Good Web Design Requires Planning and Organization (Monday)

Create a site map for your Web site. Once you have identified the information to include on your Web site, you are ready to design the site's structure. Classify the information into no more than seven categories to make it easy for students to find what they need. These categories will become the primary areas and navigation within your Web site. Making an outline for your site structure can help you visualize the way the information is broken down and linked within the site.

Consider your Web Site's Audience (Tuesday)

Design your Web site with your audience in mind. Determine the purpose of your Web site, then put yourself in the shoes of your students and their parents. How will they actually use the site; what will benefit them the most; what options can help them improve their understanding of class content? With the answers to these questions, you can begin to plan your site design.

For more information about useful items to include on your class Web site, check out this useful article from NetDay.org about the parental perspective.

Communicate with your School's Webmaster (Wednesday)

Prior to beginning your class Web site, talk to the school Webmaster. Make sure you understand what the Webmaster needs from you and what rules you need to follow. Your Webmaster should be able to give you technical support as well as suggestions for Web development tools to use.

Link to Approved Sites on Class Web Pages (Thursday)

If permitted, post a set of recommended links that reinforce class content. The Internet has many good sources of information that will help your students with course content. Glencoe has thousands of text-related Web resources that are monitored and educator-approved. Visit Glencoe's Home page to find your subject area.

Keep Class Web Pages up to Date (Friday)

Update your Web site regularly with current information. Your class Web site is a good place to post updates to the class schedule and assignments. Of course, you should give students important notices in person, but posting them on the Web site is your bulletin board in cyberspace where students can access the information at any time. Out-dated information left on a Web site can be confusing and may convey the message that the Web site is not a reliable source of information.