Web Page Construction
by Susan Delap Heath

Web pages are simple text files that can be created with a text editor such as Notepad. They use a language called HTML. There are free tutorials to learn HTML here.

If you want to design nice webpages without a steep learning curve, try Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver is fairly easy to learn, at least for simple stuff. It's a very powerful program with good site management tools and file transfer features. It also uses Javascript, CSS, PHP, and MySQL to achieve lots of fancy effects.

Dreamweaver is installed in MSEC 239 to "eespc13". It is also on some of the Macs in MSEC 345. If you want your own copy, you can download a free 30-day trial from the Dreamweaver website. Dreamweaver CS4 is about $200 (academic). Training from the Source has a good selection of self-study books which present the material in easy-to-digest lessons.

To learn good web design techniques, I recommend Robin Williams' Web Design Workshop. Also NMT's Technical Communication program (under Humanities) offers web design classes.

I will be adding some templates that you can download for your own websites by February 6, 2009. --Susan

How to publish your website

Constructing web graphics