2.01 Site Exploration and Discussion: Web Hosting Notes

Do you need some help to finish 2.01?  READ ON!

 

The Assignment:  write a three to five paragraph response.

• Identify the Web hosting service you feel is the best to use and discuss the pros and cons of this service. Be sure to indicate why you feel this is the best choice. Also, provide the full URL to the Web hosting service you are discussing.
  
• Identify the Web hosting service you feel is the worst to use and discuss the pros and cons of this service. Be sure to indicate why you feel this is the worst choice. Also, provide the full URL to the Web hosting service you are discussing.
  
• Be sure to cite two or more sources at the end of your posting. Remember to provide the full name and URL of the site. The URL should be an active link. Please use resources in addition to the resources found on the Spec page.
  
• Respond to at least one other student's posting on this topic. 

Here are some sites I found with Google's Advanced search to help with this assignment.  (You may use these or find other ones.)

• Web Hosting 101 Beginner's Guide (chose the Web Hosting information you want to read from the list on the right): http://hosting-101.blogspot.com/
• Free and Budget Web Hosting (select articles from the list such as free hosting, budget hosting, others): http://www.thefreecountry.com/webhosting/index.shtml
• The Site Wizard (look for the article "which web host do you recommend?) http://www.thesitewizard.com/
• Find a Host (Reviews of top 10 web hosting companies) http://www.findmyhosting.com/
• Web Hosting Geeks (Reviews of 10 services from 2009) http://webhostinggeeks.com/

You may "borrow" my outline to write your essay.  (Remember each paragraph must have 4-5 sentences.)  Use MS Word or Google Docs to key your essay. 

Paragraph 1

Introduction of assignment.

How I found web hosting companies to evaluate.

What I consider important for a web hosting company.

THESIS STATEMENT:  After reviewing numerous web hosting companies, I selected one company to highlight as the best company and the other as the worst company.

 Paragraph 2

My choice for best web hosting company.

URL for the best web hosting company.

Why I think this is a good web hosting company (features, cost, etc.).

Paragraph 3

My choice for worst web hosting company.

URL for the worst web hosting company. 

Why I think this is not a good web hosting company (features, cost, etc.).

Paragraph 4

• Summary of my response to assignment.
• What I learned from this assignment.
• How I will use this information in the future.

HOW TO post your essay to the Discussion Board

• Spell Check your work
  
• Let a classmate read your essay and offer suggestions.
• Review the Grading Rubric
• Copy the Word or Google DOC 
• Highlight the entire essay, Press Ctrl+C; 
• Go to the Discussion Board 2.01, Click on Compose, Key in a Title (like Web Hosting Companies) Paste the essay (Ctrl+V), then click post.
• Respond to another student's post.  Extend their post by making comments and asking a question.
• Place a file in Dropbox 2.01 which summarizes your work on this assignment.
  

Grading Rubric
Item	Total Points*
Included two specific Web hosts in the comparison	10
Included working URL for each Web host	10
Completely answered discussion topic/question with a three to five paragraph response	10
Used complete sentences, correct grammar/spelling	10
Responded to at least one other student on this topic	10

*Points awarded based on quality of work

Welcome to Web Design 2!

About the Course

Web Design 2 is an interactive class requiring you to continue your research and learning about various aspects of planning, designing, creating, and posting a web page. You will receive 1/2 Carnegie unit for successful completion of the class. The course contents support the MS Framework for Business and Technology and includes the following competencies which you must master:

• Identify web page design considerations.
• Identify techniques for improving the design and functionality of a site.
• Demonstrate an understanding of advanced web page authoring software features.
• Demonstrate an understanding of advanced image editing software.
• Demonstrate an understanding of additional media development programs.
• Identify legal and ethical aspects associated with using technology for research and in preparation of publications.

• Demonstrate an understanding of maintaining a site.
• Create and publish a web site.

In your job as intern, you will complete work with MS Word, Notepad, Kompozer and GIMP Imaging software (both KompoZer and GIMP are free web-based software). We will discuss these tools in more detail later. For now, just browse the course pages to get familiar with the assignment locations; explore the tabs on the content page, such as Discussions, Dropbox, Quizzes, Grades, etc. You will use these tabs to "turn in" your work and see the grades that are posted.  Update your profile and add a picture also; the first day of class is a GREAT time to do this! 

Assignments

Assignments will be posted on the "News" page every Tuesday and are to be completed by Monday of the following week. Other notes may also be posted there for your review. Check the "News" frequently! That is your source for important information. Also, check your grades on the "Grades Tab" every week--work not completed results in a "0" on the grade tab. Work may be turned in late, but your grades may reflect a lower score.

I also send frequent pages and emails to you.  Make it a daily habit to check the "NEWS", the "Pages", and your "EMAILS".  Respond as required to each item.  Failure to do this will reflect in your grade.

In Module 1 you will plan your new 5-page web site by researching a topic from a list provided.  You will begin to develop your web site by researching your topic and writing your initial draft.  You will also learn to plan your web site so that it is attractive and easy to navigate.  You will develop a storyboard to use during this phase.  Other modules will build on this initial work.  Take pride in it and do a complete job.  Your grade in the class depends on YOUR work!

SPECIAL NOTE:  You are required to have a flash (aka thumb) drive or external hard drive to use as backup for your files. "My computer crashed" is not a valid excuse for not turning in work. Back-up files every time you complete an assignment!  Then if you move to another computer or want to work from home, you will have your files.  Also, I understand the computers will be "cleaned" by the Technical Department during this semester.  This process will wipe out all your files unless you have them on a flash drive.

BLOG NOTES:  Other assignments will be posted here on our class Blog. It is your responsibility to check the blog frequently and follow the assignment directions. These assignments will be part of your class grade. Bookmark (or add as a favorite) this BLOG so you can get back to it easily.

Your first assignment from this blog is to join this BLOG as a follower.  You can use your gmail address as your identification.  Then add a comment (go to bottom of this BLOG page) that includes your first name and what you expect to learn in this class. (If you have any difficulty doing this, please email me right away!)

Other Notes

We have a special Discussion Board on our Class Page--check out Mrs. McKee's Chalk Board.  Here you will find our weekly assignments, all our class email in one location, and a place to ask other students for help. Bonus points will be awarded on some of your posts. Just check it every time you log in so you don't miss anything.

We also have a class "Chat" button on your course page.   I will schedule chats from  time-to-time to allow you to make comments and ask questions in an interactive mode with me and your other classmates.  Sometimes these chats will be given Bonus points, depending upon the quality of your participation.  

I Like to Talk on the Phone! You can expect a phone call from me this week to confirm your enrollment in the class. I also like to talk with your parents from time-to-time just to give them a progress report. Your site coordinator also receives frequent calls from me. As for any problems that you encounter such as log-in, course questions, software issues, etc., you may contact me by phone or text at 601-810-4923 or email (dannie.mckee@gmail.com). My office hours are posted on the "News" page. Don't hesitate to ask for help; your success is my success!