Guidelines to Create a Classroom Website
5 Important Points When Creating Educational Web Content
Jul 29, 2009
Websites created for a classroom have many purposes, from communication with parents to a collection of resources for students. What they have in common is that they are typically developed and maintained by the classroom teacher. Though technology use is a required part of a teacher's training, website creation is not. Whether the site already exists or will be newly created there are 5 important points for teachers to consider when deciding what to put on the website.
What Teachers Might Put on the Classroom Website
- What is the purpose of the site? Consider why the site should exist. Is it to keep parents and the community informed of classroom activities? Collect links for student projects? Provide a gallery of student projects?
- Any photos put online are available to the world. Identifiable pictures of students should only be used if a consent form is on file with the office. Most schools do this as part of the beginning of the year information sent home to parents and guardians. Teachers can also send their own form home for permission to use student photos online.
Deciding How to Display the Content
- How should the site be organized so content is easy to find? Place homework assignments so they are noticeable. Keep a menu on each page so it is easy to navigate through the site. Consider whether the student information and parent information should be together or separate.
- What type of student work will be displayed and how will it get there? Students who are creating electronic portfolios can have a link on the site so they can show their work to parents and guardians. Any work not saved as a computer document could be scanned in if a scanner is available. Audio and video assignments can be saved in digital format and also uploaded to the site.
- Will Web 2.0 be used? Web 2.0 provides a way for students to interact electronically, such as through blogs, podcasts and wikis. Not all schools are ready to support it technologically, and not all teachers are prepared to support it without the help of a technologist. Teachers should not only consider their own technology skills but those of their support system before deciding to place these services on their classroom website.
When deciding what to place on the classroom website and how it should be displayed, teachers should consider their own classroom needs and available technology. They should also be realistic about their own web design skills and open to taking a class if it might help with learning how to create and maintain the classroom website. Since a website is available for anyone on the web it is important to remember the privacy rights of students as well as maintain a professional site that reflects the positive environment of the classroom.
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