Do as I do
Well, we finally got started with Dreamweaver today. :)Reached Canyon South around 8.40, and took the time to set my laptop up before the kids arrived. Another class was using the computer lab during the first hour or so, so Lisa and I moved the projector and screen into the classroom instead. This new set up is actually much better, like a normal presentation setup with the screen behind me. The only problem is that the classroom is a little too bright. -sigh- Looks like I really can't have my cake and eat it, too. What's the point in even getting a cake if you're not going to eat it, really? ;)
So I did a general introduction to Dreamweaver MX 2004, going over the various parts of the interface, and most importantly, where the help screen was. The kids were more enthusiastic today than during the previous presentation, probably because this one actually involved using the program. It was their first look at the program, and most of them were quite curious by it. A couple of kids in particular, Casey and John, asked several interesting questions. They're both in the website team, so it's good to see they're taking an interest in the subject.
After explaining the various parts of the interface, I then went on to demonstrate creating my page template based on the layout I had drawn out on paper. One of the other kids, Alan, wasn't that impressed and commented that it was just a little harder than using Word. :P I suppose that's a fair point, but we are only going over the basics, after all. ;)
Most of the other kids seemed to like the demonstration, though, and the fifteen of them not on the website team were visibly disappointed that they wouldn't actually get to use the program during my class, but were going to be learning PowerPoint instead. Broke my heart, really.
Why fill the computer lab with Macs? And why then have only Windows licences for Dreamweaver?
Idealy, I would have liked the students to have been able to each (or at most in pairs) have access to a computer and be able to follow me through the demonstration, since I'm a firm believer in the "learning-by-doing" philosophy. But unfortunately, that was not to be.
So, after the demonstration, the other kids left for the computer lab with Lisa while the website team stayed behind with me to start on the class site. Progress was relatively slower than I'd hoped, though hopefully they'll speed up once they get used to the program.
The kids actually managed to finish most of the basic page layouts during the class today, like laying the basic tables and inserting the background colours. Think we should be able to move on to inserting the content next week. :)
posted by Scott @ 7:10 pm
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