Basic ICT Course for Teachers of English
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Week 6: Developing Webpage Activities (2)

Pros and Cons

 

 

Pros

Cons

HotPotatoes
  • Once you understand how to use it, it's easy. It does take a little while to learn.
  • It's free.
  • There's a somewhat useful tutorial.
  • You need a webpage to post them to the web (that's next week) or just use them on disks.
  • You have to be used to using word processing programs...it's similar.

Quandary

  • The activities can be interesting, especially for reading comprehension.
  • Students could use it as a tool to develop their own exercises.
  • It has a tutorial included.

  • It requires a lot of previous preparation and a logical mind.
  • You need a webpage to post them to the web (that's next week) or just use them on disks.
  • The full version costs money.

    • Web Workshop Wizard

    • You can make easy Web activities.
    • They give you web space so you don't need a website of your own.
    • It is easy to use.

  • You have to register to use the site.
  • You have to know what you are doing before you start working.
  • I had trouble saving my work…maybe it was an off day for me.
  • If you hit your BACK button, you erase everything and have to start over.
  • Filimentality does the same and I think it is more user-friendly.

    • Making your activity:

    Once you have decided on which program you'd like to use this week and what kind of activity you are going to develop follow these instructions (unless you are like me and would prefer to head out and experiment on your own.) You can work alone or in groups…I know some of you know each other either face-to-face or virtually.

    HotPotatoes (http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/hotpot/ - downloads)

    Go to the webpage above and download the program. Once it is installed, go to the Tutorial (it should be easy to find, if not, just go into the program and look under the HELP menu). You might want to go through the entire tutorial, or just visit that part that corresponds to the activity you want to do. Be sure to visit the last five or six steps to see how to configure and save your work. If you have any problems…just write in to the group…I can help and I'm sure some of your classmates can too.

    Quandary (http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/index.htm?quandary/ )

    The instructions are similar to HotPotatoes. Go to the tutorial and follow it step-by-step. I can try to help you, but, as I've said, I just haven't had time to get a good activity organized.

    Web Worksheet Wizard (http://wizard.hprtec.org/). Be careful: DON'T USE YOUR BACK BUTTON..

    (1) Go to the webpage and click on "Let me get started". (2) Read the instructions on the next page and be sure you have thought through what you plan to do. (You might want to cheat and go on in, just to see what is expected of you before you get completely organized.) (3) The first step is Personal Information… (4) Step two is easy…choosing the layout you want. (Note: You can preview at any stage). (5) Step 3 is more work…you add the page content. You really don't have to have all the information when you get here. Once you have saved your page at the end of the process, you can return to edit whenever you want. (6) Step 4 is Links and images. Here you will add your links (use cut and paste so you won't make errors). You can even add an image. (6) Step 5 is aesthetic—fonts and color. (7) Step 6 is the Conclusion…you check basic information and save your work. You will be given the number of your webpage so you can return and edit your work at any time. Again, if you have problems, just write…

    Sharing your work

    Now, don't be selfish. Share your work with everyone. If you make an activity with the Web Worksheet Wizard, just send us the link. If you do something with one of the other programs, either post it under FILES or wait until next week and put it on your webpage.

    Note about Quia ( http://www.quia.com/):

    Copyright ©2003 by Janos Blasszauer