What is the Point?

Deciding what the point of having a website is, is the first important thing to think about in this worthwhile endeavor. There is no right or wrong to the answer, because it is completely dependent on the way you work as a teacher and how you run your classes and classroom. For some teachers building an effective website completely changes (for the better) the way they run their classes and utilize their in-class educational technology. For others, building a website seems to tie one more heavy weight around their neck and leads to frustration for them and for students who try then stop using an out-of-date resource. So, let's look at the purpose of a website.

In its most basic form, a website is a vehicle that gives 24/7 access to resources a student might need or want, related to a class. In a more ideal form, a website draws students to information that makes their lives and classroom experience more fulfilling. We are not saying that a basic website is not worth doing. On the contrary, if the site provides needed information and makes it easy to find and use, it is a valuable resource. But, think about the educational sites you visit for resources like videos, graphics and teaching ideas. Those sites contain more resources, usually teacher created, that draw you to them because you need or want more than you have. We encourage you to become the creators of resources rather than just the consumers of those resources (who usually cry foul when the creator starts charging for them...). Let's start putting ourselves out there and create so other novices can consume for a while.

In our next section we will discuss audience. We refer to students, here, as they are our most important audience. The fact is, some teachers might be more worried about parents as their audience. You must decide who your site is for. That becomes a huge part of the point. Why do you feel like you need a website?

So, the point is, get what you do out there so at least your students, hopefully others, can find what they need and want. Are you ready to show the world what you do? Are you proud enough of your knowledge, skills and classroom to allow or even ask others to participate in what you do? If you are, get to it. If not, let's get you there.

Let's look at what to put on your site.