Using the Web to
Teach & Learn
the Web
Dr. David C. Gibbs
Department of Mathematics and Computing
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481
dgibbs@uwsp.edu
Conference Presentation
Web Based Education Conference
WBE – 2004
Innsbruck, Austria
February 16-18
Introduction
UW-Stevens Point, Department of
Mathematics and Computing
A new major: Web and Digital Media
Development (WDMD)
“… to combine the aesthetic side of web design
with an understanding of hardware/software
and business awareness.”
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Content of the Major
Core Courses include:

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Appreciation of the creative role in art and
music
Survey of Issues involving the Internet
Introduction to Web Programming
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WDMD 170 Internet Languages
Use of Tools for Developing Web Applications
Business Writing
Principles of Marketing and Management
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Two Concentrations
of the Major
Design Focus
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Computer graphics
Digital audio/video development
Professional caliber development tools
Technical Focus
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Client-server
Web applications programming
Data communications
Network management
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WDMD 170 as a
Key Foundation
Intro programming course important
for both concentrations

Prepares technically focused students
for further coursework

Provides the only “under the hood”
examination for design focused
students
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Content of the Course
HTML/XHTML
 JavaScript
 Cascading Style Sheets
 (eventually) XML

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The Course and its
Activities
Students will complete
eLessons
 eQuizzes
 eDiscussions
 eReview of Peer Coding
 eFolio Creation and Organization
 Course Project

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1. eLessons
Voice over PowerPoint, converted to
HTML; served over the web
Development Strategy
 Identify course objectives
 Formulate programming tasks
 Divide into subtasks
 Content, example, subtask, repeatedly
 Integration of subtasks in whole task
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1. eLessons example
Use Tutorial 03B – Expressions and
Operators
 Audio Version
Introductory page
 Page 10 – Arithmetic Operators

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2. eQuizzes
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Online quizzes administered by
the courseware system
Taken as many times as desired
System records highest score
GOAL: increase time on task;
motivation to study provided by
midterm and final examinations
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2. eQuizzes example
Visit the D2L site.
1. Login
2. WDMD 170,
3. Quizzes
4. Current Quizzes: Tutorial 06
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3. eDiscussions
Topics of relevance examined bi-weekly
Examples:
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Course project proposal

Features of freeware editor HTML-Kit
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Establish rubrics for eFolio, Course
Project evaluation
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Finding and sharing reference materials
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3. eDiscussions example
D2L, Login, WDMD 170, Discussions,
Assignment Forums

Reasons NOT to use Frames
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4. eReview of Peer Coding
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“Peer editing” (English class)
Online groups of three or four
Each student posts code solution
(HTML, JS) with notes
Groupmates critique, evaluate,
discuss
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4. eReview of Peer Coding
example

D2L, Login, WDMD 170,
Discussions, eReview Group Forum
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5. eFolio Creation
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“Electronic Portfolio”
Requires organizational structure
(directories, hierarchy)
Evaluated by peer eReview
Evaluation rubric created by class
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6. Course Project
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Ideally a “real” site
Immediately implement the
coding skills
Presented “virtually” at the
conclusion of the course
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Text Reading
Old fashioned book-learning!!
(integrated with executing code samples
provided by the author)
Current Text: JavaScript 2e by Gosselin
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Courseware for Utilities
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Desire to Learn (D2L)
Facilitates:
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Announcements
Quizzes
Discussion forums
Gradebook
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Web-based Innovations
New Wrinkles
 Unique Aspects of this Course
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Peer review – emphasis upon learning
(as opposed to correctness)
 Turning anti-plagiarism on its head
 Essentially sharing code and
commentary
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Unique aspects

eLessons a work in progress
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New wrinkles
Peer review – emphasis upon
learning (as opposed to
correctness)
 Turning anti-plagiarism on its head
 Essentially sharing code and
commentary

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Unique Aspects
eLessons are a work in progress…
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Content piece -> eTask
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Content piece -> eTask
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Content piece -> eTask
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Content piece -> eTask
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Integrating exercise(s)
Example: return to Tutorial 03B and
successive eTasks.
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Conclusion
An online course in “programming the web” uses 6
activities:
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Web slides with audio presentation
Online quizzing
Discussion
Review of programming code
Creation and organization of an electronic
portfolio
Integration of knowledge in an authentic project
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Questions? / Comments?
This presentation and paper
http://www.uwsp.edu/cis/dgibbs/WBE2004/
e-Mail
dgibbs@uwsp.edu
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