK ... free but contributions appreciated
• Validator for the PC called "Xenu" ... from Tilman Hausherr who is not a fan of Scientology ... free

My Philosophy on Teaching and Learning HTML

I have seen dozens of people, perhaps hundreds learn to code basic web pages via HTML, gain confidence with basic skills and editing procedures and proceed to become confident with HTML, eventually moving towards a web making program such as PageMill or FrontPage. They achieve a SOLID BASE of skills and confidence and can then deal with the complexity of PageMill or FrontPage, occasionally using HTML skills to investigate, modify, fix or repair.

Virtually everyone I have seen who has NO BASE of HTML encounters irresolvable problems when dealing with FrontPage or PageMill or whatever. They run into problems that they cannot resolve and basically have to give up or find someone to fix the situation.

I understand that time is digital and one must set priorities, but to me, it is so important to have a SOLID BASE of working with HTML before proceding to use and rely on a web-making program like PageMill or FrontPage.

There are so many values in teaching students about HTML in grades 7-9. Let me count the ways:

• Empowering for every student
• No threshold and no ceiling
• Creates a feeling of being part of the web and part of the 21st century
• Lays a foundation for future work with web-making programs, Java, C++
• Very practical and leads to summer jobs
• A real venture in problem-solving and logic; numerous "plan B situations"
• Helps build computer skills implicitly in other areas

Steve Bergen ("good advice is cheap and its worth the price")
p.s. I used to tell my two kids when they were younger and working with blocks that it is CRUCIAL to start with a SOLID BASE. Yes, I know that SOME people can be successful with a SOLID BASE of HTML skills, but I believe MOST people benefit with the approach that I have described!