Instruction for Creating Your Own Home Page using

Microsoft Word

 

This assignment is to construct your own home page. You will setup hypertext links to other sites and embed pictures, graphics, or clipart. Remember, you are demonstrating to your prospective employer how you will use technology in the classroom to enhance student learning.

 

You have two choices:

 

You may (1) setup your homepage on MTSU's "Frank" where you have a student account, or if you have an at home service you trust (2) you may select another site for you home page, such as, Mindspring, Hotmail, etc. If you choose 2, then you are on your own -- usually it is easy to setup this type of page(s). I will try to help but it is usually hard for an “outsider” to get in on your server.  Plus, there are too many variables we can’t control.  Most servers generally have a "shell" or a "template" setup you can use.  Then, you just fill-in what you want it to say. You still must meet the minimum standards set out below.

 

For those of you who are really “homepage crazy” you can set up your website to include your resume, etc., and then you can tell potential employers to “check my website”!   This option is not for the timid.

 

There are 2 main steps:

 

Introduction to Webpage Building

Step One:

Your assignment is to construct your webpage (index.htm) with the following basic features:

 

This assignment is to construct your own home page. You will setup hypertext links to other sites, inserted pictures, graphics, or clipart. Remember, you are demonstrating to your prospective employer how you will use technology in the classroom to enhance your student’s learning.  A printed copy of the completed portfolio can be presented to your prospective employer.

·         Use a title appropriate for your subject area & grade level

·         Links to all portfolio sections & number them (Go ahead & setup all the links now so you will not have to do that on each individual section---that way you can concentrate on getting the file(s) posted on frank properly.

·         At least one graphic on the home page

·         A "mailto:" feature at the bottom to allow E-mail to be sent to you. Put the mail address on index.htm or any other page that is where your students’ need it.

·         Use a Table 2 columns wide & 1 row tall to achieve the effect shown in the webpage example above.  By using a Table, the picture stays where you place it & it does not move around when you view the page from the Internet

·         Your webpage will be setup to help your students learn better & faster.  It will be designed to help your slower & your accelerated students to work from your website to do an assignment.  Pull a lesson plan from a previous class or create one for your subject area & grade level.

After you get the webpage setup on MTSU’s server (frank) with email me at jhausler@mtsu.edu & tell me when it is ready to be viewed from the Internet.

1. Open a blank document in WORD (if you are going to post your webpages on MTSU’s “frank” server)

2. Save file as a webpage – [file][SaveAs Webpage],  type in index.html & Press [Enter].  It must be named index.html or it will not work on MTSU’s frank server. You must use the extension (.htm). 

3. Save your 2nd (& other pages) as page2.htm, or lessonplan.htm, handout.htm, etc. (this is an example of what another page will be – the page2.htm is only an example.  You can name the file by any name as long has it has “.htm behind it).  This is the type of file you will use for the Lesson Plan, the handout/Test.  Your PowerPoint will be saved as an htm file also. Remember filenames do not have spaces in them:

Click [file][SaveAs Webpage]
            Type page2 (or any other name your want) – remember no spaces in the file name
            Press [Enter]

1.     1.        Word will setup directories/folders for each page when you insert your 1st graphic [Insert][Picture][from file] & will name it index_files for homepage & page2_files for your 2nd page.

2.    2.      When sending the files & directories to “frank” in Step 3, you must send the following:
     index.htm
     index_files directory/folder
     page2 (or any other name your want)
     page2_files directory/folder

Odd Things about webpage addresses: In webpage address such as the following, it is case sensitive after the 1st single forward slash (shown in green here)  -- http://www.mtsu.edu/~jsanders/ps3.html  Also, there can be no spaces in the address.  For the page to work properly, it must be called/linked to by the hyperlink by exactly the same name as you saved the file in the beginning.  For example, you save your Links Page as page2.htm, and then the address will be http://www.mtsu.edu/~yourlogin/page2.htm.  It will not work if you call by page2.html, or Page2.htm.

Note:  Word automatically setups a folder for each separate webpage you create, for example, for index.htm it will setup the folder index_files.

 To create hyperlinks:

1.    1.      Creating Links : To new pages, WWW pages, or Open pages

WWW Page (outside your Web Page):
Type text for link. For example type Learning Objectives for Math Assignment
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.
 Click [Insert][hyperlink]or click Icon (globe shaped)

 
 Type the URL (web address)
 Press OK


Within your page:
Type text for link.
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.
 Click [Insert][ hyperlink], or click Icon (globe shaped)
 Press Enter the URL(address of the page)
 Press OK

Return to Home Page:
Type text for link.
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.
 Click [Insert][ hyperlink] or click Icon (globe shaped)
 Type in the URL of the Home Page.
 Press OK

 

Step 2
Sending the files & folders to your account on “frank?
USING WinSCP (secure file transfer) (PC’s only)
MAC file transfer programs are “Fetch” & “Yummy”

You will be using WinSCP program to create a "public_html" directory that will contain all of your webpage files. Your webpage will be saved on your account on MTSU’s “frank” server.


If you already have a webpage setup on “frank”, then omit this step & proceed to Step 2. You will still need to download WinSCP & install it on your flash drive.


**** Click here to setup "computing account" password on “frank”***

**** Click here to Download the WinSCP (FTP) program free (from this website). You use this program to send your webpage files to your account on “frank.”

 

Click to view a PowerPoint on using WinSCP to setup, login, & create your webpage folder (public_html) PowerPoint 2003 version (htm & streaming video versions coming soon).

 

Or

Using the following instructions:

1st open WinSCP & configure so you can login to your "frank" account.  Follow these instructions to login, & create your webpage folder (public_html):

 

A. Start WinSCP & the dialog box will appear.

B. Fill-In the blanks as follows:

http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/winscp-fill-in-blanks2.jpg

Use your "frank" login name (1st part of your email address) and your "frank" password (See Important below!)

C. Click [Save] (do not click "Save" if you are in a MTSU Lab....this only applies to installation on your computer or your "flash-drive."    

 

2nd Click [Login] login to your "frank" account
http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/winscp-login.jpg

3rd Click [F7 Create Directory]  at the bottom of the page (hi-lighted in blue).

http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/frank-mk-dir-F7.jpg

4th Type in [public_html] as shown below & Click [OK]
http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/frank-mk-dir-type-public_html.jpg

You have setup your "public_html" directory that will hold all of your webpage files & folders. This folder is empty at this point.  It will look like this:
http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/frank-public_html-_showing.jpg

Note the left-side is your computer and the right-side is your account on "frank."  Your webpage folder "public_html" is setup on "frank" on the right-side.

“Getting started”
…… setting up your homepage, or an individual page on your website:

1. Open a blank document in WORD
2. Save file as a webpage (your homepage) – Click [file][SaveAs Webpage],  type in index.htm & Press [Enter].  It must be named index.htm or it will not work on MTSU’s frank server. Frank is a UNIX server & it uses a 3 digit (htm) or  4 digit (html) extenstion for homepages while Windows NT servers uses a 3 digit extension -- default.htm instead of index.htm). 
3. Save your 2nd (& other “htm” pages) as lessonplan.htm, or, unitplan.htm, etc. (this is an example of what another page will be named – the lessonplan.htm is only an example.  You can name the file by any name as long has it has “.htm behind it).  This is the type of file you will use for the Lesson Plan, the handout/Test.  Your PowerPoint will be saved as an htm file also.  Some of the later portfolio sections have files saved as Word file with “doc” extensions and/or Excel documents with “xls” extensions.
Since webpage addresses (URL’s) are case sensitive, it is easier not to use CAPITAL LETTERS or spaces.  For blank spaces in a file name Word inserts %20 in instead of a space  Look at how confusing it is to have the %20 in instead of a space in following address  “http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11008/Stats%20on%20US%20Schools.htm.  

Click [file][SaveAs Webpage]
            Type lessonplan.htm (or any other name your want) – remember no spaces in the file name
            Press [Enter]

·         Word will setup directories/folders for each page when you insert your 1st graphic or picture & will name it index_files for homepage & lessonplan_files for your next page when it is named lessonplan.htm.

·          When sending the files & directories to “frank” in Step 3, you must send the following:
          index.htm
          index_files directory/folder
           lessonplan.htm (or any other name your want)
           lessonplan_files directory/folder

·         Use the same procedure for sending future webpages, for example, unitplan.htm, test.htm, pp.htm, etc.

Odd Things about webpage addresses:

In webpage address, such as the following, it is case sensitive after the 1st single forward slash (shown in green here) -- http://www.mtsu.edu/~jhausler/ps3.html.  Also, there can be no spaces in the address.  For the page to work properly, it must be called/linked to by the hyperlink by exactly the same name as you saved the file in the beginning.  For example, you save your Links Page as lessonplan.htm, and then the address will be http://www.mtsu.edu/~yourlogin/lessonplan.htm.  It will not work if you call by lessonplan.html, or Lessonplan.htm.htm  - the filenames are case-sensitive.

Folders (Word sets them up to carry the graphics):

Note:  When you insert a picture or a background, Word automatically setups a folder for each separate webpage you create, for example, for index.htm it will setup the folder index_files. You will have to change the permissions on each of these folders in order for your pictures & graphics to show up.  The instructions for setting the permissions are at the bottom of the page on the FTP.   In other words, if your screen shows the picture boxes with little x’s, then you need to set the permissions.  Permissions allow other people to read your webpage & all its folders.  WS_FTP automatically sets all of them except the graphics folders.

Now you start creating your home page using Word.

For additional instructions click WORD 2000/XP/2003 to setup, edit and/or revise your home page.  If you are using Word XP 2003 or 2007, the instructions are very similar.  Do not work on a file with 2000 and then edit it with XP, 2003 or 2007 or vice-versa; it will cause a problem changing the web addresses (URL) on your links. XP & 2003 files seem to be interchangeable, but if you find otherwise, let me know.

Use a Table to keep your pictures from jumping around:

Use a Table 2 columns wide & 1 row tall to achieve the effect shown in the webpage example above.  By using a Table, the picture stays where you place it & it does not move around when you view the page from the Internet. Click here to see basic instructions for creating a table in Word.

To Create Hyperlinks: Click Creating Hyperlink for help in a more graphical form.

1.    Creating Links : To new pages, WWW pages, or Open pages

WWW Page (outside your Web Page):
Type text for link. For example type Learning Objectives for Math Assignment
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.
 Click [Insert][hyperlink]or click Icon (globe shaped) image006
 Type the URL (web address)
 Press OK


Within your page:
Type text for link.
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.`
 Click [Insert][ hyperlink], or click Icon (globe shaped) image006
 Press Enter the URL(address of the page)
 Press OK

Return to Home Page:
Type text for link.
Highlight keys word to trigger the link.
 Click [Insert][ hyperlink] or click Icon (globe shaped) image006
 Type in the URL of the Home Page.
 Press OK

 

 

Tips for getting that page to post!!

 

Learning Objectives for Section 3 (Online - Webpages):

 

1.          Learn to construct, edit, & post on the Internet an educational webpage(s) that can be used to aid student learning.

 

2.         Learn to use Microsoft WORD software to construct a webpage

 

         a.       Open/close & save html files

         b.      Print html document

         c.       Html paragraph formatting

         d.      Changing fonts in style, color & size in html

         e.       Using Web views

         f.        Create a hyperlink to an existing websites

         g.       Create a hyperlink to another page within your website

         h.       Insert graphics into webpage

         i.         Create an email prompt on your webpage

         j.        FTP (transfer html files to Internet host’s server)