Developing a web page, until very recently the province of specialists using complex file management systems and sophisticated platforms, has become a more democratic process.
Today, user friendly web platforms are available from which we choose the design. Files are stored and managed automatically in the 'cloud'. Most offer a 'free' component, usually of a set number of pages (5 or 10) or a set file size eg 3G.
Learning some basic skills using one of these is worthwhile as most will be transferable to other platforms.
If you have used word processing many of the skills will be familiar - eg highlighting text then bolding or italicising; cutting and copying then pasting; moving highlighted text by holding the cursor down. Sometimes you will learn a new name for 'Save' - eg. 'Update' or 'Publish'.
You will also learn or become more skilled at other skills eg. hyperlinking text to the internet; uploading and downloading documents; copying and pasting web addresses and - a particularly important one - resizing or compressing photographs for web pages so that they don't take too long to load when people are using your web page.
The three free web platforms which follow are good places to start.
Weebly
Local example/s: Swanpool Community Development Association
Blog Example/s: President's page and group pages on this web site
Other U3A example/s:
Dorchester and District U3A (UK)
Free platform: www.weebly.com
WIX
Local example: Shepparton Bridge Club
Patchwork group Example:
Sunraysia Patchwork Friends
U3A example: U3A Adelaide Hills
Wordpress
Local Example/s:
BEAM: Mitchell Environment Group
Grey Gypsies (trial site)
Blog example: 'Spry and Retiring-time to write' U3A Example: Hepburn U3A
Free Platform: www.wordpress.com
There are others - for example, on the JOOMLA web platform you can find the website of Horsley U3A in the UK - it also has pages for each group, for example... Astronomy, Music Appreciation, Wine Appreciation... and more.
Interested in finding out about some others? Check out ''Top 10 - Best Website Builders 2015 Edition":
Today, user friendly web platforms are available from which we choose the design. Files are stored and managed automatically in the 'cloud'. Most offer a 'free' component, usually of a set number of pages (5 or 10) or a set file size eg 3G.
Learning some basic skills using one of these is worthwhile as most will be transferable to other platforms.
If you have used word processing many of the skills will be familiar - eg highlighting text then bolding or italicising; cutting and copying then pasting; moving highlighted text by holding the cursor down. Sometimes you will learn a new name for 'Save' - eg. 'Update' or 'Publish'.
You will also learn or become more skilled at other skills eg. hyperlinking text to the internet; uploading and downloading documents; copying and pasting web addresses and - a particularly important one - resizing or compressing photographs for web pages so that they don't take too long to load when people are using your web page.
The three free web platforms which follow are good places to start.
Weebly
Local example/s: Swanpool Community Development Association
Blog Example/s: President's page and group pages on this web site
Other U3A example/s:
Dorchester and District U3A (UK)
Free platform: www.weebly.com
WIX
Local example: Shepparton Bridge Club
Patchwork group Example:
Sunraysia Patchwork Friends
U3A example: U3A Adelaide Hills
Wordpress
Local Example/s:
BEAM: Mitchell Environment Group
Grey Gypsies (trial site)
Blog example: 'Spry and Retiring-time to write' U3A Example: Hepburn U3A
Free Platform: www.wordpress.com
There are others - for example, on the JOOMLA web platform you can find the website of Horsley U3A in the UK - it also has pages for each group, for example... Astronomy, Music Appreciation, Wine Appreciation... and more.
Interested in finding out about some others? Check out ''Top 10 - Best Website Builders 2015 Edition":
