Integrating the Internet into the Classroom
Facilitator: Michael Krauss

 I don't understand some of the computer terminology. Is there a glossary?
Yes, here is a very good glossary, also available from a link on the WHP. If you don't find what you need, just email me or the course email list.
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How do I know what my assignment is each day?
Every assignment can be easily accessed from the Workshop Home Page (WHP). Just click on the Syllabus-at-Glance link.

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Do I have to complete each assignment on the day it is due?
No, you don't. One of the advantages to taking this online course is you have maximum flexibility as to when you work. If you have no time to work one day, you can double up the next, or even save work for the weekend. You should not, however, get too far behind because if you post your assignments too late, you are not likely to get as much feedback from the other participants and this will affect your grade. See Grading Policy on the WHP.

How can I know the time zones of the teacher and my classmates?
Most of the tasks in the course are *not* done in "real time" with everyone needing to be online together. Rather, the work is turned in and commented upon asynchronously (at different times). However, there will be the opportunity to participate in "real time" chats and time *does* become a critical factor. The instructor lives in the Pacific Time Zone in the U.S. Times and days are referred to in Pacific Time and also in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for those living overseas. Click here for the World Time Clock. You will be able to see your local time, the equivalent time in Portland, Oregon and also GMT, so it will be easy to calculate time differences. Pacific Standard Time = -8:00 GMT (from the last Sunday in October through the first Sunday in April). Pacific Daylight Time = -7:00 GMT (from the first Sunday in April through the last Sunday in October).
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Can I send email attachments to ed648@lclark.edu (the class email list)?
No, email attachments sent to ed648@lclark.edu will "bounce" back to the sender. There is a limit to file size for our mailing list and attachments are not accepted. This is also a good protection against the spread of viruses, which are often carried in the form of email attachments.
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How can I find out my progress during the course?
You will post your own progress at the end of each week. This will be done from the Grading Grid link on the WHP.
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How do I "Bookmark" or make a "Favorite" to keep track of Web sites?
"Similar to a real-life bookmark, an Internet bookmark acts as a marker for a Web site. (In Internet Explorer, they're called "Favorites.") When using a Web browser, you can simply select a bookmark from the browser's Bookmarks menu to go to a certain site. This way, you don't have to go through the redundant process of typing in the Internet address each time you visit one of your favorite sites. Also, who remembers those 200-character addresses anyway? In most browsers, to create a bookmark, you simply choose "Add Bookmark" from the Bookmarks menu when you're at a page that you'd like to bookmark. Woah, four "bookmarks" in one sentence. That's what happens with words that serve as both nouns and verbs." (from http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?bookmark ) Need more information?
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How can I organize my Bookmarks (or Favorites) and how can I access them when I'm away from my "home" computer?

You can make your Favorites or Bookmarks available on the Internet. When you or your students need them, they can access them on the Web. One such online bookmark manager is http://ikeepbookmarks.com/. Or you can organize bookmarks, tag, search and share them with social bookmarking sites such as Delicious and Diigo.
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What if I can't finish all the work during the three weeks?
Although the course officially runs for three weeks, a fourth week is available for those who need it to wrap up unfinished assignments.  
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How can I avoid mistakes when I type long Web addresses?
If possible, never type Web addresses (URL's). No matter how careful you are, you are likely to make a mistake (even a tiny one!). Always copy and paste URL's if possible. Follow these steps:

1. Using your mouse, drag to select the URL
2. Choose "Copy" from the "Edit" menu.
3. Navigate to the location where you need to put the URL
4. Choose "Paste" from the Edit menu.

Presto, your URL has been copied and there will be *no* errors! You can use this "copy-paste" process in your browser, word processor, and many other software applications.
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 How do I download an image from the Internet to my computer?

1. When you see an image you want to download, click on it and hold the mouse button down. (Or you can "right-click" if you have a two-button mouse, or press and hold "control" key + click if you' re on a Mac).
2. A dialog box will appear in your browser. Choose "Download Image to Disk" (for Internet Explorer) or "Save this image as" (for Netscape) to download the file.
3. Navigate to a location on your computer or storage device. Click "Save".

NOTE: Remember that you should request permission to use image files unless images are copyright - free. Here is a collection of copyright-free images.
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How do I open more than one window in my Web browser? How can I make a new window open when I click on a Web link?
You can open as many windows as you like while in your Web browser. Choose "New Window" from the "File" menu in Explorer. In Netscape, depending on your version, you would choose "New Navigator" from the "File" menu.

Most of the time when you click a link, a new window does not open. If you want a new window to open when you click a link, on a two button mouse, right click and choose "open link in new window." Or if you're on a Mac, you can hold down the "Apple" key while clicking.

To navigate between multiple open windows, just click on a window to bring it to the front. Or you can choose among open windows under the "Window" menu in Internet Explorer (or "Communicator" menu in Netscape, depending on the version you are using).
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How do I build Web pages easily if Idon't have server space to store the pages?
Many of you will want to expand your ability to create Web pages after this course is over. You may want more flexibility than is provided through "click 'n build" sites. Two good free sites for building Web sites are Weebly and Google Sites.
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How can I download Web pages to my computer to use offline?
Some of you may have very slow Internet connections where you work. Others of you may find the content of many Web pages you have seen to be very interesting, but a little too difficult to use with your students. Saving Web pages (and editing them) for use offline or in printed form can help solve both of these problems.

Many of you use Netscape, so I'll give directions for that browser. However, Explorer is very similar. If you want to save a Web page, you have two choices. When viewing the Web page in Netscape, go to "File" and "Save as". You will then have the choice of designating a format. You can choose "Text" or "Source". If you choose "Text" then the page you are looking at will be downloaded to your computer. Open your word processor (don't just double click on the document icon--), then go to the "File" menu and choose "Open. . .". Locate the file you downloaded and open it. As you will see, you will have all the text of the Web page. So--if the material is too hard for your students, you could modify it, gloss some of the vocabulary, delete part, or whatever you would like to do. Then you can print it out and use it as a paper-based resource. (Yes, you should attribute the source of the page--and you should get the author's permission to modify his/her work).

If you have a Web page that you want to use with students, but you have a very slow Internet connection, you can follow the steps above, but use the "Source" format option. Then, in Netscape, from the "File" menu, choose "Open Page in Navigator." The Web page you downloaded will come up in Netscape, but you *won't* be on the Internet (images may also be missing, depending on how old your version of Netscape is). Note: In Internet Explorer, when you save, you can designate "Web Archive" as the format option and all the images will be saved as well as the text. Of course, only the page you download in this manner will be available offline, not the entire Web site. If you are interested in downloading entire sites for use offline, it is better to get special software for that purpose, such as WebWhacker. Again, permission from the copyright holder is needed.
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What are some additional "click 'n build" Web sites?
There are many great online teacher tools, some free, others requiring a modest fee. Here is a listing from a page of mine that I use for teacher training. Or try another that was put together by Isabel Perez for a TESOL online workshop.
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Return to Syllabus-at-a-Glance.

Return to Workshop Home Page.

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Updated: 3/6/10