Designing A Website For Your Class

The Benefits
A well-designed website will greatly enhance communication between you and your students. Students will feel more at ease knowing that they can contact you when school is not in session. One of the great benefits of a website is the increased communication between you and the parents of your students.

This means of communication also allows parents an easy way to stay in contact with school related issues.

What Should a Teacher Site Have on It?

1. Class Calendar
2. Relevant links for students to learn more about content. Also, for you to learn more about the subject matter.
3. Links that make your subject more fun
4. Contact Information- This can include ways that students or parents can contact you. However, you may not want to include your home phone or any personal information. Set-up a separate e-mail account just for your professional use
5. Materials- Anything important that you hand out in class can be posted on-line.
6. Class Rules and Guidelines- In this section, you can explain what materials your students need for your class and any other consistent information that students need to be successful in your class.
7. Homework- Posting of assignments helps to keep students on track. This section can also offer students help with any assignments. This section can also be a depository for what students need to accomplish and a reminder of what needs to be done.
8. Biography- Tell students about your academic and professional background. You can also include interests, accomplishments, etc.
9. Course Description- Explain what students will be learning, goals, objectives, procedures that will be used in teaching and learning, timelines, etc.
10. Your Most Favourite Sites- Share the educational sites or student-centred sites that you visit the most.
11. Information for Parents- This is information you want parents to know that can help you to achieve educational goals. It is a great way to get parents actively involved in a partnership role.
12. Announcements/Events- This is an efficient method of communicating anything that needs to be publicised.
13. Links to State or National Curriculum- This can supply curriculum information to parents. It also helps in developing credibility as a professional. Another important benefit is that you have this information available to you at any given time.

Adding Interactivity To Your Site
Across the Internet, there are a great number of sites that offer you free services that can greatly enhance your web site.

Source: http://www.teach-nology.com