fasten your seatbelts, girls and boys... make sure your seats are in the locked, upright position, tray tables safely stowed. we're in for a terrific journey this summer!

what to expect from this class...

1. you will learn HTML coding and web page design
   in six short weeks, you'll be able to pick up enough HTML to confidently design web pages and websites on your own. in short, you will acquire a new language: the HyperText Markup Language.

2. you will belong to a serious academic community
   ATDP is unlike regular school in that everyone wants to be here, is motivated to do well, wants to have fun while learning, and knows this is a valuable academic experience.

3. you will work in a state-of-the-art computer lab
   the Tolman Microcomputer Facility was upgraded last summer, and the network is darn fast--just the thing for a cutting-edge course as this. if you want to know some of the software we'll be using, go here for more info. (scroll down on that page to see the list of software for the PC platform.)

before coming to the first session...

1. think very carefully about what you would like your website to be about. a personal website is perfectly okay, or one devoted to a hobby or interest of yours. you should ask yourself: does the world really need yet another QuakeIII, N'Sync or San Francisco 49ers website? as you know, there are zillions of such sites around. that said, if you do want to devote a website to a popular interest, go ahead--but only if you aim to do it in a clever, fresh and witty manner! how? well, that's what this class is for.

2. if you'd like to get an idea of what other students have done in this class, check out the individual web pages of past Internet Classroom students. you should be able to get a sense of what other students in this class over the years have been doing their personal websites on. it spans a very wide range of subjects, indeed.

3. read chapters 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the textbook in sequence. these chapters cover the basics of HTML tags, text formatting, and links. [optional: if you have a lot of time on your hands before the session begins, you may go ahead and read chapters 4, 5 and 6, which cover using images (pictures) on a web page, and page layout techniques.]

what to bring to the lab on Monday, June 19...

1. a box of PC-formatted diskettes. there are usually 10 diskettes to a box. you will need these to back up your work after each daily lab session. [optional: you might want to bring your own mousepad to the lab. no mousepads are provided, and you may find the tabletop too slick or hard for mousing around.]

2. your textbook, HTML 4 for the World Wide Web, by Elizabeth Castro [the book's contents and sample code may be found online at Peachpit's website.] our lab sessions won't be going strictly by what's in the textbook, as far as topics and techniques to be covered in the 6-week session, but you should bring the book to class anyway, as it is an excellent and well-organized resource -- you can look up tags quickly and efficiently.

3. your web browser Bookmark (in Netscape) or Favorites (in Internet Explorer) file/document. part of our first-day activity will be based on your selection of favorite Internet websites. make a copy of your Bookmark or Favorites file, and bring it with you to the first day of class.

   if you don't have a personal collection of website Bookmarks or Favorites, that's okay--you'll make one in class the first day. if you have questions about how to copy your bookmarks, don't hesitate to e-mail, AOL instant message (lloydinberkeley) or phone me@510.643.9390--i'll be in my office (and online) virtually 24/7, in the week left before ATDP begins...!

   oh, and one other thing: bring your imagination and creativity. this class is infinitely more fun, with these items in hand. ;-)

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