welcome
Welcome
This web site is, in a sense, a course in crafting a digital portfolio using XHTML and CSS. I am focusing the site, examples, and illustrations toward college and university students and faculty. However, anyone interested in employing web standards may find the information useful.
For the past 10 years I taught a course titled, Introduction to Digital Media at Alma College. In the spring of 2003, the class was only open to first-year students. Their final project for the course was to craft a digital portfolio making a case that they had made a successful transition from high school to college.
I team-taught the course, as I had in the past, with Dr. Raymond Riley, professor of music. We had little problem finding a text on xhtml and css that incorporated web standards, but like so many texts, it did not address specifically the types of evidence students include in their portfolios nor any discussion about what constitutes an exemplary portfolio. Thus, I am developing this web site to address that need.
— dave lawrence
Progress Report
April 2009
This term is very busy. One of my public speaking classes is collaborating with a public speaking class in Michigan. We are using video conferencing over Internet 2 and Moodle as a means of communication. So far, things are going smoothly, but check back after our first round of speeches in a couple of weeks.
I am currently working with a first-year student as she completes her digital portfolio documenting her transition from high school to college life at Agnes Scott. Look for a link to her portfolio some time around May 2009.
I uploaded a new video illustrating how a student might demonstrate his or her audio / video editing skills and ability to deliver content over the web. The video is a documentary on the Alma College Percussion Ensemble produced by Cameron Ray for an independent study.
I completed four new pages on using photographs in your electronic portfolio. Topics include resizing and cropping photos, creating mattes and borders, using the <img> tag, and floating an image using CSS. You can find all these new additions in the graphics chapter of the web site.
I added information about hyperlinks, relative paths, and absolute paths to the link chapter.
I completed the section on unordered, ordered, definition, and nested lists. This information is in the lists / navigation chapter.
Thank goodness for external style sheets because I decided to display the code examples in red.
The site was getting a bit unwieldy, so I added an index page that has links to topics about XHTML, CSS and creating your digital portfolio.
In the Getting Started chapter, I added a page discussing the importance of naming and organizing your files that go into a digital portfolio.
In the Headers and Text section, I uploaded a page demonstrating the use of sIFR to style headlines and pull quotes.
I added a page about using a digital color meter to the graphics sections
site synopsis
If you are wondering about what sort of topics I cover in crafting a digital portfolio, then you might want to view the site synopsis.
quicktime video
I added a page with a QuickTime movie embedded without using the <embed> tag. The page passes validation and works both on Mac and PC using various browsers. The video is the Alma College Kiltie Band's arrangement of Aaron Copland's Hoe–Down.
I added another page with a QuickTime movie embedded using javascript, the method recommended by Apple. The video is a selection from the Festival of Carols by the Alma College Choirs
audio files
I uploaded two audio files of a student reading her poetry that could be used in a class portfolio.
tutorials
As I stated earlier, this site is about teaching how to use XHTML and CSS to craft a digital portfolio. I am making no assumptions about a user's skill level. Consequently, some of you may find some lessons too basic. If that is the case, just consider the lessons as a means of review.
The lessons are interactive and require two programs that are free and available for the PC, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms. Before proceeding to the sample lesson, you should download and install these programs and return to this site using the Firefox web browser.
Please read the tutorial instructions before proceeding to the lessons.
Proceed to the XHTML and CSS tutorials
headers and text
11 August 2007 — I am currently updating content to the headers and text chapter. I have completed (except for minor editing) the fonts/css and phrase elements sections.
about the footer
If you are wondering about the footer at the bottom of the page, it is primarily for my use. We also require students to include the validation links in their footers as a means of assessment.
copyright information
I’ve employed Lawrence Lessig's writings and books in courses I’ve taught in communication and new media. As a supporter of free culture and the philosophy of sharing information, this site is now licensed under a Creative Commons agreement.
