HTML and the Web
The architecture of the Web is constantly changing. While most pages are still constructed using hypertext markup language or HTML, you can find many sites that use different languages to serve up Web pages.

You can identify the technology the page uses by looking at the file extension used. These file extensions include html (or htm), asp, cfm, php, and xml. Most novices create their first Web sites using HTML only.

Depending upon the page you are looking at, you might encounter JavaScript, a special programming language that allows Web pages to be interactive. For example, roll-overs—links that change colors or show graphics when you move the cursor over them—utilize JavaScript. Not all browsers are enabled for JavaScript, however. Sometimes Web users turn off JavaScript capabilities in their browser options to increase security while surfing.

Authoring Software
There is a wide variety of software available that automatically creates HTML code. This is known as authoring software. Microsoft FrontPage, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and Adobe GoLive are just a few of the popular software programs.

The software allows you to arrange text and pictures on a page while it generates the HTML code for you. When the program allows you to design the page without having to look at the markup codes, it is know as a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. Other programs allow you to toggle back and forth between the source code and the design or layout page. In some cases, you may not even need to know anything about HTML to get your site ready to publish.

Some hosting services such as Yahoo!'s Geocities allow you to download their proprietary Web authoring tools to create Web pages.

The key to finding the right software package is to understand your skill level, the site design you have in mind, and the server software used by your hosting service.

Beware of the Generated Code
Many HTML authoring tools generate advanced scripts that are incompatible with the software being used by the Internet server. Many users are unaware that these scripts are being generated in the code of the pages they are creating.

If you are not certain that the authoring software generates compatible scripts and you cannot reach the Webmaster to find out, it is best to scale back your use of bells and whistles such as rollovers, frames, and other more advanced features. These features generally require more advanced scripting and are often not supported by Web servers.

Do It Yourself
Of course, many people choose to write their own HTML using a simple text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit. HTML is not difficult to learn, and there are numerous Web sites that can help you.

Ultimately, you will be more knowledgeable and have more control over your page layout and interactivity if you can write HTML. See the Basic HTML for Educators article to learn more about basic HTML coding.

FTP
Once you have created your class Web site, you must transfer the files to a host server. To do this, you will upload your files using the file transfer protocol (FTP).

An FTP software program allows you to transfer files from your computer to your host server, which can be located anywhere in the world.

Many FTP programs open up a new window to allow you to browse through your files and select those that you want to put on your host server. Posting the information often is as easy as clicking your mouse.

Fortunately, many WYSIWYG editors include a built-in function to transfer files, making an external FTP program unnecessary. However, if you don't have an automatic FTP function, Ipswitch's freeware version of WS-FTP is one of the most widely and easily used FTP software packages available.

Understanding Web Graphics
Graphics can help add clarity to the written text on your Web pages. Web browsers allow you to view only those graphic files that have been prepared for the Web, however. The two standard file formats found on a web page are GIF and JPEG.

GIF files are primarily used for graphics that have "flat" plains of color, such as text and simple illustrations. The JPEG format is usually used for more complex images such as photos.

The resolution, or clarity, of these images doesn't have to be as high on the Web as it does for print. GIF and JPEG image files can be saved at a low resolution to keep the file size small. This decreases the time it takes for them to download on your Web page.

You can prepare and create image files for your Web site using graphic programs such as PhotoShop, Illustrator, or PaintShop Pro.

Read more about Web graphics in Mark Larmand's fascinating article Pixel Anatomy 101.

Free Images
Of course, not everyone has the tools, time, or skill to make compelling graphics.

Luckily, you can find free graphics all over the Web. There are many sites that offer free images. (Images include backgrounds, buttons, borders, and illustrations and photos.)

Be careful not to take something without permission. Although it's very easy to download images and pictures, this does not mean that it's legal to do so. Only use images for which you have permission.

To find sites that offer freebies, run a search for "free Web images." However, do not encourage your students to try this search, as this query could lead to a list that includes useful images in addition to inappropriate material.

Site Structure
When you create your Web site, you need to create a folder—also known as a directory—to contain all your Web site files. This is what you will upload to your Web server when you FTP.

You should save all your HTML files in this folder. In addition, you should create a separate folder within the site folder for your graphics and name it "images." Keep all of your graphics there.

When you name files (and folders), it is best to keep all words in the name lower case. Following this general rule allows the files to be more easily referenced, since many servers are case sensitive.

You will also need to avoid spaces between words in a file name. For example, you don't want a page called "Home Page.htm." Many servers can't read the spaces in file names. Use an underscore to separate words in a filename, or try to use a single word to name the file. In the case above, you should name the file "home_page.htm."

Ready to Begin
Now that you have learned about file types and naming conventions for html files, you are ready to begin you Web odyssey! If you are authoring your own page, or even if you are using a software authoring tool, check out the Basic HTML for Educators article.

Read More About It
Web Developer's Virtual Library (WDVL)
www.wdvl.com
This site contains a vast amount of information about Web technology. It may appear intimidating as a novice, but it is well worth the effort to drill down to the articles on HTML. You can learn quite a lot from this well-organized site.

Web Developers Journal
www.webdevelopersjournal.com/index.html
Similar to the WDVL, this site offers articles and tutorials for web developers. You can visit an online forum to read answers to a wide variety of technical questions, and you can even post your own questions.

Basic HTML for Educators
HTML is the building block of Web pages, and gaining a basic understanding of how it is structured will help you as you build your class Web site. Whether you are building your page line by line or simply trying to troubleshoot code generated by your Web page authoring software, this article will set you on your way to getting your site online.

Web Publishing Basics
Building your first class Web site is an exciting and sometimes intimidating experience. While there are many software programs that can help you design a simple Web page, there are numerous other details that you will need to know before you can launch your class Web site. This article, our first in a series about Web publishing, offers you basic information about how Web pages are displayed, where they "live" in cyberspace, and what to watch out for when arranging for a hosting service.