EDT4OL/Intermediate wiki skills/Tables

Overview
This mini challenge is divided into four steps. The table below will also serve as an example of the wiki markup for a 3 column table, which you may need to consult during step 4 of this mini challenge.

Step 1: Reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of using tables
Purpose: To be aware of the limitations of tables in an online environment

Tables are useful for organising information in a clean and readable format. They are best suited to information that has a clear and logical structure.

However, they are difficult to read when there are too many cells with large amounts of information in each cell. This is especially true when a table is viewed in portrait mode on a mobile device, because the reader may lose context of the column headings when scrolling down through a large table, or where the text in the columns is squashed together to fit a narrow screen.

For these reasons,
 * Avoid using tables that have more than three columns. If there are more than three columns, consider transposing a table so there are more rows than columns, or try breaking up the information into multiple tables
 * Avoid tables that contain large amounts of information in the individual cells

Step 2: Learn markup elements for a wiki table
Purpose: To learn about the wiki syntax components used to construct a basic table

Step 3: Copy and paste wiki text for a basic two column table
Purpose: To copy boilerplate wiki text to get started with creating and editing tables

The following wiki text illustrates how to create a two column table with headings, which you will highlight and copy to practise editing:

Compare the wiki text above with the table it creates (below in published view):

Actions

 * 1) Open your sandbox page in a new tab or window
 * 2) Insert the following syntax   in edit mode onto your sandbox page. This will create a subpage for practising wiki tables
 * 3) Copy the table markup for a basic two column table above, onto the tables subpage you set up on your sandbox page, and save the page

Step 4: Create a three column table with three or more rows
Purpose: To edit an existing table using wiki markup to add rows and columns


 * 1) Using a piece of paper or word processor, construct a table in a subject area of your choice (possibly for reuse in a learning sequence you are developing for this course). Your table should have:
 * 2) * 3 columns
 * 3) * include heading labels for each column
 * 4) * 3 or more rows
 * 5) * Text for each cell in every row
 * 6) Go to your sandbox page, click on the 'Tables' subpage you created in step three above. Construct a three column, three row table using wiki markup to adapt the two column example on that page
 * 7) Remember to save your wiki page