[Year 12 IT Apps] U3-O1:Dreamweaver CC

[Savage, John L]

Ø  In the end, accuracy, functionality and usability for end-users are all-important in outcomes.
That's the main issue isn't it and tables don't meet the accessibility guidelines for web pages. The intent of a table is to present tabular material, not layout a page even though it makes it dead easy and looks good.

Laurie

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark
Sent: Thursday, 6 March 2014 4:31 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] U3-O1:Dreamweaver CC

Hi all. This is a big 2.2c worth...

It's up to you whether students are penalised for using 'legacy' technologies, such as tables. (I must admit I still use them, because they're easy and quick and I haven't learnt better yet.)

In the end, accuracy, functionality and usability for end-users are all-important in outcomes. The underlying method used to accomplish them is less unimportant as long as the task works as the outcome requires, and satisfies basic VCAA requirements (see below).

If students use grossly inefficient techniques (which nevertheless accomplish the goals of the outcome) they will be penalised by wasting SAC time.

If they use methods that are hopelessly antiquated (e.g. the beloved BLINK tag) they will be penalised when the tag fails to function reliably when tested in several modern browsers.

The study design's key skills for U3O1 say students should "use web authoring software and select and apply suitable functions, methods, formats, conventions, techniques and design elements to develop prototype websites that operate as intended" (my emphasis). What is 'suitable' is open for debate. You have discretion here, based on you, your school, your class, and what you have taught them.

The assessment handbook says (in the U3O1 descriptor's development section) that to get top marks, "Highly developed skills in the use of web authoring software are applied consistently to develop the website..." Again, a lot is left to you as the teacher and assessor to judge.

So as far as I can tell, the methods students use to achieve the aims of an outcome are largely open for discussion. The only really strict rules that I can think of are found in the required tools and functions list (summarised here<http://vceit.com/p/00-softwaretoolsfunctions.htm>) and (for U3O1) the approved types of websites<http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/correspondence/bulletins/2010/July/vce_study.aspx#2>.

I suppose when you boil it down, judge students on their ability to satisfy the requirements of the task, and be lenient on how they achieve it, as long as they meet VCAA's minimal expectations (such as using links, some CSS, buttons, forms, images etc).

But remember that the tools & functions list says that, "When designing assessment tasks for those outcomes that require the use of software tools, not all of the listed functions need to be demonstrated when solving problems." (but students DO need to know them for exam purposes.)

My 2.2 cents are up. I'll crawl back under my rock now.

Mark


On 6 March 2014 12:42, Andrew Pate <arp at mentonegrammar.net<mailto:arp at mentonegrammar.net>> wrote:
Having taught the majority in Year 11 and this year now year 10 CSS layout with the box model my expectation is using this
Having said that the study design does not stipulate so I do not penalize those who use tables for structure. They still need to show understanding of cross browser testing and CSS formatting to achieve the highest levels

I don't let them use Dreamweaver templates but spry menu bar (now defunct in DWCC) ok so long as they alter the formatting to suit the customer/case study. Obviously need to review this with DWCC

Andrew Pate
Mentone Grammar
Sent from my iPhone 5S

On 6 Mar 2014, at 11:07 am, "Christopher Jansen" <christopherj at sjc.vic.edu.au<mailto:christopherj at sjc.vic.edu.au>> wrote:
I allow students to use the basic Dreamweaver templates but have an expectation that these will be only used as a base and they must heavily modify them to show understanding of HTML and CSS functions. I also let them know they cannot download new templates and use them as this does not show understanding of html or CSS.

I feel there is no chance in teaching them the skills required to build a box model CSS layout including issues such as relative positioning, different browser compatibility with the box model, the difference between a class and id selector etc. etc...  in the time allocated to this outcome.

The other choice would be to use tables to layout your page. This does not fit with standards and would be teaching the students bad practice.

If people were interested in using a the box model to layout the page.. this is a good web site. http://learnlayout.com/

Any thoughts?

Chris


From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au<mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au> [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Litsa Tzelepis
Sent: Tuesday, 4 March 2014 4:59 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] U3-O1:Dreamweaver CC

that's a good idea - thank-you Laurie
:-)

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 4:34 PM, Savage, John L <savage.john.l at edumail.vic.gov.au<mailto:savage.john.l at edumail.vic.gov.au>> wrote:
I would expect my students to create .DWT templates for their website to show they understand the importance of consistency across pages, and how best to achieve that consistency. But I would have them create the template, not use the DW templates.

I teach them how to create templates in Expression Web (the format and DWT extension is identical to Dreamweaver's) .

Laurie Savage

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au<mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au> [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au<mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au>] On Behalf Of Litsa Tzelepis
Sent: Tuesday, 4 March 2014 4:15 PM
To: itapps at edulists.com.au<mailto:itapps at edulists.com.au>
Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] U3-O1:Dreamweaver CC

Hello -

just a quick question, not that I would do this because I'd feel guilty, but can the students use templates in Dreamweaver.

I've steered away from them, but I was just curious for the future.

:)

Thank-you, Litsa


---
Litsa Tzelepis
Mount St. Joseph Girl's College
133 Maidstone Street, Altona, VIC. 3018
htzelepis at msj.vic.edu.au<mailto:htzelepis at msj.vic.edu.au>
P:8398 2000 | F:9398 3498



--
Litsa Tzelepis
Mount St. Joseph Girl's College
133 Maidstone Street, Altona, VIC. 3018
htzelepis at msj.vic.edu.au<mailto:htzelepis at msj.vic.edu.au>
P:8398 2000 | F:9398 3498
(snip)


--
Mark Kelly
mark AT vceit DOT com
http://vceit.com

Everything that used to be a sin is now a disease - Bill Maher


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