RapidWeaver vs iWeb

Here are some observations based on my experiences as a user and a technology support person.

For beginners who don't have any concept about web development these two software might not be of much differences - they were both WYSIWYG, theme-based, Mac only, easy to learn. They both have growing size problem. However, as they advanced to a higher level, the difference will become significant on the following issues:

1. Publish. iWeb publish is no doubt cumbersome as comparing to RapidWeaver's "Smart Publish" (direct FTP publish; automatic folder generation; only publish the changes)

2. Professional web development. RapidWeaver offers both edit/code mode and design mode (similar to DreamWeaver) that allow the user to work on html, css, xml coding. The external plug-ins (e.g., Multitool, Buttonbuilder/Themebuilder) provide potential powers for a more professional design.

3. Blogging. While both offer blogging features, RapidWeaver has more powerful features such as categorization and tagging. This allows the user to create a database that is easy to track and sort. Too often this relational database concept is ignored.

4. Domain file. Both are saved as a highly compressed domain files. I've been seeing students come to me with broken iWeb domain files because those files were moved from one place to another. However, RapidWeaver doesn't have that problem. I put a iweb domain.site file and a rapidweaver .rw3 file in my iLocker world_shared folder. When you open the http link (see here) you'll see that .rw3 holds together tightly as a sigle file while .site file are broken into multiple pieces of segmented files. In addition, it is risky and inconvenient when students try to get the .site file from its niche (library/Application Support/iWeb). HOWEVER, .rw3 won't copy all the files you link in itself while .site literally will bring everything you put in your site with it. (This might be a concern for RapidWeaver when you open the .rw in another computer or move it to a different location. The link will be missing.)

5. Other "invisible" problems. Here are some issues I found from students who came to iStudio for iWeb help, while I haven't seen these happen in RapidWeaver.

Overall on a 4-point scale I would rate RW as 3.5 and iWeb as 2.5.

If we're going to promote RW at TC we probably need to deal with the following issues:

1. Try to convince faculty the advantages of using RW. I know some of them may not be happy with a new implementation as they just got comfortable with iWeb. Teaming up with faculty who have good knowledge about and positive attitudes toward technology might work.

2. Support time, resources, and manpower. The need for support will be intensive and important at the early stage. Online tutorials, workshops, lab clinics, in-class instructions will need to be carefully scheduled and/or based on requests. Intro courses such as EDTEC120 and EDSEC150 can be integrated with the RW components and will play an important role in the implementation.

3. Continuing iWeb (and composer) support while shifting to RW. Use successful student samples as promotion for RW.

EDSEC380

Hi folks, here are some online resources for WebQuest development. Hope they help.

• Wei's WebQuest Page
  Side bar on the right: WebQuest intro, NetScape Composer tutorials)
  
• WebQuest Tasknomy
• IPS WebQuest Pool
• Official WebQuest Site
• A WebQuest about WebQuests
  
• RapidWeaver tutorial
• iWeb support
  

___________________________________

In-class exercise Please critique the following example WebQuests. Determine the best and the worst two: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Analyze several paths to success
Gallery of Art-i-Facts Design and fill an art museum wing
Conflict Yellowstone Wolves Take a stand on the reintroduction of wolves
The Gilded Age Create a documentary on this historical period
Extra, Extra Analyze the world of the Great Gatsby Each group will have an Efficiency Expert, an Affiliator, an Altitudinist, and a Technophile. Report the final results to class. Source: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest.html http://wma.iweb.bsu.edu/webquest/webquest.htm

iWeb-based portfolio

• Apple iWeb and Ball State iWeb
  Apple iWeb is the web creation tool in Apple iLife applications. Ball State iWeb is the web space hosting your digital portfolio or other sites you create.
  
• Why Apple iWeb for digital portfolio?
  A WYSIWYG web design application, Apple iWeb offers a variety of templates and powerful built-in features that allow users to easily create professional-look websites.
  
• Get started with your portfolio construction
  
  • Get VPN, Fetch, and your Ball State iWeb account ready
    
  • Planning your website
    
  • Open iWeb, create a site folder (File>New Site and then choose a template)
  • Rename the site to "Home" (Ctrl click on "Site" and choose "Rename")
  • Rename the page under "Home" to "Index"
  • File>New Page if you need to add more web pages
  • Create another site and call it "INTASC_Principles," create an Index page and 10 principle pages. Copy and paste the text of the principles to each page and change the title accordingly.
  • Create a site called Artifacts, and add several pages for your artifacts.
  • You may start adding your rationale/reflection to INTASC and artifacts pages, and connecting artifacts to the INTASC principles.
    
  • Make navigation bars and/or hyperlinks that allow you to navigate from one page to another
  • When it's done, File>Publish to a Folder, make sure you save it to a right folder (usually a "Sites" folder under the "little house" icon on the sidebar of the Finder window)
    
  • Open VPN, Fetch, and publish your site to your Ball State iWeb server by drag and drop all the files in your "Sites" folder into Fetch window (before you do this, make sure you don't have anything important that has already in your Ball State iWeb space. You don't want to overwrite it.)
    
  • Your BSU iweb URL will be:
    http://yourusername.iweb.bsu.edu
    The default page it opens on the Internet will be the Index page, or whichever page located on the top of the sidebar of your iWeb design window.
    
• Here are two screen casts created by Dr. Clausen
  
  • Publish iWeb site to a folder
  • Essential iWeb files to back up
• FAQ
  Click here for some frequently asked questions
  Click here for some troubleshooting skills
  

iWeb Q&A

Here were several frequently asked questions about Apple iWeb I encountered during iStudio clinic hours:

Q: I enabled the hyperlink but it won't work
A: Check if there is another layer (text box or place holder) on the top of the layer where the navigation (hyperlink text) is located. Always bring the navigation layer to the top (Arrange/Bring to Font or Send to Back allow you to rearrange the layer sequence)

Q: I want to use a different template for one of my current pages without changing my content on it
A: If you're using a version lower than iWeb 08, you can't. You'll have to insert a new page and copy and paste the original content from the old page into it. If you're using iWeb 08, you can simply choose Theme and change the template directly. Go to iCare Corner for a free upgrade to 08.

Q: I updated and republished my site but the brower window still shows me the old one.
A: Refresh the brower window or empty the cache.

Q: I enabled a hyperlink on a picture in one of pages. But now it won't allow me to resize or move the picture
A: Disable the hyperlink first, then adjust your picture. Reenable the hyperlink when you are done.

Q: I made a copy of my domain file. But it won't open on a different computer
A: Check the iWeb version you used to create your domain file see if it is different from the one you used later. Some iWeb 08 files are not compatible with iWeb 06.