1. Using a Free Website to Manage, Promote, and Communicate Your Class, Group or Organization Manage, promote, communicate *story about why i chose to build a site (bored with a technology seminar Manage, promote, communicate *story about why i chose to build a site (bored with a technology seminar

2. 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 Design and build manage your class promote your class communicate effectively *why I chose to build a site Design and build manage your class promote your class communicate effectively *why I chose to build a site

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

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 save paper information hold your lessons access consistent *why should you build a site

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

6. It’s Overwhelming Where Do I Start 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 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. 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.

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

8. Let’s Get Started! 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. 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 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

9. What Else Do I Need ? It’s a good idea to establish a Gmail account. The google calendar works seamlessly with Weebly and with your SmartPhone 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 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