WebSites

=Selecting a Teacher Web Site Platform= The first step to expanding your classroom involves setting up a "home base" without a lot of hassle. Here are three possible options that give you lots of options.


 * **Option** || **Level** || **When to Use** || **Things to Consider** || **Examples** ||
 * **GooglePages** || Easy || In the spirit of "old school" web sites, Google Pages lets you create html based web sites in your browser. Literally, what you see is what you get. Create multiple pages, links, etc. || * Need a Google account
 * No opportunity for collaboration
 * Includes a number of nice templates || [|Mrs. Johnson] ||
 * **WikiSpaces** || Easy / Intermediate || One of the most flexible tools available for a teacher web site. Use it to author pages simply and easily, hold optional online discussions, allow collaboration || * Able to make a lot of pages.
 * Potential to have students add content, collaborate, etc.
 * Continues to add features, including widgets
 * Easy to add the tools
 * Definitely the least "pretty" of the bunch - if a beautiful design is a must, this might not be for you. || [|AP World]

Vicki Davis ||
 * **Wordpress** || Intermediate || Using this blog engine you can keep the most relevant and important information at the top of the page. You also have the power to create "static" pages outside of the blog that can hold class information you don't want "dated" - including a syllabus or assignment calendars.

You can also have students make comments on your posts. || * If you do go this option, you need to update it at least once or twice a month. Adding announcement, suggested readings, assignments, etc. to the blog section.
 * There are a number of great themes that allow you to have a professional or artistic look.
 * If you want students to make comments, each of them has to have an account. || [|Mr. McDowell]

[|Mr. Norris]

[|GHS Foothiller Players] || You can also utilize two or more of these technologies at once. For instance, while Wordpress does has the pages feature, it is a little clunky and if you intend to have numerous pages OR also want students to contribute, you could use Wikispaces and Wordpress. Matt Norris does this seamlessly with his [|Economics] class.