Using MS FrontPage

I decided to use MS FrontPage since it has many similarities to MS Word. My intention was to keep children's web authoring as simple and as straightforward as possible, so that the emphasis would be on quality content.

I designed a template, consisting of a simple table with a title, and arrows pointing backwards and forwards.

This template could be used with all the groups. I showed it to the children and explained how it was made.

The arrows were made in MS Publisher, using the custom shapes (found on the tool bar). The arrows were coloured, rotated then copied and pasted into place.

To space the arrows, I held down the space bar to create a gap before pasting the right-hand arrow. FrontPage does not work like Publisher: text and images do not always stay where they have been put!

If in doubt, check by pressing the Preview tab. This will give an impression of exactly what the page will look like when it is online. Sometimes there are small discrepancies. I think that this is a weakness in this software.

Editor's note: This is a general characteristic of all web authoring tools. Various browser versions may display the page in slightly different ways. For spacing, another approach is to use an invisible (transparent) graphic, which can be stretched to any size. For a copy, right-click in this box:

I showed each group how to create a folder to store a copy of the template. Once they began work, all pages would be automatically saved into the group folder. This made finding files much easier.

Creating pages for the big books

Once the children had finished composing the text and designing the illustrations, they were ready to begin to build their pages. For this session, I would stay with the group and work through this process. The first step was to save the desired number of blank pages to their folder. The file template is copied as many times as needed. Click File>Save As, then name the files in numerical page order.

Inserting drawings and text

When the children had created all their blank pages they were ready to insert their illustrations and text. This was done with the use of drawings which were scanned.

A digital camera could also be used, or drawings produced in a painting program.

The pictures were then scanned into Paintshop Pro and adjustments made such as rotating or re-sizing.

Editor's note: re-sizing is critical. Scanned pictures and digital camera photos are often very large. You may also crop a detail from a large image.

The children learned a great deal about PaintShop Pro by this process, although it was very time consuming. Children discovered features such as the Clone Brush. This may be used to brush an area with detail from another part of the image (or a different image, if desired).

I recommend negotiating a time limit for PaintShop Pro, otherwise minute adjustments can go on forever! When children were happy with their image, they copied and pasted into the right place in the table on FrontPage.

When the image is pasted, it may appear very large. This can be avoided by re-sizing it before it is pasted. Alternatively, re-size the image so that it fills the space in the table.

The text may then be either written into the right hand table, or copied and pasted from Word.

The page is then saved and the procedure repeated until all the pages have been completed.

The process lends itself to peer tutoring. It may be appropriate, depending on the size of your group, for children to support each other throughout the activity. It is important to ensure that the early groups contain at least one pupil who is very competent in ICT.

When each group's book was finished, I selected two children who could explain the process to their peers and provide support for the next group. I found that, once the first group had completed their book, the remaining groups could be left to work with little intervention from an adult.

Linking Pages

To hyperlink the pages, highlight the desired button or text that you wish to hyperlink to another page. Then press the insert hyperlink button.

Select the page that you wish to hyperlink to this. The file name will appear after the URL, then press OK. To check that this is correct; highlight the arrow or text and control click to follow the hyperlink. This should take you to your desired page. Remember to save, as this will then save all hyperlinks. This is very important.

In my experience once the children were shown this procedure they were able to work collaboratively to complete the tasks outlined. However it is a really good idea to check through their stories, especially the hyperlinks, as it is easy to insert the incorrect link or not save all the links. If this happens the story will not make sense, as the page orders will be confused.

Once all the children had finished their books, they designed a front cover in the same format used for individual pages. A link was added at the end of each story to return to the front cover. In this way, a reader may easily browse through the books.

At this stage I began to use the Preview in the Browser button: This enabled us to see the page exactly as it would look online.