Design+Your+Website

 = = ***Remember, simple is better and more professional.** *If you change one page, all of the other pages will change as well. ***Remember to link all pages!** __ **Inserting a Link to an Outside Source:** __ __What is a widget?** "A **web widget** is a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate [|HTML]-based web page by an end user without requiring additional [|compilation]...Applications can be integrated within a third party website by the placement of a small snippet of code. The code brings in ‘live’ content – advertisements, links, images – from a third party site without the web site owner having to update."* *You can always edit the width or height by clicking **edit** in the gadget preview window. ***If needed, you can unpublish your site by going back to the Site Manager, checking the pages your would like to unpublish, and then clicking** Unpublish **in the** More Actions **pull down menu.**
 * __ Getting Started: __**
 * 1) Go to [|Google Page Creator] and sign in using your group gmail account.
 * 2) After reading the welcome message, scroll down to the bottom and check the **Conditions box**.
 * 3) Click the **I’m ready to create my pages** button
 * __ Change the Look of Your Webpage: __**
 * 1) Click on the **Change Look** link in the top right corner.
 * 2) Choose the look you think would best represent your project.
 * 1) Click on the look of your choice and your page should automatically change.
 * __ Change the Layout of Your Webpage: __**
 * 1) Click on the Change Layout **link in the top right corner.**
 * 2) Choose the layout of your choice.
 * __ Adding New Pages: __**
 * 1) Click **Back to Site Manager** in the top left corner.
 * 2) Click **Create a new page…**
 * 3) Give your page a title and click **Create and Edit.**
 * __ Inserting a Link to a Page within Your Site: __**
 * 1) Click in the cell where you would like to add a link.
 * 2) Click on the Link **button in the toolbar.**
 * 3) Verify that the Your Pages **radio button is selected.**
 * 4) Click on the page you would like to link to.
 * 5) You may change the text that displays by entering the new text in the Text to display **box.**
 * 6) Click OK.
 * 1) Click in the cell where you would like to add a link.
 * 2) Click the Link **button in the toolbar.**
 * 3) Select the Web Address **radio button.**
 * 4) Type in (or copy and paste) the URL of the website.
 * 5) If you choose, change type in the text that will appear on your webpage in the Text to Display **box.**
 * 6) Click OK.
 * __ Adding a Gadget (widget):
 * 1) Click in the cell where you would like to add a gadget.
 * 2) Click add gadget **in the bottom right corner.**
 * 3) Type in a keyword in the search engine to find a gadget.
 * 4) Click on the gadget of your choice and enter the width and height that best fits your page.
 * 5) Click OK.
 * __ Embedding a Video: __**
 * 1) Click on the cell where you would like to add the video.
 * 2) Click **Edit html** in the bottom right corner.
 * 3) Copy the embed code from where the video is located (Ex: Youtube, Teachertube, etc.)
 * 4) Paste the embed code where you would like it to appear in the edit html window.
 * 5) Click **Update.**
 * 6) To preview the video on your webpage, click **Preview** at the top.
 * __ Adding Audio (Interviews): __**
 * 1) Have a .mp3 file ready (ask Ms. Olson if you need help with this)
 * 2) Go to the **Site Manager** and upload the file.
 * 3) Go to the page you wish to add the file and click on the cell where you would like to place it.
 * 4) Click the **Link** button and select the **File radio button.**
 * 5) Choose the .mp3 file and click **OK.**
 * __ Publishing Your Site: __**
 * 1) Click the **Publish** button.
 * __ Things to Remember: __**
 * The URL to your site should be [|http://(username).googlepages.com]
 * Only one person can edit a page at a time.
 * SAVE periodically. Google Page Creator automatically saves for you; however, it never hurts to be safe.

Dos and don'ts for achieving Usability in Design

Do: Don't: (Source: http://www.usabilityfirst.com/websites/design.txl)
 * Use either plain-color backgrounds or extremely subtle background patterns.
 * Make sure text is in a printable color (not white).
 * Place navigation in a consistent location on each page of your website.
 * Use a familiar location for navigation bars.
 * Keep the design from scrolling horizontally.
 * Make your text look like a link-ex. do not make your text underlined and blue
 * Use boldface** or ALL CAPS for long pieces of text. These slow down reading.
 * Leave too much white space--reduces scannability.
 * Make the user scroll to find critical information, especially transaction buttons and navigation links.
 * Use horizontal rules to separate chunks of content.
 * Alternate too frequently between centered text and left-aligned text. Most text should be left-aligned.


 * Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget