Jason Rhode, Ph.D.

From time to time I’m asked what books I recommend for someone interested in learning more about Web design. For those interested in a bit more step-by-step guidance with the basics of Web design, here are two books that I have in my personal library and I highly recommend.

Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to (X)HTML, Style Sheets, and Web Graphics (3rd ed.). ISBN 10: 0-596-52752-7

This thoroughly revised edition teaches you how to build web sites according to modern design practices and professional standards. Learning Web Design explains:

• How to create a simple (X)HTML page, how to add links and images
• Everything you need to know about web standards — (X)HTML, DTDs, and more
• Cascading Style Sheets — formatting text, colors and backgrounds, using the box model, page layout, and more
• All about web graphics, and how to make them lean and mean through optimization
• The site development process, from start to finish
• Getting your pages on the Web — hosting, domain names, and FTP

Learning Web Design starts from the beginning — defining how the Web and web pages work — and builds from there. By the end of the book, you’ll have the skills to create multi-column CSS layouts with optimized graphic files, and you’ll know how to get your pages up on the Web.

The book includes exercises to help you to learn various techniques, and short quizzes to make sure you’re up to speed with key concepts. If you’re interested in web design, Learning Web Design is the place to start.

• Read the complete Table of Contents
• Buy it at O’Reilly.com

The Non-Designer’s Web Book: An Easy Guide to Creating, Designing, and Posting Your Own Web Site (3rd ed.). ISBN: 0-321-30337-7

If you think web design is beyond your reach, or if you want your existing web site to look more professional, this thoroughly updated classic is the place to turn! In these pages, best-selling authors Robin Williams and John Tollett share the creative ideas, useful techniques, and basic design principles that are essential to great Web design-all in the context of the most current technology, software, and standards. Throughout, the authors’ aim is to inspire you and spark your creativity rather than sedate you with pages and pages of code. To that end, you’ll find loads of real-world examples, interesting illustrations, and the simple instructions you need to implement the techniques and concepts described in these pages.

• Read sample chapter, "What are Web pages anyway?"
• But it a Peachpit.com

Here are some resources that you might want to ask for as a holiday gift:

Empower English Language Learners with Tools from the Web
Lori Langer de Ramirez
Aligned with TESOL standards, this user friendly guide shows how teachers can use Web 2.0 tools to help English language learners build language build language proficiency. Readers will find descriptions of Web tools such as blogs, podcasts, and social networking sites; classroom-ready projects for K-12; and guidelines on safe and appropriate internet use.

Teaching with Author Web Sites, K-8
Rose Cherie Reissman, Mark Gura
Author web sites can easily be integrated into any classroom as a free, accessible resource for instruction, thus inviting students into a fascinating literary community. This book examines the web sites of favorite children’s book authors, offers activities for promoting literacy and class participation, and includes suggestions for math, science, and social studies.

Empowering Students with Technology: Second Edition
Alan November
Offering more than 50 web sites, plus practical lesson ideas, new resources, and real-life examples, this second edition helps educators expand classroom experiences and strengthens students; critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills. Examines learning in a globally connected community; opportunities for learners with special needs; information literacy; applications for digital cameras and cell phones, and more.</p

Teaching in the Digital Age: Using the Internet to Increase Student Engagement and Understanding, Second Edition
Kristen J. Nelson
The author helps teachers encourage active student involvement through internet-based activities that focus on individual learning styles and reflect current brain research. This how-to book helps teachers generate projects on information gathering and analysis, interpersonal exchange, and problem solving, and also includes lesson plans, curriculum standards, and assessment rubrics.

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms: Second Edition
Will Richardson
With updated research on web technology, a critical section on internet safety, and a new emphasis on information literacy with related links, this resource demystifies powerful internet tools for classrooms. The author provides definitions and explanations, teaching applications, and real-world examples for relevant, interactive learning.