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Link to all Classes     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Today’s Class

Today’s class will focus on SEO – Search Engine Optimisation:

  • Revisit basic HTML Structure
  • Online Editors
  • Google Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide
  • Homework
  • Feedback

Revisiting Basic HTML Structure

I would like  to revisit basic HTML elements and foremost how a HTML document is structured.

Who would like to have a go at describing the overall built-up or anatomy of a HTML document? Think of it as in the anatomy of a human. Actually, we will do this as a team on the whiteboard.

Let us see if you can reconstruct a HTML document on the whiteboard. Use the correct syntax and apply as much as you remember from the previous class. Use the correct script and placement for the different elements.

If you missed this class and are just following it online, please attempt writing down HTML code (use the h and p tags and sample text) without the aid of W3Schools or your notes and see how much you remember. Then, correct it and place it as a comment on this post!

Online Editors

W3Schools editor: Tryit!Editor

Another useful online editor: Real-time HTML editor

The Offline Coder App is a good offline editor available as an app for the I-Pad and I-Phone. You can edit HTML, JavaScript and CSS and view the results in a preview. See the screen shot below:

Screenshot of Offline Coder App for I-Pad and I-Phone.
Screenshot of Offline Coder App for I-Pad and I-Phone.

Google Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide

Last week’s homework was to open the links on page 5 (at the bottom) and read page 6: Make use of the “description” meta tag. Who has done it (and do not lie to me, I can smell a lie from 10 metres…) 😉

We will continue working  through the Google Search Engine Optimisation Guide. We will continue working through it in class:

  • Make use of the “description” meta tag (pages 6-7)
  • Improve the structure of your URLs (pages 8-9)

If you missed the class try to work through the sections on your own.

In class we created an example for the decription meta tag as suggested in the Google Search Engine Optimization Guide based on the fictional website for JSS – Juanita’s School of Spanish. We used the TryIt Editor – use this link and recreate the page as seen in the screen print below.

Snippet Example created in Tryit Editor with Description Meta Tag
Snippet Example created in Tryit Editor with Description Meta Tag

Homework

Make sure to practice writing a HTML document including a DOCTYPE declaration, html element with nested head and body element.

Learn the correct code for Meta tags:

<meta name=”keywords” content=”place keywords in here separated by commas“>

<meta name=”description” content=”write a description in here“>

<meta name=”author” content=”place the name of the author in here“>

Re-read the pages 3-9 of the Google Search Engine Optimization Guide and use the provided links to further your understanding.

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

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Link to all Classes     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Today’s Class

Today’s class will focus on SEO – Search Engine Optimisation:

  • HTML Meta Tags
  • Finding HTML For a Web Page
  • Google Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide

HTML Meta Tags

A powerful way to improve SEO is by adding metadata to a website. Metadata can be added in form of meta tags in the HTML code of a website. The metadata can be used by browsers (how to display content or reload page), search engines (keywords), or other web services.

Use the head section to include your metadata. Look at this link to see how to include it: Head Element With Meta Tags in HTML.

Examples:

  • Define keywords for search engines: <meta name=”keywords” content=”HTML, CSS, XML, XHTML, JavaScript”>
  • Define a description of your web page: <meta name=”description” content=”Free Web tutorials on HTML and CSS”>
  • Define the author of a page: <meta name=”author” content=”Hege Refsnes”>
  • Refresh document every 30 seconds: <meta http-equiv=”refresh” content=”30″>

Please use W3Schools Tryit!Editor to apply metadata to a HTML. (In class we picked tables without borders.) Click the link before and select from the list of HTML documents. Next apply the Meta Tags to the document in the head section. Follow your teacher’s instructions.

Screenshot W3School - inclass example

Finding HTML For a Web Page

The HTML code of most websites can be viewed in a web browser. You just want to look for the Source!

The latest version of Internet Explorer lets you access the source by pressing F12 or clicking Tools>Developer Tools from the drop menu. Try this out and find the Meta Data of a website in the HTML code.

Viewing the Source in Internet Explorer
Viewing the Source in Internet Explorer

Copy the HTML code and save it into a Notepad document. Change the metadata, change the title as well and save the file as a HTML file with the Encoding set as UTF-8 (this shows up as an option when you save the file in Notepad.)

Open the file in your browser and discuss visible changes.

Example of Notepad file
Example of Notepad file

Google Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide

Download the Google Search Engine Optimisation Guide. Save it into your folder for this class. It is a PDF file that we will use in our learning. We will work in class through the first sections:

  • SEO Basics
  • Improving Site Structure

If you missed the class try to work through the sections on your own.

NOTE: In class we worked through the first section of SEO Basics:

Create unique, accurate page titles (pages 4 and 5). We discussed examples for page titles for our imaginary website: Juanita School of Spanish (Spanish for Beginners).

See the screen shot below. The ideas in brackets did not comply to Google’s suggestions:

  •  Accurately describe the page’s content

  •  Create unique title tags for each page

  •  Use brief, but descriptive titles

Most of the titles that we brainstormed were too short and not descriptive enough.

Screenshot from Class
Screenshot from Class
Screenshot from Class - Brainstorm
Screenshot from Class – Brainstorm

Homework

Open the links on page 5 (at the bottom) and read page 6: Make use of the “description” meta tag.

Feedback

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Link to all Classes     Class 1     Class 2     Class 3     Class 4      Class 5     Class 6

Today’s Class

  • Introduction to Delivery Format
    • Looking at RAE
    • Looking at MyKangan
  • Introduction to the Content
  • In-class Task
  • Screenshot from Class
  • Feedback

Introduction to Delivery Format

This class will be delivered in 4 hour schedules every Tuesday morning . The content will be posted on this blog as well as on MyKangan. Tasks, discussions and research will be conducted inside the 4 hour slot and at home.

You are expected to work towards goals independently and to be able to operate as part of a team. In a work place you will sometimes be lucky to work with people that you easily get along with, but unfortunately you might often have to work with people that you might not easily get along with. A professional looks beyond this and finds ways to function in a professional environment with a range of personalities.

Assessments:

Important: You need to submit all your assessments on MyKangan. It is your responsibility to follow up due dates and access to MyKangan.

  1. Day 1 Task – this task is a simple comprehension task to establish student participation. (due: after the first class)
  2. Assessment 1 MM Production – The Event – due: 10/9/13 5:30pm
  3. Assessment 2 – due: 24/9/13 5:30pm

RAE – Research and Exploration or Class of Federico

This blog will be or main form of contact. It will be accessible from anywhere as long as you have internet access.

Make sure to explore the links when you have some free time. The best learning is done by yourself exploring and questioning.

MyKangan

MyKangan is Kangan’s content delivery platform for all classes. You will find all the content on MyKangan and as stated before: you will submit your assessments here.

To access MyKangan please open Kangan’s student portal and click on MyKangan. Next find the class by unit title. This can be a bit hard to see, so make sure to know the unit titles.

I will run you through this in person.

This is also where you will submit your assessments. You will find hyperlinks with names such as Submit Assessment  1 here.

You can send messages to your teacher and you can leave comments as well. I am always open to suggestions, so please feel free to forward ideas about content or software that you would like to cover.

Introduction to Content

These units will be covered as a cluster:

Please click on the link to view the Unit of Competency Text. Follow the in-class discussion.

If you missed class please look over the text and at least read through the Elements to get an idea what you will learn in this class.

In-class Task

First things first:

  • please open your USB or External Harddrive
  • create a folder structure for the Diploma of PGA
  • have a folder for the Diploma of PGA, followed by Term 1, followed by each individual class that you have

We will walk around and check the folder structure and provide feedback to one another.

In-class Discussion and Task

We will have an in-class discussion about these terms:

  • Differences between linear and interactive information structures
  • Multimedia production cycle
  • Multimedia products
  • Multimedia product testing
  • Hypertext
  • Hypermedia

Download the word document Class 01 Task and complete the answers and tasks. E-mail the complete document to your teacher and keep a copy in the appropriate folder.

Upload the document to MyKangan when available!

Thank you!

Screenshot From Class

Below is a screenshot that shows brainstorms and notes from the class.

Class 1 - Looking at Hypermedia and Multimedia
Class 1 – Looking at Hypermedia and Multimedia and linear and non-linear interactivity

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

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Link to all Classes     Class 2     Class 3     Class 4      Class 5     Class 6

Today’s Class

  • Introduction to Delivery Format
    • Looking at RAE
    • Looking at MyKangan
  • Introduction to the Content
  • In-class Task

Introduction to Delivery Format

This class will be delivered in 2 hour schedules every Monday morning . The content will be posted on this blog as well as on MyKangan. Tasks, discussions and research will be conducted inside the 2 hour slot and at home.

You are expected to work towards goals independently and to be able to operate as part of a team. In a work place you will sometimes be lucky to work with people that you easily get along with, but unfortunately you might often have to work with people that you might not easily get along with. A professional looks beyond this and finds ways to function in a professional environment with a range of personalities.

Assessments:

Important: You need to submit all your assessments on MyKangan. It is your responsibility to follow up due dates and access to MyKangan.

  1. Day 1 Task – this task is a simple comprehension task to establish student participation. (due: after the first class)
  2. Assessment 1 – Portfolio of Work (Interactive PDF)
  3. Assessment 2

RAE – Research and Exploration or Class of Federico

This blog will be or main form of contact. It will be accessible from anywhere as long as you have internet access.

Make sure to explore the links when you have some free time. The best learning is done by yourself exploring and questioning.

MyKangan

MyKangan is Kangan’s content delivery platform for all classes. You will find all the content on MyKangan and as stated before: you will submit your assessments here.

To access MyKangan please open Kangan’s student portal and click on MyKangan. Next find the class by unit title. This can be a bit hard to see, so make sure to know the unit titles.

I will run you through this in person.

This is also where you will submit your assessments. You will find hyperlinks with names such as Submit Assessment  1 here.

You can send messages to your teacher and you can leave comments as well. I am always open to suggestions, so please feel free to forward ideas about content or software that you would like to cover.

Introduction to Content

These units will be covered:

Please click on the link to view the Unit of Competency Text. Please look over the text and at least read through the Elements to get an idea what you will learn in this class.

The CS5 Workspace (overview)

Please open this Link –CS5 Overview– of a 10 page PDF file (from Adobe Systems Incorporated 2010) in a new window.

On your screen find the application bar, the menu bar, the options bar, the document window, the tools panel as well as the other panels or palettes.

Source: Steve-hamlin.com

Source: Steve-hamlin.com

Activity:  Click on Window in the menu bar. (Here are all the panels and palettes that you can activate or deactivate.) Click on Navigator and see the palette becoming active. Next drag the Navigator palette to the very left of the  workspace or document window. Do the same with the Character Palette (this one is a bit harder to find and I leave it up to you to figure it out).
Next select New Workspace from the workspace switcher menu, name your workspace and tick the 2 boxes.

You have just created a new workspace for yourself. To get back to the standard workspace layout select Reset Essentials from the workspace switcher menu. Changing the workspace to suit your need can speed up your work and is more fun.

In-class Task

I would like to emphasise how useful the Adobe TV site is:

Please activate this link to a Adobe TV Tutorial: How To Get Started with Photoshop CS6 – 10 Things Beginners Want to Know How to Do  It will give you an introduction to Photoshop CS6 by introducing 10 functions. By the way: the shortcuts given are for Mac and if you want to use them on your PCs you need to use the Ctrl function instead of the twirly symbol.

Please do not expect to understand everything, it is an introduction. Try it out with any image that you have.

Your task: manipulate an image of your choice while viewing the video. E-mail me a copy (JPEG) of the original image and a copy of the image that you have manipulated. I do not expect any big changes, just have some fun with it and next week we will work on it together.

Thank you!

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

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Link to all Classes     Class 2     Class 3     Class 4      Class 5     Class 6

Today’s Class

  • Introductions
  • Introduction to Delivery Format
    • Looking at RAE
    • Following Instructions on the White Board
    • Ask Questions
  • Introduction to the Content
  • In-class Task

Introductions

Good morning and welcome to our first class! I hope you are relaxed to start our journey together and excited enough to get into the new topic. I will introduce myself to you and I would like to get to know you a bit as well. It is nice to be able to link a person’s name and face to a story.

So, let us start with that!

Introduction to Delivery Format

Thanks!

This class will be delivered in 4 hour schedules every Friday. You will find every class posted here on RAE (Research and Exploration) or just COF (Class of Federico). This blog isaccessible from anywhere as long as you have internet access. At the beginning of class check this blog to see what we are going to do for the class.

I will present tutorials and tasks in class and you can follow the tutorials on the white board. Please make sure to look at the white board when I present a tutorial. Afterwards I will ask you to repeat it on your computer.

Don’t worry though, we will do this at a good paste, so that you have time to do it yourself.

Ask Questions!

It is important to ask questions when learning a new topic. You cannot know everything, so I am happy for you to ask questions. I actually want you to ask.

Assessments:

Important: You need to submit all your assessments on MyKangan. It is your responsibility to follow up due dates and access to MyKangan.

  1. Day 1 Task – this task is a simple comprehension task to establish student participation. (due: after the first class)
  2. Assessment 1 – Create a 3D image in Photoshop
  3. Assessment 2 – Create a basic 3D animation

Introduction to Content

Over the first weeks of the class you will get and introduction to Photoshop CS6. We will have an overall look at the package. You will learn how to find your way around it, how to type text, how to place photos, how to add images and how to create 3D content.

Next, you will learn how to create a basic 3D animation. If time allows I might be able to show you some basic 3D modelling, which can be a lot of fun.

In-class Task

Please follow the in-class instruction. Create a basic image in Photoshop and save the image as a JPEG. E-mail the image to me.

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

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Link to all Classes     Class 2     Class 3     Class 4      Class 5     Class 6

Today’s Class

  • Introducing each other
  • Introduction to Delivery Format
  • Introduction to the Content
  • In-class Task

Introducing Each Other

Spend 5 minutes interviewing your colleague and another 5 being interviewed. Next introduce the student to the teacher and other students.

Next think about one thing that you have done that no one else has.

Introduction to Delivery Format

The classes will be delivered in 3 hour schedules. The content will be posted on this blog as well as on MyKangan. Tasks, discussions and research will be conducted inside the 3 hour slot and at home.

Assessments:

Important: You need to submit all your assessments on MyKangan. It is your responsibility to follow up due dates and access to MyKangan.

  1. Day 1 Task – this task is a simple comprehension task to establish student participation. (due: after the first class)
  2. Assessment 1 – Research SEO and Web Hosting
  3. Assessment 2

RAE – Research and Exploration or Class of Federico

This blog will be or main form of contact. It will be accessible from anywhere as long as you have internet access.

MyKangan

The unit title for this class will be combined in (the catchy name):

ICA40311-ICTITW4N-ITGEN-2013-ICAWEB413A-OPTIMISE SEARCH ENGINES

As you can see, the titles are long and hard to remember. The easiest is to look at the last segment with the unit code and title.

The unit itself will be structured in the same way, that you have classes listed as Class 1, Class 2, etc and assessments will be listed by title inside an assessment folder.

This is also where you will submit your assessments. You will find hyperlinks with names such as Submit Assessment  1 here.

You can send messages to your teacher and you can leave comments as well. I am always open to suggestions, so please feel free to forward ideas about content or software that you would like to cover.

Any questions?

Introduction to Content

These units will be covered:

Please click on the links and follow the in-class discussion.

In-class Task

Please download the attached Word document and answer the questions. Afterwards upload the file onto MyKangan.

SEO – In-class Task 01

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

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Banner_Cert IV WebBTech-C1

Link to all Classes     Class 2     Class 3     Class 4      Class 5     Class 6

Today’s Class

  • Introduction to Delivery Format
    • Looking at RAE
    • Looking at MyKangan
  • Introduction to the Content
  • In-class Task

Introduction to Delivery Format

The classes will be delivered in 3 hour schedules. The content will be posted on this blog as well as on MyKangan. Tasks, discussions and research will be conducted inside the 3 hour slot and at home.

You are expected to work towards goals independently and to be able to operate as part of a team. In a work place you will sometimes be lucky to work with people that you easily get along with, but unfortunately you might often have to work with people that you might not easily get along with. A professional looks beyond this and finds ways to function in a professional environment with a range of personalities.

Assessments:

Important: You need to submit all your assessments on MyKangan. It is your responsibility to follow up due dates and access to MyKangan.

  1. Day 1 Task – this task is a simple comprehension task to establish student participation. (due: after the first class)
  2. Assessment 1 – Establish a Design Brief
  3. Assessment 2 – Design a Website

RAE – Research and Exploration or Class of Federico

This blog will be or main form of contact. It will be accessible from anywhere as long as you have internet access.

The web address is http://www.classoffederico.wordpress.com, and the name is RAE – Research and Exploration – Never Stop Learning. You might also call it Class of Federico or COF.

Make sure to leave comments on a regular basis. Any questions that you have can be posted as a comment. The posts for each class will be released prior to the class and in some cases the evening before.

A link above the blog’s banner with the title ‘Cert IV Web-based Tech’ will let you access all classes and posts according to class.

RAE has many links listed to improve your learning experience. Links for Web has 9 excellent links that I would like you to look at now and spend 10 mins exploring them.

Links for Learning is filled with great websites. Let us just have a look at these four for now:

Adobe TV
Dzine Blog
Computer Arts Magazine
Shortcutworld

Make sure to explore the links when you have some free time. The best learning is done by yourself exploring and questioning.

MyKangan

MyKangan is Kangan’s content delivery platform for all classes. You will find all the content on MyKangan and as stated before: you will submit your assessments here.

To access MyKangan please open Kangan’s student portal and click on MyKangan. Next find the class by unit title. This can be a bit hard to see, so make sure to know the unit titles.

The unit title for this class will be combined in (the catchy name):

 ICA40311-ICTITW4N-ITGEN-2013-ICAWEB401A-DESIGN A WEBSITE TO MEET TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

As you can see, the titles are long and hard to remember. The easiest is to look at the last segment with the unit code and title.

The unit itself will be structured in the same way, that you have classes listed as Class 1, Class 2, etc and assessments will be listed by title inside an assessment folder.

This is also where you will submit your assessments. You will find hyperlinks with names such as Submit Assessment  1 here.

You can send messages to your teacher and you can leave comments as well. I am always open to suggestions, so please feel free to forward ideas about content or software that you would like to cover.

Any questions?

Introduction to Content

These units will be covered:

Please click on the links and follow the in-class discussion.

In-class Task

Please upload the attached Word document and answer the questions. Afterwards upload the file onto MyKangan.

Design Website – In-class Task 01

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!