EDL 585: Lesson 3 Technology Strand

In this strand, you will learn two things to help you as your progress through the MTL program. The first is how to convert things you create to file formats that are easier to share. The second is to submit your assignments through Blackboard's Assignments Manager.

Using HTML and PDF File Formats

Online students often share files with peers and professors. As classroom teachers, you will have many opportunities to share files with your colleagues, students, and your students' parents. Using a common file format makes sharing easier by avoiding proprietary file formats that differ from one word processor to another or from one spreadsheet program to another.

Advantages and Disadvantages of HTML

The majority of the web pages on the Internet are HTML files. (By the way, HTML stands for hypertext markup language, but you don't need to remember that). Using HTML files offers several advantages. Any computer with a web browser can read an HTML file. Pages usually load quickly when you're on the Internet so having a slow Internet connection isn't typically a problem. Most word processors make it easy to create an HTML file. When you need to share a document you've created with a lot of people who will be looking at it from an Internet-connected computer, HTML is often a good choice.

Using HTML files has one disadvantage. Sometimes the formatting you painstakingly applied to the page is lost with HTML.

Try it for yourself. Start by finding a document you'd like to convert to HTML. Any document will do.

Making an HTML file using Microsoft Word:

1. Open the document you would like to convert to HTML
2. From the File menu, choose Save As
3. A dialog box opens. At the bottom, you will see a box next to Save as type.
4. Use the arrow next to that box to choose Web Page from the list of choices.
5. Give the file an appropriate name, being sure to keep .htm at the end of the file name.
6. Specify the location you would like the file saved so you can find it again.

Once you complete these steps, your file is ready to distribute to others. It won't matter whether or not they use the same word processing software you do. As long as they have a web browser on their computer, they will be able to read your file.

Many word processors work the same way. If yours doesn't, be sure to check the online help for information about how your software works.

Advantages and Disadvantages of PDF

Converting files to PDF offers some of the same advantages of HTML. Adobe Reader, the software that lets computers read PDF files is free and you can expect most computers already have it installed. (If you don't, you can download Adobe Reader at no cost.) If the layout of your page and the specific fonts you've chosen are important for your document, you should use PDF instead of HTML.

Some people think it's harder to create a PDF file than to create an HTML file. This is usually only the case at first. Most students find learning to create PDF files well worth their time. You are required to do that for this and subsequent lessons. By the end of the semester, you will be "an old pro."

Finally, PDF files tend to be larger than HTML files, so they are take longer on a slow Internet connection.

Making an PDF File on a Macintosh Computer

1. Open the document you would like to convert
2. Go to File...and then Print.
3. Choose Save as PDF from the dropdown list in the Print Dialog box (see image).
4. Click Print.
5. Name the file and specify the location to save the file when prompted (keep track of this).

Making a PDF File on a Windows Computer

Making PDF files on a Windows computer is more involved than on a Macintosh. You will need special software but there are many free options. One of the better ones is called CutePDF Writer. You will need to:

1. Download and install CutePDF Writer
2. Download and install the free converter.

Once both of those tasks are complete, you will not need to repeat them unless you move to a different computer or you have a hard drive crash. Once the software is installed, it's easy to convert a file to PDF. Here's how:

1. Open the document you would like to convert to PDF
2. Go to File...and then Print.
3. Choose CutePDF from the list of printers in the dialog box
4. Name the file and choose the location you'd like the file saved. Keep track of this location.
5. Click Save.

If you need more help, you can watch this CutePDF Writer demonstration. It's a QuickTime movie and QuickTime Player is free to download. Be sure to uncheck the boxes when you sign up or you will start receiving a lot of email you might not want.

There are a variety of different options for doing this. If you don't like CutePDF Writer, you can enter "free pdf converter" into your favorite search engine, you can find a solution that works for you.

Using Blackboard's Assignment Manager

Throughout this course and the entire MTL program, your professors will ask you to submit many of your assignments using the Assignment Manager. Go to the the appropriate place in the Assignments section. Look for the clipboard and checkmark icon and choose the link for the assignment you're submitting. The rest is as easy as adding an attachment. There's even a space for you to leave a short note for your professor.