Teacher Website Template

1. Teacher Website Template Chris ChartierSaul CorreiaMerie Ann de Lima Dominic Zagari

2. Teacher Template Having an effective teacher web presence.

3. Chris’s Experience

4. Definitions • Web site – Computers connected group of pages on the World Wide Web regarded as a single entity, usually maintained by one person or organization and devoted to a single topic or several closely related topics. • Communication - The imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions or information speech writing or signs. • Truancy- A person who is absent from school without permission. • Teacher- A person who teachers or instructs. • At-risk Student- A student who for a number of reasons are at risk of not successfully completing school. • Intellectual Disability- Intellectual disability in relation to a person over the age of five years means a significant sub-average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behaviour and manifested during the developmental period (Intellectually Disabled Persons Services Act, 1986). • Learning Disability- A disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills. ( Princton.edu) • Link- A electronic connection from one website to another.

5. Key Ideas • The idea of having an effective teacher web site is quite simple. • By putting the information what you teach on your web site everyday students and parents will be better informed. • This should show an increase in student engagement and student participation

6. Key Ideas • An effective teacher web site will also assist those who are at risk. (truancy, suspended) • Students who are truant will be able to go on-line and retrieve notes and assignments that were done in class that day.

7. Implications for Teachers/education • Students will be able to copy notes from the website and print them at home. • Students will be able to spend more time listening in class instead of simply copying notes. • Parents will be better informed.

8. Implications for teachers / education • By incorporating more technology into the classroom differentiated learning styles will be addressed • By using differentiated instruction more students will be able to succeed in the classroom. • We are living in an ever increasing technological world and as a result we must adapt to what the students know best.

9. References/Resources • Google Translator- assist students who’s first language is not English • You Tube- to bring video into the classroom • Vixynet- You tube video convertor • Citation Machine- to assist students with citations • Noodlebib-assist students with citations • Ebsco host-assist students with research • Windows Movie Maker-students can use this to make a simple yet creative presentation. • Imovie • Comic life- creative ways students can make a comic

10. Merie Ann’s Experience

11. Background Information • Winnipeg Adult Education Center • 9-12 High School • Adults ages 16-over 60 • Accounting 30S • Beginning Class size-40 students • Current class size- 22 students • 17 are regular attendee's • Pre-Calculus 30S • Beginning Class size- 15 Students • Current class size- 8 students • 4 are regular attendee's

12. Key Ideas • To be able to provide the adult learners access to assignments/lessons • To increase communication • To help those learners who are “at risk”

13. Process • Told students about the project • Got students to fill out the students questionnaire • Analyze data collected • Tried to create website based on students suggestions, still a work in progress • Update website as needed-(usually daily)

14. Website Questionnaire • I asked my students the following questions: • What type of information would you like to see on our website? • Comments: • Assignments • Answer keys • Due dates • Lessons • Extra assignments/practice stuff • Chapter summaries • Information about course • resources

15. Questionnaire cont.... • How could this website be of use to you? • Comments: • “to know what I missed if I miss a class” • Can be done from anywhere • Keep me informed if I'm away • Could help me with preparing for tests

16. Questionnaire cont.... • Do you think that a website like this could be useful? Why or why not? • Yes, to know of up coming assignments/tests. • More information about course. • Good way of communicating with students. • See if I've missed anything

17. Student Questionnaire given out September 14, 2009. • Website was up and running September 21, 2009.

18. Explore the Website

19. Number of Website Hits

20. Website Questionnaire • I asked my students the following questions • Have you accessed our class website? • Out of 11 student surveyed, only 5 student accessed the school website. • If yes...why?...if no...why not?

21. If you answered yes, any suggestions for improvement? • Resources • Extra practice sheets • Answer keys

22. Critical Thinking

23. Insight • Realized the importance of websites and how it could help adult learners • Find out how website could be utilized more by students • Staff members have started creating their own websites for courses

24. Resources used: Websites Books/articles Software Etc.

25. Fire Shot • Website: http://screenshot-program.com/fireshot/ • Allows you to capture an entire webpage or just the visible area. • How it was useful: allowed to make notes on the screen, students just had to look at your comments. • Example of where it was used in Accounting 30S: Website 1, Website 2

26. Primo PDF • Website: http://www.primopdf.com/ • How it was useful: • Converts your documents into PDF • Free software • Example of where it was used in Accounting 30S: • To convert assignments to PDF so that they could not be altered in word. • To convert notes to PDF so that you could see 6 slides on 1 page when using powerpoint.

27. Adobe Captivate • Website: http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/ • Purpose: “Go beyond screen capture to author rich eLearning experiences” • Where was it used in Accounting 30S: • Accessing Balance Sheet Excel File.

28. Technology Used in Accounting • Projector • Document camera • Smart Board • Computers • Software • Excell • Website for students to access information.

29. Technology used in Pre-Calculus • Overhead Projector • Website for students to access assignments/test dates

30. Saul’s experience

31. Table of Contents • Definitions • Key Ideas • Critical Thinking • Insight • Implications • References • Sample Website

32. Definitions • HTML - which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. • Hyperlink - In computing, a hyperlink (or link) is a reference to a document that the reader can directly follow. The reference points to another document or to a specific element within a document. • Hypertext - Hypertext is text displayed on a computer with references (hyperlinks) to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or key press sequence. • Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. PDF is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.[ Definitions according to Wikipedia.com

33. Key Ideas • Accessibility • Environmental friendly (no paper) • Incorporating modern technologies and various multi-medias • Allows for the easy mainstreaming ideas with other teachers in same subject area • Allows for a wider range of content to be covered

34. Critical Thinking PROS • Increases student and parents accessibility to information • Reduced paper and is more environmentally friendly • Allows easy use of various types of multimedia which allows various forms of student engagement (visual, audible, etc.) • Puts more onus on student to complete work CONS • Requires internet and computer access • Requires some pre-existing knowledge • Puts more onus on student to complete work

35. Insight Websites are an advantage to numerous special needs groups as it allows them to keep up with the class pace in terms of content as well freeing up any dependency on others such as the teacher to assist them in certain tasks. Hearing impaired persons can view their assignments and any online videos can have closed captioning added to them or they can pause and restart at their own leisure making it easier for the individual. This allows the user the ability to multi-task (take notes/pay attention to presentation) and the freedom to work at his or her own pace and not fall behind or slow down the rest of the class. Visually impaired persons can benefit from websites by using them in conjunction with common programs that will read text aloud. Students whose English is not they’re first language can work at they’re own pace and use the internet to look up words they don’t understand and have them translated into they’re own language. This allows them to have a deeper understanding of the content as well as freeing up the teachers time to focus on other areas. Probably the most important aspect of classroom websites is accessibility. Students who may not be able to attend the class for whatever reason can still have access to the material thus keeping up to date on assignments and classroom content. The website can also branch of into other areas such as a blog which can be used to post the class lesson as well as dialogue between the teacher and the students as a whole rather than on an individual basis. Common questions and concerns can be addressed simultaneously as well as allowing students to help fellow student problem solve.

37. References • www.wikipedia.com • www.adobe.com

38. Example • The following is an example of the website I've made and how it had benefited in my particular classroom. • The chart on the side is an average of the amount of paper used per student last year, prior to the website as opposed to this year.

39. Homepage • Parents can review what content will be covered now and in future grades • Contact information is listed on the side should the parent or student need it.

40. Rubrics • Rubrics and assessment forms are available so the student is aware of the expectations of his/her project

41. Activity Sheets • Industrial Arts facilities require a certified I.A. instructor in order for any tools or machinery to be used. • Activity sheets which are themed to the particular area are useful especially in situations where a non industrial arts substitute is placed in the shop.

42. Safety sheets - including diagrams of each of the machines in the shop allow quick reference to the machines parts and safe procedure

43. Various common procedures • Quick reference guides to common procedures done regularly in the shop

44. Accessibility • Having your email attached directly to the website allows both parents and students quick and easy access to the instructor without having to time phone calls for an appropriate moment or schedule a meeting

45. Resources • Links which have been preselected can reduce a students search on the internet thus giving them more time to work on their projects and increasing their productivity

46. Dominic’s experience

47. Definitions • Website : A website is not the same thing as a Web page. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, they should not be. To put it simply, a Web site is a collection of Web pages. There are millions of Web pages that make up the site. • Links: When you are browsing the Web and you see a highlighted and underlined word or phrase on a page, there is a good chance you are looking at a link. By clicking on a link, you can "jump" to a new Web page or a completely different Web site. While text links are typically blue and underlined, they can be any color and don't have to be underlined. Images can also serve as links to other Web pages. When you move the cursor over a link in a Web page, the arrow will turn into a little hand, letting you know that it is a link.

48. Definitions Continued • Download: This is the process in which data is sent to your computer. Whenever you receive information from the Internet, you are downloading it to your computer. The opposite of this process, sending information to another computer, is called uploading. • Email: E-mail has become one of today's standard means of communication. Sending messages is typically done by SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and receiving messages is handled by POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3), or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). IMAP is the newer protocol, allowing you to view and sort messages on the mail server, without downloading them to your hard drive. Now, HTML-based e-mail can use the same code as Web pages to incorporate formatted text, colors, and images into the message. Also, documents can be attached to e-mail messages, allowing files to be transferred via the e-mail protocol.

49. Key Ideas Communication Website Hits • The most important use of the class website is to improve communication between: • Student : Teacher • Student : Parent • Parent : Teacher • The class website is not meant to replace any communication. It should enhance and strengthen any existing infrastructure.

50. Critical Thinking Pros Cons • Improved communication • Assignments available • Rubrics available • Access from any computer • Infused technology • Aid for truant students • Aid for students with disabilities • Better for environment • Students become dependant • Assumption that everyone has a computer at home • Assumption that parents will be able to navigate website • More likely to encounter technological problems • All teachers must have a website