This method of saving, or caching, a web site enables the computer to give the appearance of a live, on-line connection to the Internet without the worry and time constraints of an Internet Connection.   It limits the sites which can be visited, and works well for students who do not have permission to be on the Internet.  Using Internet Explorer 5.0 or above, any  computer, PC or Mac, can easily "cache" web sites for off-line viewing.

     While connected to the Internet, open IE 5.0 to a specific web site to save/download for off-line viewing.  On the menu bar, select "Favorites," then click "Add to Favorites" and follow these steps:

1.  Click the box "Make Available Offline."

2.  Click "Customize" and follow the wizard.

3.  Select "Yes" when asked, "If this favorite contains links to other pages, would you like to make those pages available offline, too?

4.  Decide how many levels down into the Favorite to include for viewing, and set the number (as a suggestion, start by trying 1 or 2, and see how long it takes to download, how much space it takes, and if that number of links is sufficient for your instructional purposes).

5.  When the wizard is finished, name the off-line Favorite something different in order to distinguish it from the actual on-line web page.  You may want to add "off-line" to the title.

      In order to ensure that the off-line version stays as up to date as the on-line web page, select "I would like to create a new schedule."  If you do not want to continuously up-date the web pages, click on "Only when I choose to Synchronize from the Tools menu."

6.   Click "OK" and the download will begin.  If a web page with lots of links, and/or multiple levels of links was selected, it make take a while.

As a test, then the download is complete, disconnect from the Internet and close IE.  Then, open IE without making an Internet connection.  Select "Favorites" from the menu bar.  Move the cursor down to select the Favorite file that was just saved.  Because there is no connection  to the Internet, all other favorites should be grayed out and not available.

     When the web page that was cached appears, browse as usual and follow the links down as many levels as selected.  Notice the cursor as you move across the links.  Active links will turn the cursor to a hand, while inactive links will change to a circle with a line.

Important Note:  If you have students who do not have Internet permission, be sure to disconnect your computer from the Internet during viewing.