This site is no longer active or maintained. It is an archive of trainings 2013-2019 at Pu'u Kukui Elementary School.
Designing Class websites using Weebly (and Google Sites)
This week our focus is going to be on two great tools that make it easy for teachers to create their own class websites. The tools are not difficult to use once you've had time to play with them. As you begin working on your website you want to break the work into 4 parts.
- Planning
- Gathering Resources
- Building your Site
- Maintaining and Updating your site
Planning
You want to ask yourself questions about why you're creating a website. Who will be your audience? What do you want to communicate? How will the site be used? What do you want it to look like? What will you put on the website? How often will you update it?
Gathering Resources
Before you actually begin building your site you want to have a plan drawn out along with a list of resources that you need to gather. Since this website will be shared globally via the Internet you need to carefully consider copyright laws and student privacy laws before you include photos or images on your website. Gather, photograph, create everything that you want to have on your website.
Building your Site
This is where all your planning will pay off. Websites are hierarchical structures but not everyone enters your website on the page you think they'll enter so you need to keep this in mind. As you build your site you'll be making decisions about what your site theme will be, where you'll place navigation, how long to make your pages.
The more time you spend planning, the faster your site will go together. Keep in mind that your site needs to keep people returning to it so make sure that you identify the content that will be static and the content that you'll change on a regular basis.
When you're starting out, less is best. Make sure that you have content for your pages. Nobody wants to go to websites that are under construction.
Maintaining and Updating your site
After the excitement of creating a new site goes away you are left with a website that you need to keep fresh and up to date. Keep this in mind as you're planning. Don't put up more than you have time to maintain and update - especially if you have directed parents and students to the site.
Websites with your Students
With both Weebly and Google Sites your students are able to create their own websites.
Weebly - https://education.weebly.com/ed-features.php - information on how to get started with Weebly. You can sign up for a free account for up to 40 students.
Google Sites - set up time to talk with Debi about using Google Sites with your students.
DOE Web 2.0 guidelines - from the Intranet