Ten Tips: Use Your TeacherWeb® Effectively & Efficiently

Managing a website can be time consuming. Use these 10 strategies to help you work smarter not harder...

1. Approach your web content from a student and parent’s point of view. What information would be important? – contact information, class schedule, syllabus, unit summaries, resources for major projects, homework, due dates, important handouts, etc.
2. Use the “News Flash” feature to communicate updates with students and parents automatically.
3. Provide a link to Family Access.
4. Upload handouts… only when necessary. It takes time to post handouts online. If you are printing handouts for the entire class, it may not be worth your time and effort. Extra credit handouts are great to have online as students can access the printouts when needed.
5. Stop writing long web site addresses on the marker board – hyperlink the web addresses directly from your class “Links” page.
6. Students and parents love seeing class activities, student projects, and field trip pictures posted online. (NOTE: Be sure all student information is removed from the displayed images and the Acceptable Use Policy has been signed by the student’s parents.)
7. Use the “All Purpose” pages if a variety of content needs to be posted, i.e. formatted text, hyperlinks, images, tables, etc.
8. If you have an online textbook, provide a link and directions for access.
9. Set a weekly, 10-minute schedule to review and update your web pages (every Monday morning for example).
10. Whether you like it or not, your web site is a reflection of you as a teacher… keep it updated, organized, and professional.