WIT Homeroom Module:
Interactive Web Pages
 

Developed by Mitchell Marks, Rene Cap, Pamela Greyer, Clovis Bordeaux
 
 
 

Teaching Guide

Overview: What Is Interactivity

Basic Interactive Elements

Tutorials & Activities

 

Web Conferencing & Streaming Media

Interactive Tool  Box

Flash Tour

The web has evolved into a dynamic mix  of images, color, sound, video, and movement.  Savvy surfers are no longer satisfied to arrive at a page and read, point and click.  Bore your visitors and they will leave.  Bore your students and......  So how do you create engaging Web pages that will have your students dying to get to your lessons, quizzes, and online content?  Add interactive features to your pages that will engage, inform, and entertain. 

Engaging your students is one piece of the puzzle. Holding their attention while online, however, is the glue that can make or break an online activity or project.    Simple techniques are available which can enhance your Web pages and allow your students and other visitors to interact with your pages.  In some cases, interactive features can even influence the content of your pages when you allow students to give you feeback on what works and what doesn't. 

Topics Covered

The art of integrating interactivity into Web pages is explained along with the tools needed to create a dynamic interactive web pages.  Tutorials, activities, and interactive web site links are included in this module.  Topics covered will include: 

• Feedback & Survey Forms
• Interactive Assessments
• JavaScripts
• Interactive Features
• Web Conferencing
• Advanced Interactive Software

Organization of This Module
 

 Contents 

This module examines, discusses, and demonstrates interactive features and how they can be incorporated into your pages to add a new level of userbility.  This module links to tutorials created in other homerooms as well as some good ones on the Internet.  Interactive activities that focus on forms and JavaScripts are included complete with cut and paste code.  To make editing code easier, keep a copy of the HTML tag reference guide handy to assist you with adding interactive tags to your source code.  All activities included in this module, as well as any interactive features you may choose to download and effortlessly add to your site, will require cutting and pasting of the HTML code or the insertion of a tag into your page source. 

Tools & Resources

Once an activity has been completed, you will have the opportunity to create a similar one for your class and your students.  The Interactive Tool Box contains valuable interactive features and resources that will make web pages come to life.  Discussion boards, search engines, and chat rooms can turn static, read only pages into interesting, dynamic destinations on the Web.  Read more information on these features in other homeroom modules then dig into the Interactive Tool Box and get busy.

Web Conferencing & Streaming Media

This module also includes an overview and discussion of interactive web conferencing tools such as webcams and live voice.  A look at streaming media will provide you with an opportunity to see where the Web is headed as bandwith grows and how streaming technologies will change the meaning of the word interactive.  Hardware requirements and the software needed to create streaming files can be found in the "Who Wants To Be A New Media Mogul " section. 

Advanced Interactive Software

What would a module on interactive web pages be without looking at Macromedia's leading interactive software, Flash 4?  The Flash Tour will take you to sites around the Web that are winning acclaim for creativity, innovation, and interactivity.  See how Flash is changing the (inter)face of the Web.  The site examples will show the versatility of Flash in creating captivating opening pages, navigation elements, interactive games, and "WOW" effects.