Why I like HTML

It's all in the details.
Pay attention.

I've heard many teachers exclaim these two adages. I have been fortunate to discover that when I had scholars create their webpages, they write using the HTML code. This year I am once again teaching a class that will use HTML. I teach in an urban alternative transfer school. Our scholars are in their last high school. Our school is the only one they can go to now. I am still doing CyberSchool and added this class to my schedule.

The scholars I have now are easily frustrated, flustered, and very impatient. Success is not something they know, so they have that expected attitude of failure. The trick is to have them achieve and eventually smile. I saw a great big, huge smile, all teeth from a scholar who has never smiled or had a good attitude. He has been late, confrontational, and just plain ornery and angry. Today after he succeeded with adding a link on his new webpage, he was overjoyed and he actually smiled and showed his teeth. Success is a beautiful thing. I have always had that joy when I teach HTML. As the bell rang, he was more jovial and even said goodbye and added that he will see me tomorrow. I asked, "on time?" I heard an affirmative response as he turned the corner into the hallway.

During class, some scholars were talking about working on their page at home. Another asked, "We can work on these at home?" When she learned she could, she was excited.

During lunch, a couple of scholars came in and worked on their page. They are engaged and excited.

The key to using HTML is that the scholar is in control of hir own webpage, not some template or restrictions from a web provider. It is home made and it is personal. This is very important when we want the scholars to produce something and to be excited about it.

As an English teacher the benefits of using HTML to build webpages is that it supports my desire for them to be better editors of their own work. The problem most of us have when we try to edit our own work is that the 'missing' words on the paper are sometimes seen in our mind's eye. We don't see many of our mistakes, unless we put the piece away for some time and revisit it. Then we are shocked by the mistakes we find. HTML code is a good tool to help develop good editing skills or a good eye for details and seeing the smallest of mistakes. HTML makes us pay attention. HTML is unforgiving and does not allow for the slightest error. The user of HTML code must be precise and must be a good editor to find the reasons some effect is not working or some link doesn't link. Editing skills improve with those who write in HTML code. I think math teachers may agree with me as this may be analogous to the use of the calculator. HTML is a similar foundational tool as are Latin and Greek are.

What I love most about being back in a CyberEnglish class is the chaos and what it does to drive the scholars to find order.