Web Authoring

For my class website, I use Weebly.com.  At the end of last school year, we were encouraged to create a web page that highlights communication with students and parents.  As part of our in service, we created web pages with bare bones minimums (ways to keep in touch, communication with parents, etc.).  Being a technologically-minded person, I created mine rather quickly and was assigned with the task of helping others as they needed it.  Given this information, I have since let my classroom website fall into near disuse.  That is, while it is available for students and parents to check, and several parents have even used it to get in contact with me, it is not used as a daily tool in my classroom.  While I did have grand plans for it, daily life caught up with me, and the website became rather static.  It is my goal in the next week or so to update it (conveniently aligned with the website activity in class) but I will be further revising throughout the summer as on of my main goals to re-vamp my entire classroom experience (a bit of "spring cleaning" goal I've got in mind for this summer).

As far as my students go, they use web authoring a bit, but not nearly to the extent to which they could be capable.  At one of my schools (Keller Elementary,) we have 5th grade exhibition, which calls for students to move into action regarding a pertinent topic which they choose to research in the spring.  Some students will create web sites to bring awareness to the topic.  While this is a unique and very valuable application of web authoring, it is my no means universal, as not all students choose this method, let alone are assigned such an activity.

For the future, part of my "spring cleaning" idea is to, along with revamping my website to allow for a "flipped" format (having students come to class having viewed and practice pre-loaded activities) I would also like to use web authoring within the context of my classroom as a student-driven activity.  I plan on using my "Spanish speaking countries" project as a guinea pig, having students create websites as opposed to simple poster boards as in the past.  If they are successful in these projects, I may open up the activities to more classes and more activities, depending upon availability of computer labs, Chrome Books, etc.  I feel like this will be a great way to get kids engaged and excited about topics within elementary Spanish!

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 8, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Collin, I am also "spring cleaning"! I love the 5th grade exhibition project you mentioned. Are the websites then put on your classroom website or maybe even the school or district website? That would be a neat way to communicate to the community and keep in touch! Just a suggestion :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CollinApril 10, 2015 at 11:01 AM

      Presently, the IB coordinator at our school has a YouTube account with student videos created for school news, exhibition materials, etc. I believe there is a way to have the websites "closed" or not open to the public (though, as they are created for only the 5th grade classrooms, I admittedly am not sure exactly the parameters that are set.)

      Delete
  2. UnknownApril 8, 2015 at 7:46 PM

    Collin,

    Do you plan on having the students create websites during school? Are you going to send home a parent permission slip? How do you get around parental permission and monitoring sites?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CollinApril 10, 2015 at 11:05 AM

      Janell,

      I would have students create simple web pages (yes, during my classes). We have permission slip sent home at the beginning of every school year that is a "technology permission slip" which indicates responsible use of technology, as well as permission to publish student work.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousApril 9, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    I can see how a class website would be great for utilizing the flipped classroom. How do you handle a situation where a family does not have internet access?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CollinApril 10, 2015 at 11:10 AM

      This is one of the reasons I've yet to implement this idea. First of all, I wouldn't fully "flip" my classroom for this reason. I first want to give access to parents and students at home to practice. Because of the nature of my position, (foreign language, limited time with students, etc.) giving students (and parents) as many resources as possible is invaluable. However, I can see that, unlike a truly flipped classroom, I would not be able to fully depend on my students' ability to access this at home on a regular basis. Of course, I would direct families to the public library (which in Royal Oak, is a nice, central location that should be accessible to most of the population).

      Delete
  4. UnknownApril 11, 2015 at 9:17 PM

    I really like your idea of a flipped classroom and having activities that students can complete online before coming to class. I think this is a great idea to have as a part of a website for your class. This would really get students prepared for that day and also be ready for what is being taught on that day as well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownApril 11, 2015 at 9:18 PM

    I really like your idea of a flipped classroom and having activities that students can complete online before coming to class. I think this is a great idea to have as a part of a website for your class. This would really get students prepared for that day and also be ready for what is being taught on that day as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 12, 2015 at 11:23 PM

    Flipped classrooms can work very well. Most of what I do as a virtual teacher would be more of what a flipped classroom would be. The challenges with it can be the limited access of some families to technology at home. I sometimes find it ironic that organizations are sending basic laptops to Africa however many of our students in the US do not have computer access when they leave the classroom.

    One Laptop Per Child just started US projects in 2011-12.
    http://one.laptop.org/

    ReplyDelete

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