Printed from "Life in the Tech Lab" site

Rome Web Site

  • Intro
  • Site Contents
  • Sample Site
  • Getting Started
  • Grading Rubric
As you travel through Rome, you'll collect many different objects, knowledge and experiences. Upon your return you will collect these all together in a personal Rome website. This website will contain pictures, virtual tours, videos, stories and reflections on your trip. With careful planning, you'll have a wonderful reminder of your week long adventure.

What Will My Site Contain?

 

You will create a website using Dreamweaver 8 that contains a page for each of the following:

Page Title Page Name What will be on the page...
Home Page start.htm A welcome page as well as a "landing" page to come back to.
The Enternal City eternal.htm Answers the question "Why is Rome still known as the 'Eternal City'? 150 word essay - written in Social Studies.
Ancient Landmark Discussion landmarks.htm Select an ancient landmark and answer a series of questions in a 250 word essay. Include PICTURES and even video if you want. Written in Social Studies.

Voices of the Lost
(includes your video)

voices.htm A 250 word essay that tells the story of the day in the life of an Ancient Roman (written in Social Studies). While in Rome you will film a documentary video that walks the viewer through a typical day for that character. We'll edit the video upon your return.
Travel Blog (6 pages MAX)

blog1.htm
blog2.htm
blog3.htm
blog4.htm
blog5.htm
blog6.htm

 You will take brief notes each day capturing your personal thoughts and observations about what Rome and Italy is like today. When you return, you'll write up a 'travel blog' for each day in Language Arts. Your Travel Blog pages will also include pictures for each day, so be careful in planning good shots as you travel each day.
QTVR Panorama pano.htm Select a site with great visual interest and take a series of photographs you can 'stitch' together into a 360 QuickTime VR (Virtual Reality) video. We'll work on this during your Technology Lab time.

Photo Gallery
(12 pictures)

photos.htm

Publisher allows you to create a really great photo gallery. This page will be a place you can share twelve (12) of your favorite Rome pictures. This is VERY easy to do. The hardest part will be deciding on your 12 pictures!

Click here to see a sample photo gallery created in Dreamweaver 8.

The pages on your website should be organized clearly and all pages must include the following:

  • The banner you create for your site.
  • A side navigation bar that appears on every page.
  • Color coded title background and menu background that matches the navigation links in the Navigation Bar.
  • READABLE content!! Be careful mixing color and text!
  • Optional: Include one picture (that you took in Rome) on each page to make it more interesting.

Look at a Sample Site

 

In the past, students used an outdated method of creating their web sites using tables and templates. We now use a much more modern and easy to update method of creating the Rome website which relies on the use of Cascading Style Sheets.

I have created a sample web site that shows you what your basic page can look like.

As you look at the site, note a couple of things:

  1. How is color used to let you know quickly what page you are on?
  2. Look at the Eternal City page. How many color elements change to clue you in to the page?
  3. What happens when the text goes longer than the menu on the left? (This was a serious issue in the way we created our Rome pages before. The menu would expand as the text on the right grew, leaving big gaps between the menu buttons).

Now that you have an idea what the web site contains and how other sixth graders have created their, site, you are ready to begin your own!

Getting Started

 

The first step is to create some folders for your site. When building a web site, all your files must be located in the same folder, or in a folder inside the main folder of your web site. Keeping track of where you save your files is critical!

Fortunately, we will be using a program called Dreamweaver, which is one of the more popular web development applications used today.

Before you go any further, create a folder in your Documents folder. Name it FIRSTNAME Rome (i.e., Henry Rome).

You are now ready to start creating your site using the STS Rome Web Site Tutorial. Click on the link and go to work.!

 

How will I be graded?

CATEGORY
4
3
2
1
Color Choices
Colors of background, and fonts form a pleasing palette, do not detract from the content, and are consistent across pages.
Colors of background and fonts do not detract from the content, and are consistent across pages.
Colors of background and fonts do not detract from the content.
Colors of background, fonts make the content hard to read or otherwise distract the reader.
Fonts
The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Use of font styles (italic, bold, underline) is used consistently and improves readability.
The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text.
The fonts are consistent and point size varies appropriately for headings and text.
A wide variety of fonts, styles and point sizes was used.
Graphics
Graphics are related to the theme /purpose of the site, are thoughtfully cropped, are of high quality and enhance reader interest or understanding.
Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are of good quality and enhance reader interest or understanding.
Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, and are of good quality.
Graphics seem randomly chosen, are of low quality, OR distract the reader.
Banner

Banner includes Site Name and person creating site. Colors are well blended. Includes a relevant photograph of Rome and uses a gradient background.

Banner has your name. Colors are well blended and text is readable. Includes a picture of Rome.
Text is readable. Includes your name.
No banner. Uses the Publisher default banner.
Spelling and Grammar
There are no errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Website.
There are 1-3 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Website.
There are 4-5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Website.
There are more than 5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Website.
Content
The required content is included on the website.
There are two pages, but only one page contains the required information.
Only one page completed.
The site lacks a purpose and theme.
Layout
The website has an exceptionally attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. White space, graphic elements and/or alignment are used effectively to organize material.
The Web pages have an attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements.
The Web pages have a usable layout, but may appear busy or boring. It is easy to locate most of the important elements.
The Web pages are cluttered looking or confusing. It is often difficult to locate important elements.
Links (content)
All Links work. Site includes a side navigation bar and a footer with links to each page.
N/A
Most links work correctly. A side navigation bar has main links included.
Pages are not linked correctly. Navigation bar is missing or unusable.

Site Upgrade Underway

So you like this new look? I have begun the work of updating this site to look cleaner, make it easier to read, and work much better on mobile devices. Do you like what you see? I'm open to suggestions; email me with ideas!

As I work on the site, you'll go back to the old style pages. Don't worry, all the links will continue to work just fine! You'll be able to follow my progress! Look for an updated Intro to Spreadsheets site soon!