Create a Teacher Website that Works for You by: Richard Jake
If your classroom webpage isn't making your job easier, or helping you do it better, maybe its time to evaluate and consider some changes. People today are busy, and teachers are no exception. Either are students and parents for that matter. We all want information quick, easy, and pertinent. And that is exactly what a teacher website must do. If it fails, then valuable time, and maybe resources, are being spent without accomplishing an important goal. One way to help you achieve this is to use a service that allows you to create your own site (such as www.DapperApple.com) Information Quick: Daily updates are a must. Remember, a student that is absent may want to check your site for the night's homework assignment. Well, he may not, but his parents will. The information must be posted promptly. Reserve time before class to update your site. If properly planned, just a few minutes should be all that is needed. If possible, get your class involved. If they can update some pages, it can become a rotating, class job. Information Easy: Don't bury the important information two, three, or more levels deep into your site. If it's important, link from the homepage or put it on the homepage. A consistent place that is easy to navigate to will ensure that users will always see your key messages. As users, we can get discouraged when we can’t find what we are looking for. That shouldn’t be the case with your students. Information Pertinent: We are bombarded with information online. Popups, advertisements, videos, and websites of every flavor are competing for our attention. Nothing is as welcome to a user as a crisp, clear message. Do away with space wasters such as visit counters and unnecessary graphics or games. The bottom line - any and all features of your web site must be there because they help you do your job in some way. As a busy educator, you probably have little time to devote to creating, and nurturing your classroom website. But it is becoming an essential tool. So, make sure that your content addresses problems, or areas you want to improve. Are too many of your students not doing their homework? Are they not getting the desired outcomes from lessons? Do you need more parent involvement? All of these, and other, questions should be considered when you are creating or modifying your website. If you take the time to make sure your website provides quick, easy, and pertinent information, your site will work for you - making your job easier and helping you do it better.
