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<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I was just having a look at the VCAA "Software tools=
and functions" document:<BR>
<BR>
<A HREF=3D"http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/it-apps-software-=
sr.pdf">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/it-apps-software-sr.=
pdf</A><BR>
<BR>
A few questions arise about what students "should be able to demonstrat=
e". (Meaning? That the software should provide them with the opportunit=
y to do so, or that every student should actually know how to do it?)<BR>
<BR>
For U3O2 web authoring software specifically:<BR>
<BR>
1. CSS. Really? I was planning on leaving that to the clever kids. Tables/La=
yout View in Dreamweaver for the rest.<BR>
<BR>
2. Metadata. I'm no expert but I can only recall two main uses for this. Am=
I forgetting something?<BR>
a. Search engine optimisation, obsolete since=
Google took over. (Google ignores them, as they are easily abused to manipu=
late results)<BR>
b. Auto-refresh/redirect requests. Best avoid=
ed. Can't think why it would be needed for a virtual team collaboration site=
. Some realtime chat systems are based on auto-refresh web pages but this is=
a really ugly way to do it. Far better to use a proper chat/IM client, even=
a Java applet. I'd rather see a student put up bit of text saying "We'=
ll all meet in MSNM at 10 pm" than do an ugly HTML-based chat.<BR>
<BR>
3. Import sound. Can't see why this would be useful for U3O2 unless the scen=
ario specifically involves sound (e.g. a music/radio/TV network VT). Most we=
b pages that have sound shouldn't; it's just annoying and contravenes sound=
KISS design principles.<BR>
<BR>
Finally, a bit off topic, I'd like to point out a funny bit of irony in Pott=
s. Have a look at the discussion of serifed fonts on p 185.<BR>
<BR>
cheers and thanks for any responses<BR>
<BR>
Russell<BR>
</FONT>
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