The use of tables also allows the designer to limit the optimal number of words per line. It has been shown that line lengths greater that twelve words per line are uncomfortable to read, and quantitative studies have shown that line lengths greater than twelve words decrease the document’s readability. Another problem tables address is the extra blank lines that may appear when browser windows are stretched and the text wraps to the open line. Unfortunately, without the use of tables too much white space can occur between lines, making it difficult for the reader to make the shift to the next line, causing confusion and loss of “place” within the text (Lynch and Horton, 1999).

Next time you access a web-site stretch or collapse the size of the browser and see what happens to the page. If tables are not used, you will see the text line either increase in word length and the page length shorten (stretching), or the text line will reduce in word length and the page length increase (collapsing).

Now, how can this information be put to good use to enhance your students interaction with your instructional site? Remember, I mentioned the use of tables allow the designer to define absolute dimensions to a site. There are many users with screen monitors less than 15 inches and low resolution. So web-pages must be designed in such a manner in which users with these size screens do not need to scroll horizontally as well as vertically. If you want your students to be able to print the web-page, then the print factor to consider is the standard size 8.5 x 11 inch paper and whether you want your students to print the information or just view it.

Since the majority of education monitors in use are 15 inches or less, they are normally set to a standard pixel dimension of 640 (width) x 480 (length) (Apple Corp., 1996; Lynch and Horton, 1999). To fit such a screen, web-pages must be designed to fit within a width of 595 pixels. If the pages are also designed to be printed, they must fit on the screen with a width no greater than 535 pixels (this site uses a 535 pixel width). This size will fit the standard size printer with 8.5 x 11 inch paper. By the same token, the maximum screen length is 295 pixels. Why the difference in screen width and length? Much of the screen is used to view the browser software visuals. Therefore the considered “safe zones” are 595 x 295 pixels for maximum screen views and 535 x 295 pixels for maximum page printing (Lynch and Horton, 1999).

To confine your web-page to these dimensions, the use of tables are necessary. Tables and cells allow design flexibility in how the page will look. Because HTML, the basic language of the Web, was designed by scientists who wanted to pass information from one computer site to another, they weren't too concerned about how pages might be laid out.

If you know how to change the monitor resolution setting for your computer, change it to 640 x 480 (if it is not already set for that resolution) and surf the web. If you come across a site which requires you to scroll horizontally as well as vertically, then you know the designer of the site is not concerned about the visitor with the lower resolution monitor. This entire site is designed to accommodate users with lower resolution monitors.

A quick and easy method to determine if your site will fit within the 595/535 pixel width guidelines: collapse the web-browser window to a size that will just show all of the icons and logos on the top menu bar. If the site is within these guidelines, you will not need to scroll horizontally to see and read the entire page, nor will the text lines expand or collapse as the browser window is resized. These tips have been provided to give you "heads-up" information and not a "how-to" about tables. Just be aware that the use of tables in your web design will help your students have a worthwhile interaction with you web-site.

For those who wish to practice developing web-pages, the following links will provide a 30 day try-out commercial HTML editor by Adobe. Unfortunately the non-tryout version of PageMill is no longer available-it was a very simple and easy program to learn. The Adobe's Go-live (huge download-requires a fast Internet connection) is their flagship HTML editor.