Class Websites: Breaking Down the

Walls

Chris Stanley@StanleyTeach

Fraser High School

Goal for Today• Discuss effective ways in which educators can create a vibrant and robust web presence that enhances the learning environment for students.

• Create new opportunities for learning

About Me and Fraser• English and 21st Century Literacy Teacher - Fraser High School

• Hybrid Teacher - Three Years

• 1:1 District (iPads for all students 3-12)

Hybrid at Fraser• Four Classes began in 2011

• Now offer 16+ hybrid courses offered to upperclassmen

• Courses are teacher created with teacher decisions

Real Talk

• What do you think belongs in a classroom website?

My First Site• About Me

• Description of Courses

• Contact Information

• Description of daily lessons

• Weebly.com

“Thinking Outside the Box”

“Refreshing”

“Innovative”“Innovative”“Innovative”“Innovative”“Innovative”

Landed Me The Job

Added Daily Assignments

• Bullet point list of what was discussed in class

• Links to any sites discussed

• Digitized every single hand out

Results?

• Lots of EXTRA work, not enough students going to the site

Supplemental vs. Enhancing

Supplemental

Doing what you normally do in a new

way

Ex: Using an iPad to watch TV

Supplemental v. Enhancing

Enhancing

Creating new experiences that allow you to think in a new

way.

Ex: Using the iPad to play Dragon Box

Re-Think!!!

My Re-Think• Create a space where the conversation continues

• A place where students go to for assistance

• Alternative ways of learning

• Students can even live on my site during class

1. Find a Host Site that Works

• Blackboard

• Weebly

• Wordpress

2. Find a Style That Works

• Creating Daily Folders (Or Week for Hybrid)

• Full explanation with clear objectives and expectations

• Ways to communicate with me and the group

• Area to turn in your assignments

Examples of Guidance

QuickTime™ and aH.264 decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

3. Create Expecations• My site is for all students

and parents to utilize every day

• In order for this to work, it needs to be used in class

• Post Homework assignments ON THE SITE

• Flipped Videos

• Polls/Surveys

Communication

• Discussion Boards

• Blog Posts

• Back Channel Communication - Twitter or Todays Meet

Collaboration• Using Blackboard, students create groups to work together

Examples of Successful Assignments

• Maus Interview (Week Five - English 12)

• Hamlet Inquiry Projects

QUEMMENTS?