Why Create a Website?
Many teachers I know are changing the face of education by using alternative methods to deliver a standards-based curriculum in a more interactive and engaging way, and holding students accountable for what is presented, by using technology as a tool. Never again will the student say "I don't know what my homework is," "I didn't get the information that was being taught," or "I was tardy and or absent from class and was not present when the information was taught." When the content information is posted on a school or teacher's website, it can be accessed 24/7 provided the student has access to the internet.
What this does is removes learning barriers and opens up opportunities for the student. It allows the student more time at home with the content material to review or catch up on material he or she was not present for. The saavy parent can then access the assignments and content, and help the student with their studies.
What the teacher can do is create a free website on google sites and post a eBook (a PDF) or a powerpoint presentation students can click on and access a standards-based lesson with text, images, vocabulary terms to know, assignments/projects, and a pre/post assessment. A course description, A schedule of the in-class assignments, homework, and activities should also be posted on the website along with the California standards/ big ideas of what the students should know and be able to do.
Teachers can also create websites or post other learning resources such as CST prep resources, virtual fieldtrips, animations, video clips,
For an example of a 6th grade Earth Science lesson about Volcanoes, click "Downloads" below. This will take you to a new page where files can be uploaded to your site. Later you can delete the file, move the file, or archive it.
Simple Steps for Creating A Teacher Website:
Creating teacher websites with Google Sites and adding lessons and assignments as downloads is fairly simple. Follow the tips below to get started:
1) Create your free Google Account at the Google website.
2) Log in to your Google Account
3) Choose the "MORE" link at the top of the Google Website, scroll down to "Google sites" and click.
4) Click the " Create New Site" link.
5) Choose a template for your website.
6) Give your website a name. An example is "Ms. Sevilla's Earth Science Hub."
7) type in the secret code and click "Create Site."
8) Remember to click the "save" button at the top right corner of the website.
Congratulations! You have just created your website! Time to get to work!
Assuming you only teach one class, on your webpage you may want to include:
Your Name
Your Class
Your Grade level
A nice picture of yourself and/or pictures of what you teach in your science class (i,e. volcanoes, oceans, rivers, etc...)
A written course description of what Earth Science is and what they will learn in the class.
A 1 or 2 week schedule of what they will be doing each day such as: warm ups, lesson/activities/assessments/homework. Dont forget to post due dates for turning in their work!
Post a Powerpoint presentation or eBook/PDF of a unit of study or thematic unit the students will currently be working on. In this unit of study you can include: standards they will work on, the big ideas, vocabulary terms they need to know, pre/post assessments, the content of the lesson, activities/projects to be completed, homework, etc...). These units can be archived on the website so the students can review information in preparation for their CST or State exam.
To Create New Pages and Add these Pages To the Navigation Bar of the Website:
Click the tab "+ Create a Page" button at the top right corner of the website.
Give your page a name. Click the button "Put page at the top level".
Click button "Create" to create your webpage. Save your work.
Click the "more actions" link at the right hand corner of the website. Scroll down to "manage site" and click.
Select the "site layout" link and click.
Select the "edit" in the "navigation" area in the "sidebar" and click.
Select the "add page" and select your newly created page.
Click the "save pages" button at the top right corner of the webpage.
Click the "back to site" link at the top left corner of the webpage.
Create New Pages for Posting or Adding Documents (PDFs, Powerpoint Presentations, Word, Excel Documents) for Download and Add these Pages To the Navigation Bar of the Website:
Click the tab "+ Create a Page" button at the top right corner of the website.
Give your page a name. Click the button "Put page at the top level".
Click on the file cabinet to select it"
Click button "Create" to create your webpage.
Click the "+add" button to post a PDF or presentation from your computer. To find the location of the file, click the button "choose file" to select your PDF or presentation, and click the "upload" button.
Save your work.
Save your work.Click the "more actions" link at the right hand corner of the website. Scroll down to "manage site" and click. Select the "site layout" link and click.
Select the "edit" in the "navigation" area in the "sidebar" and click.
Select the "add page" and select your newly created page.
Click the "Return to site" link at the top left corner of the webpage.
Adding Pictures and Images:
Open new browser window.
In the search box, type "google Images"
Select the Google Images Link.
In the Google search box, type in the word of the picture you would like to find (i.e. Volcano)
Select the picture you would like to use.
Drag the picture to your desktop. It will have a name under the picture when it is added to the desk top.
Put your cursor on the place in the website you would like to add a picture.
Click the "Insert" button at the top left hand corner of the website. Click "Image."
Click "choose file". This will allow you to look for the image on your computer.
Go to "desktop", search for the picture by name, and click on its name when you find it.