In this age of web editors, should you still have to learn HTML (hypertalk mark-up language)?

The answer is yes. Definitely yes.

Knowing just a little bit of HTML and how tags work can increase anyone's flexibility enormously as they work with web pages. Just understanding how HTML works will even give you some insight into how javascript and other systems operate.

Here's a short tutorial on HTML:

1. Type the text below into Microsoft Word or some other word processing document.

• Save the document as "text only."
• Whatever name you give the document, make sure it has the suffix ".html" on it. Example: mydocument.html
• Remember where you have saved the document.
• After saving the file, keep the window for that document active on your screen.

2. Open a web browser (Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, etc.). The bowser should give you an online connection, but if it doesn't, the exercise will still work. You simply won't be able to see the picture of the Gettysburg Address.

3. Once the browser is up, use the open function to open the document you just typed. It should look much like the document on the right. (Click here or on the picture to see a larger version of it.)

4. Chances are, it won't look like the picture. That's because there has been some error in typing the text. Keep this window active and go back to your document window.

5. Go through the document carefully and correct any errors. Remember that the document should be exactly what is typed below. When you have made a correction, SAVE the document. Then go to the brower window and refresh the page. If it still doesn't look like the picture here, there are still errors in the typing.

6. Repeat the process until the page looks like the picture.

Note to instructors: You may want to hand the students a copy of the text below rather than have them read these instructions. You can download the text here if you like. You should also give them a picture of what the page should look like. The real learning in this exercise takes place when students make mistakes in their typing and then have to find them. You should try to get through this exercise with a minimum of coaching.

Once students get the page so that it looks right, you might suggest that they go back to the HTML page and change something -- the <h1> in front of the top line to an <h2>, for instance -- save the change and then refresh the page in the web browser. This will show how they can control the page. Students might also want to bold <b> some of the words in the text. Remind them to put end tags so their changes will be correct.

The text

Here is the text the students should type:

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