Templates

[Rebecca Hennard]

Dear Clever People!
I used to do my own website in Dreamweaver and have avoided Wikis like the plague because.....well, ok whatever..........now I have had a well-targeted kick up the rear end from the recent PD I have set up my own! If you can't beat 'em.......
One of the things which annoys me the most is that formatting the actual page (I don't mean the Look and Feel bit) is currently beyond me.
I want to create a simple template so all my stuff is not just a sequential list of links and assignments, but I do not have the skills.
Is there somewhere I can go to choose some 'standard' shareware templates, or can one of you alleviate my frustration with a bit of advice?
All I want to do is divide the page into 4, with 4 headings (homework, assignments, Unit title and supporting documents and resources.)
Thank you!

[Dr J Turner]

Rebecca
I divide the page into four by using a table (2x2) and using white dashes in the Style Option (can't be seen) to "space out" the width
Clunky but works for me.
You're right, Wikis aren't as technically advanced in most areas compared to say Dreamweaver. But a lot of this has to do with Wikis being gratis (Dreamweaver requiring $). This has implications for use beyond the classroom and for encouraging student creative and problem-solving solutions. I'm still working through some problem limitations of my own such as how to get text to start in the top-left corner of the table cell.
Cheers
John

[Rebecca Hennard]

Good Morning John!
Absolutely. I really do see the advantages in wikis, I am not a total sea of raging negativity! I just can't help striving to make the wiki look more like a 'real' website.
Also, because what will mostly be on there are links to assignments, I am trying to get as much as possible into the bubble without students scrolling down. I don't want 'I couldn't find it!' to be an excuse!
I experimented with the table, and I am also experimenting with making a table in Word then copying and pasting. It deosn't seem to make a lot of difference, at least so far, whether I paste directly in or save as HTML first. If I get the time, I'll dabble with different formatting to make it look more 'professional.'
In the meantime, I started a discussion on our ongoing lab for the 8th grade and Steve Rhodes and I are designing separate assessed assignments based on the photos and data we took at the Al Khor fieldwork site. He's developing an activity where the kids are challenged to accurately work out the % cover in a 1m quadrat.I am doing a slide-based story activity where the students discuss adaptations and abiotic factors. I was going to recommend onetruemedia, but I am trying find out if all the kids need to sign up individually or if I can do a group thing. That sort of stuff can really slow the whole thing down. Also, I would like the kids to perhaps experiment with a voice over, and it's a lot of work to get that figured out.
Onwards and upwards!
Feel free to look at my Wiki....it's slowly getting there...........but my own kids do like to see me from time to time as well!
Hey, checkout wetpaint! I LURVE it!
Becca