Weaving Dreams

Eliza led our first activity, which was a short lesson on correctly setting up folders on the computer. She used real-life folders to demonstrate. There was one folder labeled "Think like a computer". Inside that folder was one called "index.html". The index folder held a piece of paper that looked like a website might look, but with spaces for the images. In the spaces for the images, there were post-it notes that read "show jellyfish.jpg in images folder" and "show babyclown.jpg". There was a second file folder inside the main one that was labeled "images" and in that folder was a photo of a jellyfish. Illa came to the front of the room and showed the class what was in the folders and how easy it was to locate the jellyfish picture, but it was impossible to find the baby clown picture. The idea was that if we don't tell the computer where to find the images, then it won't be able to display them on the screen.

Then we did the daily puzzle. Today's puzzle was called "scour the code" because the goal was to look carefully at the code and repair it. Collin was the first to figure the puzzle out . . . answer: none of the tags had been closed!

The next activity went very well. Eliza demonstrated on the computer while Felipe explained what she was doing. We learned how to use the design view in Dreamweaver to set up div tags and to change styles from paragraphs to headings. We also learned how to make an internal link and how to add images to the design.

Felipe then explained today's "adventure list" and we took a break.

Today's "adventure list" was very challenging. Most students seemed to have a difficult time completing all the tasks. They seemed to have a hard time making the size for the div tags, which required them to use css, and then making a list, which required them to make a nested list. Eventually Felipe did a few more brief demonstrations which answered some of the overall questions and then students were able to keep working. David was able to get his done and then it seemed like a few other students started to understand better and finish theirs.

After another short break, we began working on our BTW. Each group has chosen a trilogy to make a website about. For each website there are three roles: 1. coder, 2. image master, 3. text writer and editor. Each student will do part of the work for the overall website. Eliza showed Stephanie, Jacob and Marcy how to make a drop box folder so they could collaborate on their files and work on them at home.