White Papers and Informationals
Various informational topics are to be found using the left side navigation, which have been written by myself over the past several years. Most were written as a learning experience and retained for future reference and as an effort to help others as I have been helped.
While most were written in our quest of web site building, others will be added aside from this area of interest.
Following the recommendations of W3C and fellow web producers, all external links in these "white paper topics" will open in their own window, which is off site, except as noted
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Evolution or revolution? A disABILITY is regretfully often viewed as being permanent, like the loss of eyesight. But in fact in a significant number of instances is temporary.
A Short History of HTML. HTML has been in use by the World-Wide Web (WWW) global information initiative since 1990. Previously, informal documentation on HTML has been available from a number of sources on the Internet.
A Future of Browsers. Although leading browser makers have been involved in the creation of web standards since the W3C was formed, they released browsers that failed to uniformly support standards, which create and interpret web-based content.
HTML Doctype. Enters Sir Lancelot on his horse or DOCTYPE, which said in effect if you use type A, then your web site creation will appear thus and so in any compliant browser, designed for the future, in use now, or used in the past.
Do You See What We See? You who are without disABILITIES are allowed, to have more information and more connected to the world around them and in contact with people of similar interests through the use of computers and access to the Internet.
Ethics: Code of Conduct. Ethics is an application which includes sound logic based upon more than casual inspection and must be a matter taken seriously today as in yester year.
Technology in Support of Learning. Technologies do not guarantee effective learning and in fact inappropriate uses may actually hinder learning.
Usability focuses on making software, websites and on-line applications or services easy for people to use. Accessibility focuses on making them equally easy for everyone to use, including people who may use assistive technologies such as screen readers.
White Space studies include Color Theory definitions, concepts, and design practices such as Color Harmony, Color Context and so forth, as to how they strike subconscious reactions in the end user, if by no other means than through our own experiences.
To Link or Not or permission to do so in an age of chivalry; reciprocal linking in the minds of commercial or well established web sites; and a question of building community are age old thoughts in the mind of our AP community, are they not?
How We Create Web Pages and Why. Creating style and beauty is a domain of the graphic artist. Coding structure prevails in the hands of a "guru". So how can we all benefit from the graphic artist and the "guru" becoming one?
Influencing Objectivity and Subjectivity Through Award Program Criteria. Plato considered knowledge concerned with universal truths. To him personal opinions were simply irrelevant, since they belong in the area of change and were not fixed eternal. From Plato we gained the core of modern ideology of science.
Where Is Our Gift of Reading? Just remember this picture of your grandfather with you sitting on his knee long after he has left mother earth and do what your heart says for you to do.
Tutorial-In Line and Off Line Use of Tidy. Take a reasonably well formed web page and Tidy will work wonders.
IE 7 Beta 3 and Public Beta Testing. IE 7 will not be very forgiving, rather than lenient as was IE 6 for non compliant coding.
Windows 95: Push and Pull Technology. So channels fell into disfavor with Windows 95 and other releases, because we are inventive when it comes to finding what we want, we "pull information."
Giving Young People a Chance To Gain Experience and Skills: Does this sound like a familiar story? A middle school student applied for a job and his prospective employer said, I am sorry but you cannot be employed because you are not yet 16. Then when reaching 16 years of age, the student applied again, only to be told he lacked the experience.
Building a photo album is a "no brainer", right? Well almost except when you have a need to build one to place on your own server and meet the needs of all your grand children and also be compliant with W3C/WDG and WCAG/WAI.
Internet-based grid computing may be a new concept to some, but for those of us who have participated in such projects, we have realized that little effort is required but the benefits to mankind are enormous. A perfect example of how one person can really make a difference.
Rubric: Evaluation of a Web Site There are obviously other groups who also adhere to a formal process by using rubrics and stated selection criteria's, which are not structured as rubrics but serve the same purpose. One such group is what are called collectively as rated web site award programs. Those who are members of an award program rating service or index, adhere to codes of conduct, listing requirements of each group and have a formal selection process which involves a published criteria, mission statement and staff to help in selections.
Bard (or to become a bard) is a suggested program which grows out of a modern day trend. More and more grand parents are caring for children or children of their children. Practical applications are for parents of young children and those who wish to mentor. This course of study was developed by myself in 1999 and was only partially implemented prior to the dissolution of the CL program of GeoCities. I rewrote it to fit the needs of today.
CSS Tutorial is a slow but easy introduction to CSS. Additional sections will follow as requested.
Award Program Evaluation Questionnaire. A questionnaire was mailed on January 15, 2008 to selective Talking Hands Award honorees in an effort to determine whether specific sections and practices of the Talking Hands Award program were effective or in need or revision or enhancement. A second questionnaire was sent in August 2008. Results of both are found in this section.
On Line Learning-Building Community. Selective online organizations and groups are uniquely positioned, aside from colleges and universities, to provide a wealth of individual or group learning experiences. While at the same time building community and a sense of belonging and self worth, which focus on both short and long term goals.
Reusable Learning (RL). Embedded within our consciousness are questions of content, its presentation and subsequent possibilities of reuse, together with the fact that heightened accessibility of material purely on account of its being available electronically contributes to a RL’s re usability.
Setting Aside Frustration and Trepidation. The purpose of this article are two fold: First to mitigate one main reason for the demise of award giving programs as a joy, the time required to maintain a "quality" award giving program. Secondly to give everyone reasons to embrace the desire to change, rather than making change. Or simply stepping back and rethinking the ways we work and use precious time more efficiently.
Quiz Korner: One of the best ways to teach and in turn learn is to create an interest in a quotation, topic selection, which in turn take the form of a quiz. In this section we have some "reusable learning" and examples of creating an interest from a quotation too.
My Little Penny Books: I tend to agree with Doctor Seuss, that "...adults are obsolete children." Words, especially new ones, exciting ones and those which roll of the tongue with gusto, provide ample fodder for imaginative exploits and stories among the little people, adults call children.
Somewhere in-between an enjoyment of and in what we call life, a child becomes and adult. That is when imagination sours, words are no longer a fascination, rather a requirement and coinage for career advancement. So this section is devoted to the child in all of us. Examples of "little words" which become books of various sizes and shape. Which we call "penny books."
In The Beginning-A Perspective: I would almost borrow a line for current thinking about government in general. Throughout the world. Take a real hard look at existing programs. If they work, determine not only why, but how to make them even more successful. Take a real hard look at new initiatives too. But only after a complete inventory and assessment of existing programs.
Webmaster Technology Part I: When it comes to creating a website, scripting skills nowadays can refer not only to basic HTML but also includes PHP, ASP, DHTML and XML. A self scoring test and results are available.
Webmaster Technology Part II: Webmaster certifications or a formal degree either on campus or through e-learning typically include core requirements. a self scoring test and results are available.
Static Versus Dynamic Content: Today we can take the very best from an incredible number of choices in web applications-creating our own content management systems. Which literally blend and join what in yester year would have been almost impossible-for the vast majority.
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