Week 8 Reading Notes:
W3Schools Site
I was really excited to see this site. I have no experience actually using HTML beyond editing a myspace page when I was about 15, and so I was just a little apprehensive about Project 6. This site definitely lightens the load, so to speak.
I have to say that I was pretty surprised at how easy HTML is to use. Whenever I think of any computer language (markup or not), I think of a terrifying compilation of what might as well be squiggly lines or Sanskrit. It’s far more logical than I thought it would be, which is evidenced by the symmetry of tags…
Wired webmonkey cheatsheet:
I had a very similar reaction to this site. I’ve always felt that there’s a pretty large ‘insider/outsider’ gap when it comes to computers—that is, you either know how to use them or you don’t. You either now programming/tagging languages or you don’t, and you necessarily need an expert to teach you how to use them. Kind of like playing jazz. Suddenly, I see that’s not the case.
I can see this really coming in handy for Project 6.
Beyond HTML:
This article gives a fascinating example of the need for organization and standards when developing a product. We’ve read a lot about folksonomies and the idea that systems of organization can develop themselves organically through user-generation of data, but it’s clear that this approach doesn’t work in many situations. As was stated in the article, when all library liaisons created their web content according to only their own standards, the overall site was just a mess…
I also wanted to say that the idea of HTML is the basis for content guides, but it doesn’t define the boundaries of what they can be. It’s entirely up to the creator and the way the creator sees the community that will be using the library guide.
RE: markup language/coding - I think you're absolutely right about the 'insider/outsider' gap that seems to exist. I've found myself struggling to place all of this into a context of how it is practically applied, so I've tended to shy away from any HTML editing. Instead, I rely on those around me who 'know what they're doing' to take care of this. At the same time, I'm terribly envious that they have this 'magical ability' to create and edit web pages. It seems like something that should be so simple, yet I think I've let my pre-conceptions of the difficulty of this type of work get in my way of just buckling down and taking the time to learn it and think it through.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, John, about how the resource on using and understanding HTML made it way less daunting and much more user-friendly. This really put my mind at ease for the upcoming assignments, and about using HTML in general. The materials we read for class always provide a great amount of information, but not in an overwhelming or confusing way. I can definitely see just how useful these resources will be for future references.
ReplyDelete-Rachel