Curriculum Adaptations |
Audience
Consideration
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| This is a comprehensive site for teachers and school disticts interested in building meaningful web sites. Here you can find some "hot" issues to consider before you begin your site. http://www.buddyproject.org/tool/design/default.asp |
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Audience Consideration |
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Reading Ability |
Know the reading ability of the intended user. Provide information and links that they will be able to read and navigate easily. |
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Internet Sophistication |
Consider the internet sophistication of the user. Provide a brief training session to those who are not familiar with basic navigational features. |
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Time Availability |
Determine how much time you will have to use on completing the web page activity and plan accordingly. Provide handouts with the web address for home use. |
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Content and Purpose |
| Content is "King". Good content is essential to a web page that will be used to teach students. Don't just create lists of links. If the you are not satisfied with information currently on the Internet, develop informational resources of your own and link to them from within your web site. |
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Determine
the Purpose of the Site
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TYPE
OF SITE
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INFORMATION SUGGESTIONS |
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Reference |
Menu
and structure must be carefully designed.
Minimal graphics. Annotate all sites. Example: |
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Informative |
Determine
your audience. (parent, community, student, all of the above)
Have a strong central narrative. "Chunk" information; Readers appreciate small chunks of information that can be read or scanned quickly. Group Links together; Linking can be a distraction in some areas of instruction and it is best to group links on a separate page. Restricting links to the "Next" and "Previous" guarantees that everyone will see the same presentation and read the same information. Provide some interesting images. When using student photographs, you must get parental permission (see form letter) and do not publish last names. Annotate all sites. |
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Guided Inquiry |
Post questions for students to guide their search with specific links to help them answer the question. Web based "scavenger hunts" can serve multiple purposes including teaching the user how to navigate linked sites effectively. Annotate all sites. |
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Extended learning activities |
Avoid linear links that restrict self directed learners. Provide flexible nonlinear links with an assortment of avenues to allow these types of learners to pursue . The design must permit fast access to a wide range of topics. Annotate all sites. |
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Comprehensive
on-line classroom curriculum |
Begin
by planning and designing your site on paper- Set information headings within a table. Include all assignments, due dates, rubrics, informational links, completed student examples and any other information pertinent to the unit. Chunk information. Use some interesting graphic to break up sections of text. Include extended activities for students who complete the unit ahead of others.
Example:
Birth Date Research Course, Somers Middle School, Grade 8 |
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State your Learning Goals |
| You can't hit a target if you don't know where it is! Tell your audience what you expect them to gain from your web site and why it has been created. |
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Include Guiding Questions |
| Lead students to the answers with by asking them questions. Rather than handing students a sheet of questions as they walk into the computer lab, include the questions on the web page. This will help to insure they stay on track and know what information to locate. Students who chose to work outside class time will know and understand why they are using the Internet at their fingertips. Encourage students to multitask while using your web site by copying and pasting the questions on to their document and typing in answers as they find them. Ask your building computer aid to set up an electronic "hand-in" folder so students can send you their completed worksheets over the network. |
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Annotate all Links |
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Annotate all links so that your users have guidance in selecting them for their own use. The annotation should include a brief note about the author and source of information, as well as what kind of information is included in the site. If necessary, state site navigational tips as some web sites are arranged using a specific buttons or a table or contents that will prepare the student to look for these items. Try to limit the annotation to one -two lines of text. |
Examples of Good Curriculum Sites
| An Informative Site | World Language Dept, Pomperaug High School, Southbury, CT |
| Comprehensive Project Site | Birth Date Research, Somers Middle School, Somers, NY |
| Comprehensive Elementary Classroom Site | Mrs. Hinshaw's Classroom, Birchwood Elem. School,Bellingham, WA |
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Laura Luke, Instructional Technology Specialist, Somers CSD, Somers NY
