Websites

Hi all,

I have finally done it! I created two websites! After playing around with Weebly for hours, I became addicted. I found it so easy to use and the set up was so sequential. I created a website on Digital Pedagogies and also on Visual Literacy. We had to complete two group assignmnets for assessment and the way that we managed this was through the use of a website. We joined up and off we went. We all had access to complete the tasks at a time that suited us. I suppose it was similar to a Wiki. Teaching English (2003) states that creating a quality classroom website is:

• Academically and intellectually sound, including meaningful information, activities, and links
• Thematically and artistically coordinated using common backgrounds and structures that link your site together graphically and thematically
• Interactive, including WebQuests, electronic communities, and other activities for students
• Attractive and appropriate material for your students, their parents, and your teaching colleagues
• Relevant and marketable: includes a portfolio of your professional work and accomplishments.

Websites created by the teacher and the students are very engaging ways to display content and assist with a reflection process for the learners. Another asset websites have on enhancing student learning is ensuring that the learners are aware of different websites that are available and being taught to analyse them to assure that they are credible resources. The students need to become aware and critically literate to ensure that they can distunguish fact from fiction.
Teachers and Learning Managers need to assure that they are using a variety of ICTs to inform content to the learners. Websites allowed me to assure that I was achieving the outcomes and also creating an opportunity for the learners and others to complete further research and have a place for them to complete activities. I have created a SWOT analysis to look at differnet perspectives of using website to enhance classroom instruction.

Strengths
• Students can access the materials when they are best suited.
• They can have additional resources available to them to extend on their understandings
• Students can create their own website to demonstrate their learning
• Class time can be allocated to use the internet.
• The learners can take control of their learning
• The learning manager has the opportunuty to create a website that explicitly teaches the students the content knowledge they need to meet the outcomes required
• Parents can view at home to see what is being taught and learned at school
• Learning managers can use other websites in the classroom to support content
• Learners can learn how to use websites effectively and how to create their own to ensure they understand for lifeling learning
• Students can create their own website to showcase their learnings
• Students can create a personal, class or school digital portfolio that archives, showcases, allows for reflection and demonstrates capability.
• Students can be offered a variety of websites that enhance their learning and demonstrate different perspectives.
• Learning objects can be added to a learning managers website to allow the students to access and extend their knowledge

Weaknesses
• Some students may not have the equipment to access these websites from home
• Learning managers may have restricted time to allow for learners to access internet connections in the classroom
• Schools may not have the fascilities they need to present the website or time to assure all students can access them.
• They are safe to access from schooll but some safety issures may be breeched when accessing websites from home.
• Some of the computers may not have the capability to run some of the sites or download additional items.
• Some parents may not give consent to publish students work if they were to be used in that way.
• The computer site may be stocked with old and outdated computers that are not able or too time consuming to create or access sites.
• The school could have a ban on accessing certain websites.
• The studnets may be too challenged if they had to create their own website and disengage in the task.

Opportunities
• School internet websites need to be updated
• Planning needs to be explicit to ensure that the learning is sequential and all learners understand the privacy rules and the classification of credible resources.
• Information for teachers and learning managers need to be included in the school intranet
• Forms need to be sent out to parents to ensure that they are aware and give consent for work samples and other items to be displayeds on a class site or on a personal portfolio.
• Consent from parents to ensure they give consent to use websites relating to content to be taught
• A list of good and credible resources to be added to the school intranet
• Passwords applied to access certain sites to ensure privacy.

Threats
• Teachers may feel overloaded with stress and find this too time consuming
• Some studetns may disengage or find the task too difficult.
• Some students may be technologically savvy and be more knowledgable than the learning manager and challenge the teachers teaching
• The school internet connections may not be working
• Students may not have adequate time to complete tasks at school or at home
• Some students may not have access to computer and internet connection in the home life
• Some schools may not be equiped with labs and a variety of computers
• Some parents may not agree or consent with their child to be exposed to websites.
(Ashton, 2010)

There are many different ways in which websites can be used to enhance the students learning. I believe that they are a fantastic tool to use and allow for the learning manager to extend some students whilst provide basic content for others. There are many road blocks that could occur, but I think that with a positive attitude and creating solutions, websites could be engaging, enriching and extremely informative.

The website that I created can be found by clicking on the links below

Visual Literacy Website

Digital Portfolio Website
Until next time,
Amy


References
Ashton, S. (2010). Leading ICTS. Viewed on 03/08/2010 from:
http://leadingict.wikispaces.com/

Teaching English (2003). Teaching with technology. Viewed on 01/08/2010 from:
http://www.wmich.edu/teachenglish/subpages/technology/classwebsite.htm