2. Student-Centred Intranets by Stuart Hasic

3. What is an Intranet? An internal computer network that uses the same tools and protocols as the IntERnet An internal computer network that uses the same tools and protocols as the IntERnet Any number of networked computers can make up an IntRAnet in your school. They can be linked by any standard network cabling system Any number of networked computers can make up an IntRAnet in your school. They can be linked by any standard network cabling system A server (which can be any computer on the network) is the host for HTML webpages created and used in your school A server (which can be any computer on the network) is the host for HTML webpages created and used in your school Workstations access webpages on the server using an internet browser like Netscape or IE Workstations access webpages on the server using an internet browser like Netscape or IE

4. What’s in a Typical School Intranet? Many schools have already setup a School Intranet Many schools have already setup a School Intranet Usually only one (or two) teachers manage the whole intranet site Usually only one (or two) teachers manage the whole intranet site Content usually includes: Content usually includes: School policies, newsletters, staff lists, calendars, timetables, library info, sport info, teacher programs, links to useful internet sites, homework/project tasks, Principal’s page, faculty info, “whacked” internet sites and class pages with some examples of good student work School policies, newsletters, staff lists, calendars, timetables, library info, sport info, teacher programs, links to useful internet sites, homework/project tasks, Principal’s page, faculty info, “whacked” internet sites and class pages with some examples of good student work

5. Typical School Intranets Documents are submitted by other staff to the “Webmaster” so they can be placed on the school’s intranet Documents are submitted by other staff to the “Webmaster” so they can be placed on the school’s intranet “Exemplary” student work is converted by the Webmaster and made to fit into the intranet – mainly for “show off” purposes “Exemplary” student work is converted by the Webmaster and made to fit into the intranet – mainly for “show off” purposes There is usually very little educational value for students in existing intranets There is usually very little educational value for students in existing intranets

6. Typical School Intranets Most intranets are setup merely to automate existing processes at school or to make information easier to find Most intranets are setup merely to automate existing processes at school or to make information easier to find Updating the intranet content is usually a difficult and/or time consuming procedure Updating the intranet content is usually a difficult and/or time consuming procedure Many existing intranets have passed their use-by date Many existing intranets have passed their use-by date

7. Let’s Think Differently About School Intranets Why restrict the school’s intranet to just one or two webmasters? Why restrict the school’s intranet to just one or two webmasters? Website design skills are very useful and should be developed at school Website design skills are very useful and should be developed at school How can we use the intranet more with our students? How can we use the intranet more with our students? How do you integrate the intranet into the curriculum? How do you integrate the intranet into the curriculum? Let’s informate – not just automate Let’s informate – not just automate

8. What is a Student- Centred Intranet? An intranet based on student content An intranet based on student content All students publish their own work All students publish their own work Students are encouraged to add to & update their pages Students are encouraged to add to & update their pages Student webpages relate to their work in class Student webpages relate to their work in class Students are responsible for what gets published Students are responsible for what gets published The intranet becomes a new medium for student output The intranet becomes a new medium for student output

9. Advantages of a Student- Centred Intranet Extended life of student work Extended life of student work Higher quality content and presentation by students in their work Higher quality content and presentation by students in their work Increased information skills Increased information skills Website design skills and ownership Website design skills and ownership Sharing of ideas and skills among students Sharing of ideas and skills among students Integration of various technologies: Integration of various technologies: Photos & scanning, word processing, Powerpoint, HyperStudio, video, sound, animation, internet links Photos & scanning, word processing, Powerpoint, HyperStudio, video, sound, animation, internet links

10. Hang on a sec… We’re just teachers. How can we teach website design when we can’t do it ourselves? We’re just teachers. How can we teach website design when we can’t do it ourselves? What’s the structure of this student-centred intranet look like? It sounds huge! What’s the structure of this student-centred intranet look like? It sounds huge! How are we supposed to build & maintain it? How are we supposed to build & maintain it? Where do we even start? Where do we even start? What grades does it really apply to? What grades does it really apply to? How do you monitor what gets published? How do you monitor what gets published?

11. Some of the Answers: Tools like FrontPage and Dreamweaver make website design as easy as word processing Tools like FrontPage and Dreamweaver make website design as easy as word processing It’s not inconceivable that Kindergarten students could create webpages It’s not inconceivable that Kindergarten students could create webpages All schools should have publishing guidelines linked to the discipline policy that stipulate what is acceptable and what isn’t All schools should have publishing guidelines linked to the discipline policy that stipulate what is acceptable and what isn’t …EduWeb. …EduWeb.

12. What’s EduWeb? EduWeb is a software tool that builds a student-centred intranet automatically! EduWeb is a software tool that builds a student-centred intranet automatically! It extracts all student names, grades and classes from OASIS quickly and easily It extracts all student names, grades and classes from OASIS quickly and easily It then asks you to choose which grades you want to include in the school’s EduWeb It then asks you to choose which grades you want to include in the school’s EduWeb You have a choice of colour schemes You have a choice of colour schemes It’s totally free of charge. It’s totally free of charge.

13. EduWeb System Requirements EduWeb is a Microsoft Windows application EduWeb is a Microsoft Windows application But the intranet structure it creates is totally platform-independent But the intranet structure it creates is totally platform-independent i.e. Yes, the end-product works with Macs i.e. Yes, the end-product works with Macs The created EduWeb is transferred to a server of some type: The created EduWeb is transferred to a server of some type: Windows NT, 2000, Peer-to-Peer, Novell Netware, AppleShare IP, Linux, whatever Windows NT, 2000, Peer-to-Peer, Novell Netware, AppleShare IP, Linux, whatever Networked workstations need a browser and a Webpage editor of some kind Networked workstations need a browser and a Webpage editor of some kind

14. How to Get EduWeb Go to the EduWeb Website: Go to the EduWeb Website: http://www.stgeorged.det.nsw.edu.au/eduweb http://www.stgeorged.det.nsw.edu.au/eduweb http://www.stgeorged.det.nsw.edu.au/eduweb The EduWeb website contains: The EduWeb website contains: Information about what EduWeb is Information about what EduWeb is A downloadable copy of this PPT slideshow A downloadable copy of this PPT slideshow Complete instructions for running EduWeb Complete instructions for running EduWeb Frequently Asked Questions (…and Answers) Frequently Asked Questions (…and Answers) The EduWeb program itself available for download The EduWeb program itself available for download

15. Any Questions? …Thank you for your attendance