TECHNOLOGY TUTOR

 

TOOLS & LINKS

 

Email

 

·       Email is an essential communications tool for students and teachers. Email allows individuals to send and receive “electronic” mail, or messages, at any time from any internet-linked computer. Each KU student should visit KU Computing Services to establish a free email account. Other free email services are available at Hotmail, Yahoo, and Excite.

 

 

Computer Technology Periodicals

 

·       There are many useful periodicals and journals related to educational technology. Students should be familiar with what, and where, these resources are.

 

·       Examples of Educational Technology Periodicals

·       KU Library’s Online Catalog – Check for KU Periodical Holdings

 

 

Web Authoring

 

·       The “web” has become the best method to store and distribute information to the “global” community. Web sites are a useful way to organize information relating to work, school, and family that can be accessed and  utilized frequently. With the help of KU Computer Services tutorials, KU students have the opportunity to access 5 MB of free web space, and become web “authors”. Free web space for web authoring is also available at Yahoo! Geocities and Homestead.

 

 

Basic HTML

 

·       HTML (hyper-text markup language) is the language of the World Wide Web. Web pages are can be created using hand-coded HTML, or through software-coded HTML, through the use of web page editors such as Macromedia’s Dreamweaver, and Netscape’s Composer. Netscape can be downloaded for free with Netscape Communicator. Macromedia offers a 30-day free download trial of Dreamweaver.

 

·       HTML TUTORIAL

o       Basics – Text - Lists - Images - Links - Backgrounds

o       Tables – Frames - Forms – Meta Tags - Hexcolors

 

 

Web Browsers

 

·       Web browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, allow internet users to easily “surf” or “browse” web pages on the internet. Generally speaking, a web browser (sometimes called a “user agent”) works by a protocol called Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP), which can request text documents from web servers throughout the world.  Text documents contain special mark-up language written in HTML. The HTML is interpreted by the web browser. The web browser then transfers the text document in a convenient manner to the user’s computer (you and me). The newest versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator can be downloaded for free from the manufacturer.

 

 

Web Searching

 

·       Search directories, search engines, and meta-search tools are used for internet information searches. Keywords are used with the internet search tools to locate desired information.

 

·       Examples of Search Tools

-        Search Directory – Yahoo

-        Search Engine – Altavista

-        Meta-Search – Google and Profusion

 

 

Spreadsheet - Database

 

·       Software that represents data in a row-and-column format like an electronic ledger. Data stored in a spreadsheet can be manipulated by sorting and editing. Calculations can be performed on the data. Some common spreadsheet programs are Excel, Quattro Pro, and Lotus 1-2-3.

·       A database is a collection of related files stored electronically that can be edited, joined, sorted, and searched. Some common database programs are Paradox, Fox Pro, and PC-File. You can buy specialized database and spreadsheet software.

·       Most newer word processors have spreadsheet and database capabilities: Word 6, for example, comes equipped with a table feature that lets you perform calculations and create graphs and charts. Unless you have thousands of records and/or want to do extremely complex calculations, Word's spreadsheet capabilities are quite adequate and easy to use.

 

·       Spreadsheet Basics and Tutorial (Mac)

·       Spreadsheet Basics (IBM/PC)

 

 

Image Processing and Manipulation

 

·       Image processing and manipulation tools make it easy to prepare and manipulate photos and graphics for the web.  There are many useful web sites that provide tutorials and training for this purpose:

 

·       Image Processing Fundamentals and Basics

·       Image Manipulation Fundamentals

·       Scanning Basics

·       Digital Camera Basics

·       Adobe Homepage

 

 

Learning Environments

 

·       Learning environment web sites promote interaction, communication, and learning between individuals and groups via the World Wide Web.

 

·       ICQ

·       Placeware

·       Intranets

·       Egroups

·       Netmeeting

 

 

Presentation/Multimedia

 

·       Presentation software assists individuals in creating professional presentations. Microsoft PowerPoint and Hyperstudio are two popular type of presentation software. There are numerous web sites that provide simple tutorials so that users can get more out of their presentation software:

 

·       PowerPoint Basics

·       Hyperstudio Basics

·       Digitizing Audio and Video

·       Digital Audio Tutorial

 

 

Future Learning Topics

 

·       Technology topics that will broaden our knowledge and perspective of the influence of educational technology:

 

·       Java Script Basics

·       Perl Basics

·       Development of Online Courses

·       Virtual Universities and Distance Education