CSU Website Clinic

You've just been made the Web Site manager for your department. Now what? You don't have to be a web page designer to be a web page editor. CSU provides flexible templates to help faculty and staff quickly and easily get the word out about their departments and programs. Learn how to efficiently alter, edit and update your pages. Learn why it's important to put content ahead of format, what's ok to change on the templates and how to fix what might be broken. Also covered are areas where pages can easily be modified to fit your needs. Come armed with questions. If you do not have experience using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 or have an older version of Dreamweaver, it is highly recommended that you first take Dreamweaver: The Basics.

Dreamweaver CS4: The Basics

Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 is the latest version of Adobe's popular and easy to use web site design program. It is the beginning web page designer's best friend. It lets you start slow and get comfortable with your new skills. Then, when you are ready to move on, it packs powerful tools to help you take your web development to the next level. The first half of this course is designed for the novice who wants to build simple web pages, the person who has just been given the task of editing the departmental website and needs a jumpstart or the faculty member who wants to put currently used content on the academic server.

This second half of the class explores slightly more advanced techniques. If you've ever worked with Styles and Formatting in MS Word you already know what Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) can do for your web pages. CSS allows you to edit your web pages quickly without having to reformat and add a bit of sparkle and interest while you're at it. If you are a departmental web site editor you'll want to learn how to edit your pages without breaking the CSU Template.

Web-based forms give you the ability to ask for and receive information from your web page visitors. Create a mailing list sign-up sheet, a comments page, a page for users to ask for information or other simple tasks. Please note: you should either attend the beginning class or have basic skills to get the most out of this class.

Google Apps Overview

Teaching is all about sharing ideas and concepts. How can a Google Apps help?  The Google “platform” offers a rich diversity of tools and experiences. You can usually find a Google App or combine the power of several to meet your needs.

Come get an introduction to Google Apps and find out how they can help you meet your goals.

Simple Form Techniques

The flow of information on the internet has, until recently, been one way.  However, there are a few simple methods that may be employed to retrieve basic information from individuals without a lot of programming background. Discussed in this class will be Google spreadsheets and forms, Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat forms and HTML forms.

Web-based Forms

Do you need to get information from a small number of people or from occasional visitors to your website? Creating an email form in Adobe Dreamweaver is very easy to do and can be just what you need to organize a small amount of user feedback. If you need to organize the data returned from a larger number people, Adobe Acrobat pdf-based forms might be the method for you.

New and very exciting is using Google Docs to add content to your website including Spreadsheets that can be shared as forms. It's easier than you think to get the data you need.

You don't need experience with Adobe Dreamweaver, Acrobat or Google Docs to observe the class but you should be familiar with the products to follow along at one of the work stations.

Moving PowerPoint to the Web with Impatica

Using Impatica, an easy-to-use product available to all on campus, we can quickly take a PowerPoint presentation and move it to the web. We can also add voice to the PowerPoint with Impatica, so you can create a mini-stand-alone course. Use these for supplementing your courses, adding information to Blackboard, or just for fun!

Web-Editing Techniques

Keeping your website up-to-date is one of the most important ways you can keep it relevant and informative. However, testing colors or structure or adding content doesn't necessarily mean adding new pages. It may not even mean opening Adobe Dreamweaver. And you might not be the one who has to do the updating. Find out how using Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat, Google Docs and Calendar, YouTube and Firefox can make your job easier and more efficient. You don't have to have Dreamweaver experience to observe the class but basic Dreamweaver skills are necessary to follow along at a work station.

Contact Training at 875-9626 or email to: training@csuohio.edu regarding any questions regarding this course.