+ SCHOOLWIRES TUTORIAL Creating Effective Class Websites PRESENTER: CHRISTINE DIXON SMUSD EdTech TOSA Welcome Teachers! Before we begin, please go to the below link or scan QR code to complete a short survey.

+ What is a website? It can be a… Bulletin Board Newsletter Chalkboard Assignment Book Library Digital Tool

+ Your Responsibilities You bear SOLE responsibility for your site! Double-check your content to make sure it is: Accurate Uses proper spelling and grammar Is appropriate for ALL audiences Maintains the highest level of professionalism Follows copyright laws Check your links Update frequently Important note: When you save your page on SchoolWires, it is usually instantly available online for the world to see!

+ District Expectations Welcome Page/Introduction Include: your picture, grade, contact information ( , school phone number) About the Teacher Page may be included in the Welcome page or separate About Class: Classroom Policies and Procedures Homework policy, daily schedule, behavior policy, rules Links to Resources Optional/Suggested Ideas: Supplies Standards Helpful Documents Calendar And MORE!

+ Here are a couple tips to remember: 1)Keep it simple- A website is a place for the exchange of information. It does not need to be flashy, or complex. Keeping it simple will make it more manageable. 2)Be realistic- In the beginning, posting a quote of the day or daily homework sounds like a great idea, but this will be very hard to manage when you’re teaching. Set manageable goals. 3)Talk to your colleagues and share ideas- ask for permission to “steal” ideas so you don’t reinvent the wheel.

+ What elements would YOU like to have on your website? Exploration Time! You have minutes to EXPLORE different sites at your grade level. Your Objective: Using the “Class Website Outline” page included in your packet: 1)Find at least 5 GOOD examples of websites at your grade level/position (start with SMUSD, then can go to other districts) 2)Create a list of elements you want in your website. This includes images, content, links, documents, and page information 2) Jot down notes and ideas you find from exploring these sites By the time Exploration Time is over, you will have your basic layout of pages for your website written down on your outline. IF YOU FINISH EARLY: Review the Schoolwires Training Help Cards Packet (we will be referring to it throughout the training)

+ Links to Your Pages Breadcrumbs Channel Bar Page Content

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+ Technical Tips (see orange “Best Practices for Teacher Sections” 1) Files: Consider using PDF format when posting files. This will make it less likely content of your documents will be altered. 2) Minimize scrolling. Whenever possible, break long pages into separate pages. 3) Avoid using flashing/scrolling text that is distracting 4) SPELL CHECK 5) Avoid using Tables 6) Images: Do not copy and paste images, make sure to use “Insert Image” icon. Keep images narrower than 500 pixels wide. Use JPG and JPEG images. Resize “large to small” not “small to large” to avoid a pixilated image. 7) Copy and paste from Word: Use the “Paste from Word” option (otherwise it copies a lot of unnecessary HTML code) 8) Text/Sizing: Traditional web fonts that are recommended are Sans-Serif—Tahoma, Arial, Verdana/ Serif-Times New Roman, Georgia Use consistent size and color when adding different text elements Black is preferred text color. Avoid red, green or yellow. Text size: 10 or 12 is preferred Avoid flashing or scrolling text as it can be distracting

+ Let’s get started! Log in to Schoolwires Go to Click “Sign In” button in upper right corner. Go to Click “Sign In” button in upper right corner. Username: same as (first name.last name) Password: same as your login Login using your username/password for /Synergy, etc.

+ Logging in to Schoolwires Click on “Site Manager” This is your Schoolwires Workspace.

+ Summary Section My Pages

+ Your uploaded files, folders, images, and movies

+ Help Section Please find your Schoolwires Training HELP CARDS Packet now.

+ Let’s Get Started! Making a New Page Click on “New Page”

+ Available Page Types About Teacher: Easy Template to use that includes contact information Article Library: Good for news items/announcemnts Assignments: Can include due dates and other information Calendar: Can link your assignments. Can include homework, projects, field trips, conferences File Library: Include important class documents that need to be accessed by students frequently.

+ Flex Editor: YOUR BFF The easiest editor for content! Link Library: Good for lists of websites. Photo Gallery: Share class projects, etc. CAREFUL OF POSTING STUDENT PICTURES AND NAMES!! Available Page Types

+ About the Teacher Examples

+ Begin Your “About the Teacher” Page Note: You will have time during Workshop time to completely create this page…we’re just doing guided practice to get you started 1)Type a Title 2) Click on your page or go to “Edit Page” 3) Click on About Teacher App 4) Fill in “About Me” Tab 5) Fill in “Details” Tab Don’t forget to save!

+ File Library Example Use for important class documents students/parents need to access frequently.

+ Begin Your “File Library” Page Note: You will have time during Workshop time to completely create this page…we’re just doing guided practice to get you started 1)Type a Title 2) Click on your page or go to “Edit Page” 3) Click on “New File” to create. 4) Fill in “File Title,” Description (optional) and Author (you!) 5) Upload file (wherever you have it saved) Don’t forget to save!

+ Article Library Example Should be used for news and events (has dates) Create Article Library same process as File Library

+ Link Library Example Use for thematic, standards- based web links for your students. Start here with links…many teacher eventually use Skloog, Symbaloo, etc for more interactive links Use for thematic, standards- based web links for your students. Start here with links…many teacher eventually use Skloog, Symbaloo, etc for more interactive links

+ Begin Your “Link Library” Page Note: You will have time during Workshop time to completely create this page…we’re just doing guided practice to get you started 1)Type a Title 2) Click on your page or go to “Edit Page” 3) Click on “New Link” to create. 4) Fill in “Link Title,” Description (optional) and Author (you!) 5) Type in web address Don’t forget to save!

+ Flex Editor Pages…my FAVE (Welcome, About Our Class, Supplies…almost ALL of my pages See my site for more examples:

+ Time to Test Your Knowledge in a Space Race! Go to: m.socrative.comm.socrative.com Join Room: Answer the questions as quickly and as accurately as you can and watch your team’s spaceship get to the finish line!

+ Diving in Deeper: Actions- “Edit Page”

+ Apps (see Helpcards Pages and Apps (cream) and Apps and Page Types (yellow)

+ Layout (see Helpcards Pages and Apps (cream) and Apps and Page Types (yellow)

+ Beginning Your “Flex Editor” Page This is the page you will have the most “FLEXIBILITY” with and can use for most of your content pages. When working in the Editor, you’ll see icons similar to those in most word processing programs. See your WHITE “Schoolwires Editor Help Card” for more detailed information 1)Type a Title

+ Flex Editor Basics To begin, just start typing your content (as if using Word)! Insert Image Insert File Link Insert hyperlink Insert photo gallery Preview: See how it looks on your site! Remember to always SAVE your work and that the “Activate on my page” is checked!

+ Simplify! Use your already created documents and paste from Word! Examples: Classroom Procedures Behavior Procedures Newsletters Daily Schedule

+ Workshop Time! Putting it all together… FIRST: Watch me create a page on Flex Editor putting all the tools together. As soon as you’re comfortable, you are free to WORK on your own! Your Objective: Use this time to CREATE your class website using the outline you have created. Your GOAL is to finish as much of the foundation of your site as possible so you don’t have to worry about it after today! I’m here to help! Don’t forget to use your Help Cards Packet and the “How Do I” section on Schoolwires.

+ Your Exit Ticket Log onto “Today’s Meet” and post your answer to the question below. Go to: Thank You Teachers! Please me if you have questions or need any help! What is one thing you plan on adding to your website once school gets started?