Spotlight on Web and Instructional Technology

Guidelines for Naming Files for Your Site
Posted on April 17, 2007

As a webmaster, it is important to remember good file-naming conventions for your site. The way you name web files, directories, and links makes it easier for users to find information and navigate your site. A logical naming system also makes it easier for you to maintain your site. Some basic practices are: do not use spaces, do not use uppercase, and have a short, descriptive filename. Click here for more guidelines for naming your files for your site.

What's Missing From Your Image?
Posted on January 18, 2007

In HTML authoring, there are very good reasons to include an alt attribute into every img element. The purpose is to specify a textual replacement for the image, to be displaced or otherwise used in place of the image. Thus, the prime rule is: consider what the page looks like or sounds like when images are not shown. Then, write an alt text for each image that best works as a replacement.
Click here for guidelines on alt texts in img elements which includes specific suggestions for simple, common, and some uncommon situations.

TIPS FOR WEB DESIGN: Cascading Style Sheets FAQ
Posted on January 10, 2007

A Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) is a list of statements (also known as rules) that can assign various rendering properties to HTML elements. Style rules can be specified for a single element occurence, multiple elements, an entire document, or even multiple documents at once. It is possible to specify many different rules for an element in different locations using different methods. All these rules are collected and merged (known as a "cascading" of styles) when the document is rendered to form a single style rule for each element.
Find more about CSS here including why they exist, why use them, what can be done with style sheets that cannot be done with regular HTML, and much more information.

Effective Pedagogy
Posted on December 18, 2006

Often we may forget the basic values of developing effective online learning environments for our students. As we develop our spring courses, both online and face-to-face, it may be beneficial to review the principles developed by Chickering & Gamson which are now commonly referred to as the Seven Principles.

Good practice in undergraduate education:

1. encourages contact between students and faculty
2. develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
3. encourages active learning
4. gives prompt feedback
5. emphasizes time on task
6. communicates high expectations
7. respects diverse talents and ways of learning

Adapted from:
Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
Chickering, A. & Gamson, Z. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. AAHE Bulletin (39)7. Summarized several places on the Internet including:
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/7princip.htm

Free Resource for Online Instructors
Posted on December 17, 2006

The eLearning Guild is offering a FREE Digital Book, 834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction, a collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. This eBook is available for everyone regardless of their affiliation with The eLearning Guild - so don't hesitate to tell all your colleagues about it!
Find the FREE Digital Book here.