LESSON TITLE:  Design Your Own Web Page.

LESSON TOPIC:  This computer lesson will enable each student to design a web page, on his or her chosen topic, using Netscape Composer.

GRADE LEVEL OF STUDENTS: Grades 8-12

OBJECTIVES / OUTCOMES OF LESSON:
1.  Students will use the Netscape Composer to design their own web page.
2.  Students will format the look of their page with bullets, text, background pattern, color, and images.
3.  Students will insert at least three external links onto the web page.
4.  Students will learn to insert images from other web sites.
5.  Students will learn to upload web pages onto the Internet.

CONTENT OF LESSON:
During this lesson the students will learn to design a web page and upload it onto the Internet.  This is a skill that can be used as a career, to enhance a career, to express individual interests and hobbies, and to enhance learning by making web pages for class assignments. This will give students an opportunity for success in their future.  Students will choose the topic, whether it is sports, hobbies, or other schoolwork.  After their web pages are approved and graded by me the students will upload them to the Internet.

PROCEDURE:
1.  Introduce the concepts to be taught.  Go over policies.  Show examples of web pages on Internet by using the projector.  Explain terms.  Assign students to come up with an idea and sketch it on paper.
2.  Walk through opening and using Netscape Communicator.  Show how to search for graphic and image using Google Image Search.  Demonstrate how to search information on the Internet using Google.  For the advanced students, allow them to begin saving images to disks and creating page in Netscape Composer.  Look at sketches of web page for each student.
3.  Introduce Netscape Composer.  Walk through steps such as saving, writing text, inserting images, and creating hyperlinks.  Pass out tutorials.  Allow students to work on page.  Supervise and advise students.
4.   Allow student to work on web page for several days.  Check progress after each class.
5.   Collect work from students.  Check that they have each component to the project.
6.   Once student’s work is approved, hand back and walk through uploading onto Internet.

MATERIALS:
Computers
Projector
Handouts for instructions
Internet Access
Disks for each student
Netscape Communicator and Composer
Program to upload

ASSESMENT:
Students will receive points for completing all components of their web page design as well as for the completion of their idea sketch.

TEACHER’S ROLE IN LESSON:
The teacher’s role in this lesson is to facilitate learning.  The teacher will instruct by lecturing and demonstrating.  The teacher will show the students how to do each step with an overhead projected computer screen.  The students will also have a printed tutorial to follow if needed.  The students will be allowed to choose any idea for the page and use the Internet for content.  The teacher will supervise the students’ work and advise when needed.

HOW WILL TECHNOLOGY BE USED TO FACILITATE LEARNING:
This lesson will allow students to gain experience using the computer and Internet.  Using Netscape Composer and Netscape Communicator will allow students to get experience using these programs, which will enable students to use similar programs in the future.  This lesson teaches designing web pages which is a skill that can be used in many fields in the future of the students, whether in other classes, college, or their careers.

ADVANTAGES OF USING THIS TECHNOLOGY:
1.      Allows students to gain experience in using the computer, Internet, and specific programs.
2.      Allows students to create their own web page, which is a skill needed for the future.
3.      Allows students to view and display their creative work to others with ease on the Internet.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING THIS TECHNOLOGY:
1.      Allows an opportunity for misuse of the Internet while in class and surfing the net.
2.      Computer time is sometimes difficult to come by.
3.      Funding for computers, programs, and web space.
4.      Does not allow students to work at home, unless they own the program and a computer.

TECHNICAL OBSTACLES THAT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE CLASSROOM:
1.      Lack of computers for each child, due to funding, etc.
2.      Broken computers or other technology such as the projector.
3.      School does not own Netscape Communicator or Composer.
4.      Student’s work can be lost easily.

POLICIES STUDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW WHEN USING THIS TECHNOLOGY:
These policies are used to prevent damage to equipment and improper use.  Students should not eat or drink in the classroom with computers.  Each student will have his or her own computer to use, or only one student is allowed to use the computer at a time.  Students are only allowed to work with appropriate web sites and subjects.  The students will be entrusted with the responsibility to ensure this.  The teacher will also be aware of what students are doing.  As a back up, the student’s access to web sites will be limited, because the computers will be installed with censor-ware.

PRIOR SKILLS NEEDED TO USE TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVELY:
Students will be assumed to have a prior knowledge of computers, such as how to use a mouse and how to type proficiently.  Students will be instructed on how to use the computers otherwise.  Students will come into the class with an idea for their web page.  Students will have prior knowledge of the assignment, and be required to sketch an idea before working on their web page.

JUSTIFICATION TO A PRINCIPAL OR PARENT FOR THIS PROJECT AND CONCEPT:
A student benefits from designing a web page in class.  This allows them to use the Internet and author a web site in the future.  This skill can be used for personal use, in future schooling, or as a career.  This project will give the students an appreciation for the Internet and other web pages and the work that goes into making them.  This assignment reinforces creative thinking as well as typing and using technology.  The students can “show-off” their work and see an everyday use for it.  This assignment should be rewarding, as there is a practical use to this technology, and student can have anyone look at it, including far away relatives and friends.  This project is something that will be on the Internet forever, and the skills learned can be used throughout their lives.  The skills are also useful in the future when technology changes.  The skills learned from this project carry over to the next technology and provide a base knowledge.