Website Creation Adventures

Why Do Educators Need A Homebase?

With the web now an integral part of everyone's lives, having a web-homebase is key way to stay organized,

easily connect with parents and students, and provide a jumping off point to the rest of the Internet.

• Why Google Sites?
• Static vs Updated?
• Personal vs. District? (using multiple browsers)

Examples / Ideas

• Reuben Hoffman's Site (teacher)
• West Hills Photography (individual subject)
• West Hills Global Studies (individual subject shared by multiple teachers)
• Clubs & Extracurricular Groups / Teams
• PLC Curriculum Development
• Student ePortfolio
• Student Group Project
• Micropedia / Large Scale Group Project

Google Sites Basics (Your Turn!)

• What items should be on a teacher website?
  • Homework Assignments
  • PowerPoints and Notes / Presentations
  • Announcements
  • Interesting Articles / Resources
  • Bio about the Teacher
  • Grades
    • Links to Facebook Pages, etc.
    • Contact Information
  • How do I plan / structure my website?
  • How to Create a Google Site? (view screencast)
  • Design Basics
  • Creating pages and editing features
  • Sharing

Resources

• Google's Sites Page
• Google Sites Screencast Tutorials
  • Creating a Graphic Header/Logo Graphic
    • Flaming Text - Lots of of cool (and terrible) font sizes. Please avoid the actual flaming text.
    • Picnik - You need to have a graphic or photo to start. Can connect to Picasa or Flickr account.
  • Sample Privacy / Permission / Parent Forms
    • Digital Content User Agreement - for displaying digital content from your class.
    • Copy what you want and put in your syllabus.
  • Online Parent Information Form