Features of the Hypertext format

• Materials are arranged in a logical, non-linear, order. For example, supporting materials can be put on a separate, linked, page. However, you can't write in the margins of a Web page, and it may not be easy to simultaneously reference a Web page and use another piece of software on your computer.

• Hypertext documents can include color pictures, animation, Sketchpad documents, forms and scripts, Java programs, and of course links to other relevant hypertext materials. However, students may not be able to use all (or any) of these features of the Web from home computers, or from printed out copies of the materials.

• Web browsers run on most platforms, so incompatibility is not an issue. This flexibility is paid for in restrictions on the appearance of your output. The formatting and symbol set available is still very restricted, because any conventions adopted must work as well on a small low-tech display as on a large high resolution one.

• Students are exposed to Web publishing and browsing in the act of reading the instructional materials, but may become sidetracked or lost if too many links to outside materials are available.

• It is easy to produce course materials and make them available to an international audience. However, you must be aware of copyright issues.