W3Schools - Your HTML Reference

W3Schools is my go-to reference for all questions regarding how to write any aspect of HTML code. In fact, when I was recently asked a question about writing HTML that I couldn't immediately answer, I turned to W3Schools.

W3Schools offers complete tutorials for learning to write HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP. If you're just getting started, work through the tutorials in sequences. Each tutorial has a little interactive section where you can test your new knowledge. If you're experienced and just need a quick reminder or clarification, W3Schools has that too.

Applications for Education
W3Schools is a great resource for the student who is capable of directing himself or herself through a sequence of tutorials. W3Schools is not great for a student who needs a clearly defined "do this now," "do this next" type of lesson. For that type of student, I would recommend trying Thimble by Mozilla.

Hack the News With Mozilla's X-ray Goggles

Mozilla offers some great tools that can help students understand how webpages are created. Thimble is one of those tools that I have featured in the past. It offers many great activities for students to complete to learn how to build webpages including webpages with animations.

X-ray Goggles is another great tool that Mozilla makes to help students learn the code that powers much of what they see on the Web. X-ray Goggles is a free tool that lets you remix any page that you find on the Internet. (Note, it doesn't change the way others see the page, it only changes the way that you see it). To use X-ray Goggles you need to install it in your Chrome or Firefox bookmarks bar. Then you can launch it on any webpage. When you launch X-ray Goggles you will be able to select images and text on a page and then shown the code behind your selection. X-ray Goggles will let you then alter the code to display new things on that page.

Applications for Education
Mozilla offers a free lesson plan called Hack the News that introduces students to the features of X-ray Goggles. In the lesson students will remix a news story by putting their favorite fictional characters into the page on which the story is published.

Use Mozilla Thimble to Learn How to Write HTML & CSS

Last month I wrote about Mozilla's Thimble App which was the first public version of the new Thimble product that Mozilla released today.

Thimble is a free Mozilla product designed to help users learn how to write HTML and CSS. Thimble features a split screen on which you can write code and see how it works at the same time. On the left side of the screen you write your code and on the right side of the screen you instantly see what that code renders.

The latest version of Thimble gives you the option to start from scratch or to modify sample projects. The sample projects include directions for writing code. If you write the code correctly, you will know right away. Likewise, if you don't write the code correctly, you will know right away. Some of the sample projects you can work with include webpages, games, and avatars.

Applications for Education
Mozilla Thimble could be a fantastic tool for learning to write HTML and CSS. The instant feedback piece is a huge benefit over writing the code then having to open a new window to see what happens. Thimble's sample projects with directions could be a great resource for students who want to try to learn to write HTML and CSS on their own or who just want to practice beyond what you've taught them in your classroom.