Special Features of this Site

For the most part, this site can be used just like any other web site. To go to a different page or to download some material, just “click” on the relevant “button.” General navigating buttons are located at the top and bottom of every page of this class web site.

If you have any questions about using your web-browser, just click on “help” in the browser’s menu.

For more information, click on the topic of interest:

Special Icons Campus Computer Labs PDF or MS Word “Forms”

Special Icons

There are a few special icons used in this site to help you understand what will happen when you click a link to go to another page or to download materials:

If you see this Icon	It means …
	Go to the top of this web page. Clicking on a top-arrow will send the cursor to the top of the web page.
	You’re about to leave the class web site. If you click on the link next to this symbol, you’ll go to some other web site. To return to the class web site, use your browser’s back-arrow.
	Download a PDF document. If you click on the file name next to this icon, you will download a “Portable Document Format” (PDF) file. You will need Acrobat Reader to read the file. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click on the link below: Download a free copy of Acrobat Reader
	The document has been “stuffed.” The document named beside this icon has been “stuffed” to make it smaller. Before you can read or use the file, it must be “unstuffed” with Stuffit Expander. To download a free copy of this software, click on the link below: Download a free copy of Stuffit Expander

Most downloadable files offered on this web site are PDF files that can be read on any computer using freely available software (see above). Occasionally, though, files will also be offer in commercially available software formats. Those versions of documents are usually smaller than the PDF versions, and it’s possible to do more with them once they have been downloaded. For example, such files might be useful in producing charts or completing forms for use in class. Since the software needed to read and use these files must be purchased separately, however, the course has been designed not to require their use.

	Download an MS Word document. If you click on the file name next to this icon, you will download a Microsoft Word document. You must have Microsoft Word to read a file labeled with this icon.
	Download an MS Excel document. If you click on the file name next to this icon, you will download a Microsoft Excel document. You must have Microsoft Excel to read a file labeled with this icon.
	Download an MS PowerPoint document. If you click on the file name next to this icon, you will download a Microsoft PowerPoint document. You must have Microsoft PowerPoint to read a file labeled with this icon.

Location of Campus Computer Labs

There are many computer laboratories located on the University of Washington campus where you can gain access to a variety of computers, printers, and high-speed internet access. Most services are free for students, staff, and faculty. For a list of available computer labs, click on the link below:

University of Washington Computer Laboratories

PDF and MS Word “Forms”

Many forms are used in this class for recording things like data and instructional plans. Downloadable files for each form can be found by clicking on the “materials” tab at the top or bottom of any page on this web site. In most cases, two different versions of each form are available:

PDF forms can be read by the free program Acrobat Reader (see , above). You can complete PDF forms on your computer and print the results, but you cannot save your results. Once you close the form on your computer, or try to save the file, anything you typed on the form will be lost. To save your work with PDF forms, you must purchase the commercial copy of Acrobat (about $300 at the time this was written). I don’t recommend that purchase for the purposes of this class, alone. Using Acrobat Reader to complete forms offers the advantages of a good typewriter, but that’s all.

MS Word forms can only be read and used if you own Microsoft Word. If you don’t already have Microsoft Word, you can obtain it as part of the Microsoft Office package at an educator’s discount price of approximately $150 (at the time this was written). The Microsoft Office package contains MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Entourage. Generally, that’s a good price, but again, I would not recommend the purchase of that software solely for the purposes of this class. The PDF forms option with Acrobat Reader is free and at least as serviceable as a typewriter, even if it’s not possible to save your work.

This page last reviewed/changed on: 11/28/04 12:08 PM