WIT 2003

Continuity and consistency are important when designing web pages. Listed below are some general rules to consider when planning.

• Start and maintain a paper copy of your web page as a guide for taking notes.

• Write down both the title and the URL (address) of any web page you plan to link to from your own page.

• Save all of your web page files, including graphics, in one folder.

• Make sure all of your files have proper extensions, depending on their file format. Graphics should have either a .jpg or a .gif extension. Web pages should have an extension of .htm or .html. Your pages and graphics will not show up in a browser unless they have these extensions.

• When you save an image file, write down its source and the URL. Your notes should include the file name, a short description of the image, the name of site where you downloaded the image from, and the URL of that site. It is important to cite sources of any material you use somewhere in your web page or pages.

• Graphics should be used sparing to enhance your web site. Make sure you select images that are relevant to your topic. Large image sizes can also cause web pages to load slowly in a browser; make sure you keep your images small in size.

• Navigation is very important in web page design. Make sure users can view your site in its entirety by using buttons.

• The web page title (seen at the top of the browser window) and the web page .html file name are different. The title should describe the content of your web page. The .html file name will be part of your web page's URL and should be kept short.

• Make a backup copy of your web site and update it regularly.

• Information on your pages should be presented in useful chunks.

• Have a colleague act as a critical friend by reviewing your site and offering suggestions.

• Limit the size of your homepage in order to keep your design simple. Create links to different pages on specific topics within your site.

• Each web page should be able to stand on its own in terms of content. Try to limit each page to one concept or idea. Organize the page for quick scanning.

• People browsing the web, especially children, generally have eight seconds worth of patience when waiting for your pages to load. Keep this in mind while designing your site.