Actually, there are two versions of HTML, version 2.0 and version 3.0. Not all browsers support all of the extensions in version 3.0, so you need to make sure that the browsers that your students use will support your pages. HTML is not complicated, and a few hours of study should have you well on your way. There are many good books on the market to help you get started, as well as a number of good Web sites. Even with the use of these web page generators, a knowledge of HTML is very useful, especially if you want to edit your pages.
Most faculty begin by placing their course syllabus on the Web.
This contains the usual administrative information such as office location, phone, office hours, dates of exams, etc., and information about the content and structure of the course. The authors' limited experimentation with this tool found that it transforms a Word document so that it is readable by a Web browser, but it is a basic Web page that you may wish to edit to add larger fonts, etc. If you use Microsoft Office 97, tools are included to allow you to publish documents from Word, tables and charts from Excel, databases from Access and presentations from PowerPoint on the Web. It is a good idea to include a hyperlinked e-mail box on your course page so that students can contact you easily. Adding Interactivity What makes the Web so exciting is that you can go beyond the usual static course syllabus to incorporate interactive elements.