I will create a class website incorporating images, video, lesson materials, and link/embed to Google Apps and other online resources for lesson material and assessment.
Sign up for Weebly using your Google Account.
Weebly is what we will use to start creating a basic class website today. However, you are free to use any other platform you prefer. Once you click on the Google login, it may take you to "Weebly for Education". That is fine, just click on "Log in" where it says "Already have a Weebly Account?"
Build your Website.
1. Choose a theme for your website. Once you choose your theme you will be prompted to create a name for your website. You can complete it now or just close that window and skip this step.
2. Next we will name your website where it says "MY SITE". You can be simple, such as "Mr. Freeman's U.S. History" or you can do something more creative - when I taught AP Euro my website was called "The Guillotine Theory".
3. Next we will insert an image for your homepage. You can change it later. At the top of your website builder you will see "Build" "Pages" "Theme" "Settings" and "Help". Right now we want to Build so click on "Build" if you are not there already. Now find the "Image" icon and Click and Drag it over to where it says "DRAG ELEMENTS HERE". Now you can insert an image on your homepage.
4. Next we are going to create a layout for a lesson on the class website. After you have done this a few times, creating lessons on your website becomes easier and easier. At the top, click on "Pages". Click on one of the pages other than the top "Home" and change the name of the page to "Lessons". Also notice that you can change the header types below. Change the Header type to "No Header" as it gives you greater flexibility in the design of your lesson pages. Now go back up to where it says LESSONS and click the back arrow to go back to "Pages". Notice your page descriptions on the left correspond to the visible pages at the top of your website. Click on the page below your "Lesson" page and drag it to the right about a centimeter so there is an indent to the "Lesson" page. You'll notice that that page is no longer showing at the top of the website. When you indent a page under another page, it becomes a subpart of that top page. So now under "Lessons" you will see that indented page as a drop down when you hover your cursor over "Lessons". This is where you want to change the name of the indented page to the name of an actual lesson. We'll just call this "Lesson 1" but you can name it whatever you like. I would not use standard numbers to name your lesson pages as they can change! Use a title that describes the lesson topic.
2. Next we will name your website where it says "MY SITE". You can be simple, such as "Mr. Freeman's U.S. History" or you can do something more creative - when I taught AP Euro my website was called "The Guillotine Theory".
3. Next we will insert an image for your homepage. You can change it later. At the top of your website builder you will see "Build" "Pages" "Theme" "Settings" and "Help". Right now we want to Build so click on "Build" if you are not there already. Now find the "Image" icon and Click and Drag it over to where it says "DRAG ELEMENTS HERE". Now you can insert an image on your homepage.
4. Next we are going to create a layout for a lesson on the class website. After you have done this a few times, creating lessons on your website becomes easier and easier. At the top, click on "Pages". Click on one of the pages other than the top "Home" and change the name of the page to "Lessons". Also notice that you can change the header types below. Change the Header type to "No Header" as it gives you greater flexibility in the design of your lesson pages. Now go back up to where it says LESSONS and click the back arrow to go back to "Pages". Notice your page descriptions on the left correspond to the visible pages at the top of your website. Click on the page below your "Lesson" page and drag it to the right about a centimeter so there is an indent to the "Lesson" page. You'll notice that that page is no longer showing at the top of the website. When you indent a page under another page, it becomes a subpart of that top page. So now under "Lessons" you will see that indented page as a drop down when you hover your cursor over "Lessons". This is where you want to change the name of the indented page to the name of an actual lesson. We'll just call this "Lesson 1" but you can name it whatever you like. I would not use standard numbers to name your lesson pages as they can change! Use a title that describes the lesson topic.
Create a Lesson Page.
"Now that you have named your first lesson, let's get to building your first lesson page!
1. Create the Title header. Access the Website Images shared folder and open the "Website Sample Header" in PowerPoint. Change the name of the Header to Lesson 1 or whatever you want to name your lesson. Follow the instructions on the slide to use the "Snipping Tool" to capture the header box as an image. Now go back to Weebly, click "Build" and insert the title header image you just created using PowerPoint. It helps to create an image folder for all of the images you are going to use on your website.
2. Create a section for a Bell Ringer. The first thing your students will do when they access your lesson will be the "Bell Ringer". I don't use that term. I call mine "Warmup for the Brain". But you can call it whatever you want. You can just use text or create a custom image if you are familiar with image programs such as Adobe. To use text, simply drag a text box icon over to the workspace. Or, you can use the "Warmup for the Brain" image in the Website Images shared folder.
3. Create a section for Task #1 and insert a video resource. Again, you can use the simple Title text icon or you may feel free to use the images in the shared folder for the title header for Task #1. After you have created your Task #1 header, insert a paragraph text icon below. This is where you will put your instructions for your first task and/or connect a link to a learning resource. Just to practice, let's insert a video resource for Task #1. Scroll down on your "Build" space to the left until you see the "Media" section. Drag a "YouTube" icon over to the workspace. Click on the YouTube image. It will prompt you for a YouTube URL. Now find a YouTube video you may watch in class. Copy the URL and paste it into where it said "YouTube Video URL". You have just embedded a video on your website for the students to access and watch as many times and whenever they want! NOTE: You can also embed regular HD videos with a paid Weebly Pro subscription. I have one to access the extra features but it is worth it to me as I have a lot of videos other than those on YouTube.
4. You will repeat the steps for part 3 for the rest of your tasks depending on how many you have for your lesson. Just be sure to change your headers to "Task 2" or "Task 3" and so on. Remember you can also hyperlink your text to other resources such as EdPuzzle, NearPod, GoFormative, etc., using the text toolbar that appears whenever you are working with text in Weebly. I also usually build upon my tasks so there is more critical thinking and/or synthesis occurring at the end of the lesson.
1. Create the Title header. Access the Website Images shared folder and open the "Website Sample Header" in PowerPoint. Change the name of the Header to Lesson 1 or whatever you want to name your lesson. Follow the instructions on the slide to use the "Snipping Tool" to capture the header box as an image. Now go back to Weebly, click "Build" and insert the title header image you just created using PowerPoint. It helps to create an image folder for all of the images you are going to use on your website.
2. Create a section for a Bell Ringer. The first thing your students will do when they access your lesson will be the "Bell Ringer". I don't use that term. I call mine "Warmup for the Brain". But you can call it whatever you want. You can just use text or create a custom image if you are familiar with image programs such as Adobe. To use text, simply drag a text box icon over to the workspace. Or, you can use the "Warmup for the Brain" image in the Website Images shared folder.
3. Create a section for Task #1 and insert a video resource. Again, you can use the simple Title text icon or you may feel free to use the images in the shared folder for the title header for Task #1. After you have created your Task #1 header, insert a paragraph text icon below. This is where you will put your instructions for your first task and/or connect a link to a learning resource. Just to practice, let's insert a video resource for Task #1. Scroll down on your "Build" space to the left until you see the "Media" section. Drag a "YouTube" icon over to the workspace. Click on the YouTube image. It will prompt you for a YouTube URL. Now find a YouTube video you may watch in class. Copy the URL and paste it into where it said "YouTube Video URL". You have just embedded a video on your website for the students to access and watch as many times and whenever they want! NOTE: You can also embed regular HD videos with a paid Weebly Pro subscription. I have one to access the extra features but it is worth it to me as I have a lot of videos other than those on YouTube.
4. You will repeat the steps for part 3 for the rest of your tasks depending on how many you have for your lesson. Just be sure to change your headers to "Task 2" or "Task 3" and so on. Remember you can also hyperlink your text to other resources such as EdPuzzle, NearPod, GoFormative, etc., using the text toolbar that appears whenever you are working with text in Weebly. I also usually build upon my tasks so there is more critical thinking and/or synthesis occurring at the end of the lesson.
Create and Link an Assessment
Now we will link an assessment to our lesson page. You can do this through hyperlinking text, but you can also link through an image so let's try that. First find a link to an online assessment you have used in the past. Then find an image you would like to use to link to the assessment. Google Forms are great for quizzes as they are fast and efficient and you can provide instant feedback, which is best practice. But of course, you are free to use any assessment you wish. I usually don't count these quizzes in the lessons as grades but somehow questions that look very similar seem to "pop" up from time to time on graded quizzes. CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR A SHORT ASSESSMENT.
SOME KEY TAKEWAYS...
1. You should now have a good start on creating a basic website to use in your classroom. The great thing is that it is a constant work in progress and you can always improve on it. The more you play around with Weebly, the more you'll learn and be able to tweak things just the way you want.
2. Remember, this can be a little bit of work but it pays off later. Not to mention you'll eventually have most of your content accessible online should any sort of virtual situation rise up again.
3. Having a website like this working in conjunction with Google Classroom keeps things in order, there's no "lost papers", and it makes grading with instant feedback easy!
4. It makes things really easy on subs and really easy for you to prep for days out!
5. Go forth and do good things!
2. Remember, this can be a little bit of work but it pays off later. Not to mention you'll eventually have most of your content accessible online should any sort of virtual situation rise up again.
3. Having a website like this working in conjunction with Google Classroom keeps things in order, there's no "lost papers", and it makes grading with instant feedback easy!
4. It makes things really easy on subs and really easy for you to prep for days out!
5. Go forth and do good things!