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| Week 1 - Start Learning (X)HTML  | The XHTML 101 class will be sent to you weekly by email. The email includes an overview of the week's lessons and links to the actual classwork. As this is a self-paced course, you can take all the time you need to complete the lessons. If you don't receive one of the lessons, you can get missed lessons online. To get the most out of this class you should do the following: - Save all the emails. They include links to the lessons, and additional information that you may need in the future.
- Participate in the class forum. Many students, both current and past, read and post to the forum and if you have questions that is the fastest way to get help.
In this lesson, we will learn how to create a basic Web page. We will start with where you are going to put your page, and then teach you some of the basic XHTML tags needed in every Web page. Be sure to read everything in a section before clicking on any links. This is one of the longest lessons in the class, so if you have trouble, take your time, email me with questions, and relax. This is a self-paced course, and you won't be penalized if you take it more slowly (or more quickly). | | | Syllabus | Week 1
- Software and Equipment - what you need to build a Web page
- The Basics - What is HTML, XHTML, and Tags
- Hosting - where you'll put your Web page
- Homework
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| | Software and Equipment | Windows, Macintosh, WebTV and Online
When building a Web page there are only a few things you need: - a computer or Web appliance with Internet access
- a text editor, such as Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac0S X) SimpleText (older Macs)
- a Web browser
For this class, you should use Notepad if you are on Windows or TextEdit/SimpleText if you are on a Macintosh. You may use any Web browser you are comfortable with. Windows: Macintosh: - Write HTML with TextEdit
http://webdesign.about.com/od/textedit/a/aa122006.htm - How to Find TextEdit
http://webdesign.about.com/od/textedit/ht/blfindtextedit.htm - If you have an older Macintosh, use SimpleText and then follow the instructions for TextEdit.
WebTV
If you use WebTV and would like to take the XHTML class, you can use a free Web host with online tools to write your XHTML online and then post them.
| | The Basics | How to Use the Required XHTML Tags for a Web Page
There are only a few XHTML tags needed to build a Web page. These tags are: <html></html>
<head></head>
<title></title>
<body></body> Once you've finished reading about how to use these elements, try out the tags in your text editor or online.
| HTML vs. XHTML
When you create a Web page you are essentially writing text. But you have to provide instructions for how that text will look. For example, when you write a letter in Word, the default font is usually something like "Times New Roman". But if you change that font, you have given a directive to Word to change how the text looks on the page. Word hides these directives inside the actual meat of the document, but in XHTML they are all out in the open. XHTML is written as text, surrounded by tags that define how the text should be interpreted by the browser. You can recognize an HTML tag because it is surrounded by less-than (<) and greater-than (>) signs. A line of XHTML might look like this: <p>This text is <i>italic</i> and <b>bold</b>.</p> NOTE: Some email clients do not display the code correctly, go to the online page for most accurate examples. The browser would write just the sentence "This text is italic and bold." and would do special things to the words surrounded by the <i> </i> and the <b> </b>. There are also some differences between XHTML and HTML. Read the above link to learn more about the differences between XHTML and HTML.
| | Web Hosting | What is Web Hosting?
Where you keep your Web page is called "hosting". There are all different types of hosting options, from very expensive commercial Web hosts, to free Web hosts. In order to work on your Web page, you need a hosting option. There are lots of free Web hosting providers. 110MB is free and dis one of the top 10 most highly rated hosts by my readers. Or you can use your own hosting service through your ISP. For this class, you will need a place to host your Web pages.
| Transferring Your Files to Your Web Host
Once you have a hosting provider, you'll need to get an FTP client or use an online file transfer program provided by your hosting service. Many hosts offer a Web based file transfer program that is easy to use.
| | Homework | Practice What You've Learned
The homework for the XHTML class will not be graded. You do not need to send it to me. You also don't need to post it to the forum, unless you have a question. I've noticed that many people post just a URL without any questions. And then they don't get any answers. If you need or want a reply, you should post a new entry, and say something more than your class URL. Post your questions about the first lesson: http://forums.about.com/ab-html/messages?lgnF=y&msg=12852.1 XHTML is just like any other language, practice makes perfect, and these assignments help you to put what you've learned to the test.
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