Using a Free Website to Manage, Promote, and Communicate Your Class, Group or Organization

1. Using a Free Websiteto Manage, Promote, and CommunicateYour Class, Groupor Organization Manage, promote, communicate *story about why i chose to build a site (bored with a technology seminar

2. Design and build manage your class promote your class communicate effectively *why I chose to build a site Today You Will Learn: • 1. How to design and build a website • 2. How to use the website to manage your class • 3. How to use the website to promote your class • 4. How to use the website to effectively communicate to parents, students, faculty and outside sources

3. What is a Website? place to hold your stuff *think of this a file cabinet...the better you label files, the easier it is to find • A place connected to the internet that “holds” your stuff • A series of webpages connected to each other

4. Why Build a Site • To Save Paper • To have one place to hold your educational materials • To keep students, parents and faculty informed of what is happening in your class • To quickly and efficiently communicate ideas, lessons, examples or due dates • To have access to your students and for them to have access to you • To be consistent with your students save paper information hold your lessons access consistent *why should you build a site

5. What Should I Include on My Site syllabus rules forms bio examples of work blog * I started with just a syllabus and a bio...and just kept adding on as I needed • Syllabus • Class calendar • Class Rules • Forms • Examples of Work That You Approve • Lesson Plans • Blog • Helpful sites • Teacher Bio

6. It’s OverwhelmingWhere Do I Start start with items most commonly handed out *you can get students to go to your site by putting the lessons there and telling them it’s on the site. • Define what you think you can manage • Start a folder on your desktop and put items that you think you would include on your site • Common handouts such as rules, syllabus and a “class needs” list is a great place to start • A simple bio on you is also helpful

7. Where will my site be? weebly.com I chose weebly because they were the EASIEST, fastest, least expensive • Weebly.com will host your site and allow you to grow your site effectively

8. Let’s Get Started! pick a simple name always publish tweek * I chose ahsvideo.com I took out the weebly because I wanted to own ahsvideo and grow the site for my program • Pick a name for your site • Keep the name as simple as possible • The site will “steer” you to a .com name...select a .weebly.com site name • After you have selected the name of your site, remember to ALWAYS PUBLISH after any change. this saves your change to your site. • You can always edit your site even after you have published it.

9. What Else Do I Need ? establish a gmail account *gmail offers other benefits beside a simple easy to use email that synchs to your smartphone easily The calendar is also pretty simple to use and now functions as my lesson planner • It’s a good idea to establish a Gmail account. • The google calendar works seamlessly with Weebly and with your SmartPhone