Using a Teacher Website as a Learning

Tool

Samuel Gabin and Shawn MolloyMarch 22, 2001

Websites: Background

• Many schools are encouraging/requiring teachers to have websites

• Numerous options for hosting• WordPress• Google Sites• WikiSpaces

• Durant Road MS Practices• Communication• Information sharing• Limited use of learning/teaching/assessment

Current Uses• Student and Parent Communication• Weekly Overview• Upcoming Assessments• Homework and Class Assignments• Rules and Procedures• Mrs. Molloy’s Website

Future Examples• More Interactive• Teaching and Learning• Skill Assessment• Teach Technology

Connect to 21st Century Skills

• Technological Literacy• Don’t overestimate what kids know

• Effective Communication• Happening currently• Lack of accountability

• High Productivity• More to be done

• Inventive/Creative Thinking• More to be done

Example 1: Solve a Multi-Step Math Problem• Use VideoThread technology hosted

on teacher website• Supplement classroom instruction• Just-in-time tutoring• Solving a Multi-Step Equation

Example 2: Math Q&A Forum

• Word Problems Lesson• Student led• Students email teacher with questions

• Anonymity• Teacher approves and posts questions on

website

Example 2 Continued…

• Students respond with answers and instructions

• Teacher moderates and evaluates responses

Example 3: Blog with a Medical

Professional• Human Body (3rd quarter)• WordPress via teacher website• Medical professional writes about “A Day

in the Life”• Students read blog in class

• Discuss nature of work• Vocabulary

• Students write back with questions• Talk to a Medical Professional

Example 4: Checkup Quiz

• Multiple choice quiz• Hosted on the teacher website• Uses Google Documents• Students can access from any computer• Data can easily be processed and charts aid

in illustrating the data• Digestive System Checkup• Results of the assessment

Aspirational Example: Web-Based

Brochure• Digestive System Unit• Design a website around an organ in

the digestive system• Stomach, Liver, Small and Large

Intestines• Page Content (4)

• Picture with description, disease, mechanical vs chemical digestion, digestive process

Aspirational Example Continued…

• Have students work in pairs/threes• Rubric for grading

• Content• Neatness• Layout• Accuracy• Use of color

• Large Intestine Website

Why We Call This “Aspirational”

• Access to computers• All classes for 2-3 days

• Access to web-building sites• Requires registration• Must be 13 or older

• Safety and security• Public or local access

Questions/Closing• Do you have a website currently?• What is your website primarily used

for?• Would certain subjects work better

than others?• What are the best ways to ensure the

experience is learning centered AND fun?

• How could our ideas be improved?