Course Name: Enhancing Educational Web Sites with JAVA Scripts, presented by Dr. Donna Herring, from Jacksonville State University, Session 197

Using a web editor, Dr. Herring modeled how to easily include JAVA Script into a webpage for an eye-catching look. Java Script is a language that initiates an action on a webpage, such as snow falling on the screen or drop-down menus with a mouse over.

Dr. Herring provided her website with the links to the many sites that have free JAVA Script. I was able to come back to my school, access these sites, and add falling leaves on my school website in a matter of 5 minutes. Dr. Herring’s webpage

I visited one of the sites and found script for falling leaves. I copied the script from the website, opened my page at the html level, and inserted the script where I was directed. I saved the leaf graphics in a folder in my web and adjusted the script to point to the graphics where I had saved them. I edited the graphics somewhat – made them smaller and colored them to my liking. I chose to use very small leaf graphics and included the script only on the November menu page, as I do know this movement annoys some users. (I for one truly dislike trailing mouse graphics.) I tested it out and found that the script was not too invasive and did not slow down the page load time (which concerned me).

As part of my job I teach 5 th graders to make a webpage. As I first introduce the idea of creating a web, I show them various pages on the web: pages with small text stretching from the left to right margin (boring & hard to read), to pages with colors & movement that makes your head spin (also hard to read). I teach that there is a happy medium, with text clearly readable with high contrast to the background, with graphics to break up the words, and, quickly loading pages (very important). I felt this script was not too intrusive, and would add to user enjoyment. I honestly added the script to the page to add some fun, to put a smile on users’ faces as they saw the leaves fall on the screen.

I would definitely include the addition of Java Scripts on my student’s pages if they were in middle or high school. There just isn’t the time in the lab at this level.

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