Class+Website

media type="custom" key="111618" toc =Class Websites Overview=

A class website can be an electronic portal into your classroom. You can use it to disseminate and collect information, post files such as homework, permission slips and newsletters, manage online discussions and share student work. There are plenty of free tools available to teachers that will allow you to create and host a webpage for free without even knowing a single HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language) code.

**Uses of Class Websites in Education**
Keeping parents and students informed is a great use of a class website. You can maintain an online calendar with important dates and events as well as provide access to relevant links about various concepts and subjects. When used collaboratively, a class website can also be a place where students and teachers are able to interact electronically with other students, content experts, teachers and more in a controlled and monitored environment.

Educational Benefits of Class Websites
We are living in a hyperlinked society and providing access to relevant information via a class website is almost considered a necessity. It facilitates the transmission of information by allowing students and parents to access the site whenever and from wherever they need to. Students can also develop their reading, writing and technology skills as they help to produce content for a class website.

Specific Ideas for using Class Websites in a k-12 Setting
Click here to add or view a lesson plan or idea for using this technology in the classroom.

Website Creation Tools

 * WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editors
 * [|Dreamweaver]: This is definitely not free but if you decide to purchase it make sure to get the student discount if applicable.
 * Kompozer: similar (pared-down) to Dreamweaver; designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.
 * NVU: This is a free tool that works for either Mac or Windows and can edit Dreamweaver files as well.
 * [|SeaMonkey]: This is Mozilla's free HTML editor that also works with both Mac and Windows.
 * Free Web Creation Tools
 * Any of the many Wiki tools ( Wikispaces, [|WetPaint], [|PBwiki)] can be used to create a class webpage.
 * [|Google Sites] : Surprise, Surprise! Google has a website creation tool. Easy to use and modify.
 * [|Weebly]: Similar to Google in the range of features, layouts and ease of use. One bonus of this tool over [|Google Page Creator] is that new pages are added automatically to your navigation bar.
 * [|Yola]: Allows you to create a site that you can even download and host yourself if you choose.
 * [|WebNode]: Has a wide range of tools such as text searching, photo galleries, polls and much more.
 * [|Bloust]: This tool markets itself as being specifically for teachers and schools to use to create educationally based websites. They even have tools for students to use to communicate with each other and stay on top of class happenings.
 * [|Wix]: This is a great tool if you like to start with a template and then really make it your own by adding content, changing colors and fonts and tweaking the layout. [|Wix] has a huge collection of clipart, animations, sounds, backgrounds and Flash-based content that you can use to develop your website and it all operates with drop and drag ease.
 * Roxer: This is another free web creation tool that allows you to easily and quickly create a professional looking site without needing to have programming skills or knowledge.
 * Webs: This web creation tool allows you to turn your site into a social network by giving you the option to turn visitors to the site into contributing members who can add comments, post videos and images and maintain a profile page.

You may also want to check out the growing list of tools available to create an online virtual classroom. Many of these tools could be used to create a homepage for your classroom as well.

Tools to enhance your site

 * Widgets
 * [|BuzzDash] This widget allows you to create simple polls to include on your Wiki.
 * [|PollDaddy] Similar to BuzzDash you can create polls with this tool.
 * [|Sploder] You can create a basic arcade game with this tool and add it to your Wiki.
 * [|Yahoo] There is information on how to create your own widgets at Yahoo.
 * [|Fodey] This tool has a variety of ways to create simple animations with text based comments.
 * [|Google Widgets] Google has a large array of ready-made widgets to add to your Wiki.
 * [|Grazr] This tool allows you to create your own widget but is not as easy to learn and use as the other tools.
 * UserVoice This widget can be added to a website, wiki or blog to allow visitors to instantly comment on your site or respond to a specific question you propose. Many businesses use this to get feedback from their customers but it could also be a way to get input and information from your students.
 * Clipart/Images/Animation
 * [|Wikimedia Commons]: A great source of media that is free to use.
 * [|Creative Commons Search]: This is another good site to use to locate media elements that are under a creative commons license.
 * [|Teacher Files]: A good source of educational clipart.
 * [|FlashButtons]: This site allows you to create free Flash buttons.
 * [|Education World]: This site provides information about clipart as well as several links to clipart sources.
 * [|Classroom Clipart]: More education related clipart.
 * [|DiscoverySchool]: Clipart for education from the Discovery Channel.

**Other Relevant Sources of Information (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, Discussion Forums etc.)**
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