Your Class Web Page
Having a classroom web page is a great way to keep parents informed, to showcase your students work and to make links for lessons easily accessible. Setting up a web page can range from simple to very daunting based on what your goals for the page is, the control you want over the page, and the tools you use. Based on these factors the best solution for you and your class could vary greatly. In this and the next several articles I will try to give guidance on the many options available to enable you to make the best choices for your classroom.
Later in this post I will try to give you a little guidance in planning your web site, we will then look at a variety of hosting options. Hosting simply refers to where your site will be on the web. We will then look at software tools to make your site and talk about maintenance. We will also take some time to discuss legal issues regarding posting student work.
Planning:
Our first task in designing a web page is to make a wish list. What thing’s do you want your page to do? For example do you want it to have a calendar, an assignment list, a gallery for student work, downloadable forms and worksheets, or a web link list. At this point it’s OK to dream without worrying about how to do these things. Your final web page may be limited by the tools you use, but you are capable of a lot more than you think so have fun.
Second we need to look at structure. My preferred method of determining site structure is using Inspiration 8. It is a visual mapping tool I reviewed last year and has many powerful capabilities. I simply create a web starting with my home page with a list of things I want on it, and then link all of the other characteristics I want on my site and I outline what each page will contain. Then I can move around and change my links to my hearts content until I find a logical structure. This can be done in a lo-tech way with index cards. Just write a description of the content of each card, and arrange in a logical order.
With a site structure finalized or at least planned with the option to change, we are ready to consider hosting options. In the next few posts we will consider hosting options, first free hosting, and then paid hosting options. What you choose at this point has a big impact on what you are able to do in the future with your site.
Later in this post I will try to give you a little guidance in planning your web site, we will then look at a variety of hosting options. Hosting simply refers to where your site will be on the web. We will then look at software tools to make your site and talk about maintenance. We will also take some time to discuss legal issues regarding posting student work.
Planning:
Our first task in designing a web page is to make a wish list. What thing’s do you want your page to do? For example do you want it to have a calendar, an assignment list, a gallery for student work, downloadable forms and worksheets, or a web link list. At this point it’s OK to dream without worrying about how to do these things. Your final web page may be limited by the tools you use, but you are capable of a lot more than you think so have fun.
Second we need to look at structure. My preferred method of determining site structure is using Inspiration 8. It is a visual mapping tool I reviewed last year and has many powerful capabilities. I simply create a web starting with my home page with a list of things I want on it, and then link all of the other characteristics I want on my site and I outline what each page will contain. Then I can move around and change my links to my hearts content until I find a logical structure. This can be done in a lo-tech way with index cards. Just write a description of the content of each card, and arrange in a logical order.
With a site structure finalized or at least planned with the option to change, we are ready to consider hosting options. In the next few posts we will consider hosting options, first free hosting, and then paid hosting options. What you choose at this point has a big impact on what you are able to do in the future with your site.
posted by Mr Yardley at
12:51 PM
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