Why Make Webpages?

Your class and their partner class are doing a project together. The results are terrific and you and your partner teacher are pleased. It's time to share your success!

As you become more comfortable and proficient in using the Internet in your classroom curriculum you may find that you want to be able to share your activities with parents, administrators and other teachers around the world. The World Wide Web can give you the ability to share resources like never before. Along with the results of your projects, be sure to include the learning process that students experience when working on their project. It is an excellent practice to have students write their process for deeper understanding of what they have accomplished.

If you know how to make even the most basic web pages you will be able to publish the work of your students online. This will give you, the students and their parents the ability to point to web pages with pride. Web pages displaying the work of our students also give administrators and taxpayers a chance to see how schools are spending money targeted for technology. If you know how to make web pages, consider this option as a culminating "publication" of your project. When possible, involve the students in your class and your partner class in this process of making web pages. Your partner teacher might also want to have web pages on his/her school web server showing the work of your collaborative project. Work together to make it happen.

If You Don't Know How

If you have never made a web page and have no time to learn how to do this right now, don't panic and don't give up. Consult with your partner teacher first and then do your best to find help from a knowledgeable and willing:

1. parent
2. student from a local high school or university
3. colleague
4. good friend
5. community member

Basic Needs When Making Web Pages

Whether you make the web pages yourself or ask someone to make them for you, several things are required:

1. an Internet account through school or a local Internet provider
2. directory space on a web server
3. a simple text editor or HTML editor
4. software to transfer your webpage files
5. graphic software for working with images for your web page
6. A WWW browser to view your web pages when working online and offline

A very simple set of directions for creating basic web pages can also be found here:

Introduction to Web Pages - Online notes from a staff development class in Wicomico County, Maryland.

These directions will help you create basic web pages that do not require fancy technology to view them.

Back to the Menu

Patti Weeg
www.globalclassroom.org
April 17, 2004