Welcome to Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)

Okay, so what exactly is HTML? HTML is a system for marking up documents with informational tags that indicate how the text in the document should appear on an Internet screen. I know what you are thinking, that's what I do with a word processing program and you are right. Hyper-Text Markup Language - HTML is the backbone language of the Internet, you need to master it before going on to some of the more advanced language like, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) or Dynamic HTML (DHTML).

Many people think designing a web page is all about sizzle and flashing text. In reality it is about providing the end user with solid, easy to find information. Over the next nine weeks we will explore many of the uses of HTML. Will we discuss all of them, no! Why? Many of them have not been created or explored yet, this is defiantly an area that changes each and every day. We will start out the a series of seven lessons, the purpose of these lessons is two fold, one to help you learn and understand the basics of a HTML document and two to get you used to the idea you are going to have to work in this class.

A word of warning, if you think this is a fluff class you are wrong. This is a real class, and you will have real assignments with real deadlines.

Let's Get Started

This course assumes no previous knowledge of HTML . This is an introductory course in the HTML programming language. On successful completion of the course a student can expect to have gained:

• an introductory level of knowledge of the HTML programming language including:
  • basic HTML tag syntax
  • basic knowledge required to construct a simple to intermediate Web page
  • ability to use HTML table, form, image, multimedia, and image mapping tags
  • ability to create a simple JavaScript
  • foundation skills required to create a multiple page site

So what do you need to get started.

1. A computer with Internet access (obviously)

2. A browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla,   Opera,  Safari or one of today's alternate web devices like a PDA or a cell phone. (For testing of Web page(s) the use of multiple browsers is recommended)

3. A text editor. If you have access to Windows Notepad or WordPad programs or the MAC Simple Text program, use that to get started. Or you can use Arachnoid or HTML Kit. They are free and easy to use. However, please remember this is a course in HTML and not how to use the software you are using to create your source code. In all honesty to use any HTML editor you really need to know HTML first. If you can't see the error you can't fix the error.

4. A web site on which to house your work. For further information refer to course syllabus.

5. An email address at which the course teacher may contact you.. I always suggest the students get an email account just for the length of the course. That way after the course they can stop using that account if they need to.

Assignment for the week: - See Weekly Assignment Sheet

This weeks assignment is to go through the HTML GOODIES Primer tutorials located at: http://htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html.  Please note: These tutorials are just to give you a basic understanding HTML. We will be covering each of the areas in depth one week at a time.

This series of primers are written by Joe Burns author of "HTML Goodies".

Note: Other course materials on this site have been adapted from the HTML Goodies site. Link to the HTML Goodies site used with permission of the author.