Under Construction

Image courtesy of https://www.communitycarenc.org

One of my goals for this school year is to help encourage, support and train the teachers on updating their district web page.  I'm often asked if anyone really looks at our teacher web pages.  If they don't, then what is the point.  I think the real question we should ask is, "If I were a student or parent, would I come back to look at this class web page."  Personally, when I'm browsing websites I look for those sites that not only have pertinent information, but are updated regularly.  I don't often rely on information that is over a year old.  However, when working with class web pages, some information will remain the same from year to year, but it is always a good idea to check over that "static" information yearly in case there are changes.

USD 495 does provide teachers with standard web pages to help them get started on creating their online class environment.  The standard pages provided include:

• Welcome Page - provides a place for contact information, a photo and quick links
• Homework Page - a place to upload pdf files of class assignments
• Blog Page - a place where you can create regular posts about what is going on in the classroom
• Calendar - this is the district calendar and can't be added to
• Handouts - another page for uploading pdf files (class assignments, forms, permission slips, etc.)
• Links - a page for links to websites that your students need for class or sites to help enhance their learning in your content area(s)
• Podcasts - a page to upload podcasts created by yourself or your students

Now, just because these are the standard pages provided, doesn't mean you have to use these pages.  You can remove or deactivate any page(s) you are not using for your online class environment.  In fact, I highly recommend removing those pages with no information.  Nothing is more frustrating as a webpage viewer than to click on a page link and find no information.  Another thing to keep in mind about our standard pages is you don't have to keep the Welcome Page in the format that is provided.  Perhaps you want a separate 'About Me' or 'Contact Me' page.  If so, take that off the welcome page and create a new Flex Editor page for information about yourself.  The Flex Editor page allows you to create whatever format you desire.  But before you start adding new pages and content, start by deciding what you want on your website.

Recommended Elements

Remember, this site is an extension of your class environment.  It should be a place where parents and students can find out who you are and what type of teacher you will be before they enter your classroom.  An 'About Me' page is a great place to provide this type of information.  You don't have to give personal information, but you might include some of the following:

• How long have you been teaching?
• What grades and/or subjects have you taught?
• What is your style of teaching?  As a student, am I going to take lots of notes in your class?  Do students use technology to create in your classroom?
• What are your pet peeves?
• What excites you about teaching and working with students?

An intro or welcome page is a great place to give an overall view of what can be found in your online class environment.  You can provide brief explanations about what will be found on various pages.  You might give a description of the class and what it is about.  You could include a photo gallery or video providing a virtual classroom tour.  You could even have your basic class expectations, schedule, etc. on the welcome or intro page.  If you do not include the basic classroom information (expectations, schedule, etc.) on the welcome or intro page, then I would definitely include it on another page.  This type of information allows students and parents a first glance of what will be expected so everyone is on the same page.

Image from ToniVC on Flickr

Another page to include for students and parents is a homework or assignment page.  This would give access to the work being completed in class.  What a time saver if you have a student absent from class.  They could simply go to the assignment page and find the work they need to complete.  On a homework or assignment page, you could include:

• Class slideshows from lectures
• Audio of your class lectures
• Handouts or Notes - anything you might handout to the students that they could lose
• Videos related to a class assignment or lecture
• Project Details- project expectations, planning sheets, rubric, etc.
• Daily write up on what was covered in class each day

One last page that I would include is a student project page.  This is a great place to showcase the projects completed by students.  Parents can view completed projects and share them with family and friends.  Most web 2.0 technology projects provide an embed code for adding to web pages.  If the project was a written paper, you might upload it to a site like SlideShare or Google Drive.  These sites allow you to embed a document onto a web page (and both are free).  If students completed a drawing or art project, take pictures of the finished products and showcase them in a table or photo gallery.  Showing off student work in the classroom and school hallways is still good, but if you really want to showcase their products, why not show them to the world.  Studies show that the quality of student projects improve when they are doing it for a real purpose and for a larger audience.  You could take this a step further and take pictures or video as the students are working on their projects.  Maybe record a student explaining the project - the purpose, how it is being created, what they've learned through the creation process, etc.

Other Elements to Consider
One element to consider for your online class environment are resources students and parents can use outside of school to help support and reinforce their learning.  You could keep this as simple as providing a link page with links to websites that will help the students learn and practice the needed concepts for your class.  You might have a combination page of web links and pdf files which provide extra practice of concepts through games or activities.

Add a blog page.  You could use a blog page for that daily write up on what occurred in class each day.  One teacher I know has her students write an exit card each week highlighting something new they learned in class.  Then she selects three students to showcase for the week.  Another teacher I work with uses her blog to post thought-provoking questions that the students respond to each week.  This has increased the participation level of the students in her class because some students express themselves better in writing than speaking.  This approach is also less threatening for some students than speaking in front of the class.  Maybe you want to use your blog to review books or articles you have read that might be of interest to your students and the content being covered in class.  The USD 495 web site does have a blog page, but some have preferred using Blogger, which is free with your school email account.

Image from brody4 on Flickr

How about adding a reading or book list.  Create a required reading list for the school year.  If you post over the summer, students can get a head start on their reading.  Create a themed reading list to go along with an upcoming holiday or event.  What about a recommended reading list to help prepare students for college or to give reluctant readers something to peak their interest.  Create a list of articles or text that will increase the students knowledge of a subject you covered in class.  Believe it or not some students like to learn knew things through reading.  Reading lists can be changed and updated regularly or yearly depending on the type of list you are using.  They are also a great resource for parents to help engage their kids in learning outside of the school day.

Final Note
Your online class environment should reflect you and your class.  Make it inviting, friendly and useful.  Here are some helpful tips to remember when creating your web pages:

• Make things easy to find
• 3 click rule - don't make anything more than 3 clicks away from your main page
• Use caution with color  - some colors don't complement each other and make reading difficult
• Images and animation - Watch your image size and your amount of animation.  Too big and too much can slow down how quickly your pages will load and most people only give a page about 5 seconds to load.
• Read your text out loud - read over your text out loud to check for errors

Below are some class web sites I found that had some good elements and features for consideration when creating your own class web pages.  I've noted the features I liked for each site.

•  Mrs. Thonus' Stars - 3rd & 4th grade
  Has all the resources students and parents need to know what is going on in the classroom. Shows how you can use embedded features to spruce up a page
• TallMania!
  English teacher website - I like how they give the handouts, assignments & resources for the various texts that are covered in the class. Keep all the info together for students and parents.
• Ms Johnson | Sheboygan Falls High School
  English class site done in blog format. Gives assignments and tips for students. Also uses Goodreads for independent reading - instructions/expectations included.
• Ms. Harter's Classroom
  Uses blog format to keep students and parents updated on what is going on in the classroom. I like her 10 Amazing Facts on her about me page.
• Extreme Biology Blog
  Great way to have students get involved in the class web site.
• Geocaris English Online (GEO)
  High School English website - basic, but covers the essentials.
• Welcome to Mrs. Cowan's Class Website
  I like that she showcases student work in several ways. I also like her recipe for 3rd grade page.
• Discovery Lab - 5th Grade
  5th Grade class web site. I like that she has past class slideshows for viewing as this gives upcoming students a glimpse of the classroom and activities. I also like her about Mrs. Shaw page.
• Miss Cantillon's Fifth Grade
  Easy to navigate and find what you are searching. Please be careful of too many animated images as they can make the page slower when uploading.
• Welcome to Room 28
  I like the about the teacher page - mission statement & what she is currently reading - classroom pics, and links for parents.
• The Classroom Connection
  3rd grade classroom example
• Mrs. Gold's & Mrs. Brown's 3rd Grade Class
  Elementary teachers will like the overall "cuteness" of this site. While some of this can't happen on our district website, I like the clean look and the classroom resources.
• Mrs. Raude's 4th Grade Gifted Rock Stars!
  I like her Roving Reporter page as it gets the students involved in creating content for the classroom website. I also liked her Donate to the Class page. This would be a great way for parents and community members to know what needs they could help address.
• Classroom Tour - Ms. Reidy's Fourth Grade
  Nice classroom tour, but some of the other pages have too much text. It needs to be broken up a little more with photos & videos.
  tags: website examples

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.