Looking at a few district websites last week, I noticed that there weren't many teachers that had their own website. One of the most beneficial aspect of Ms. Han's websites is the organization and categories of information on the front page. The information is not only easy to find, but very relevant to both students and parents who want to know what is being and will be taught each week. District websites should follow this example in organizing information. Recently, I needed to look up the superintendents of Montclair's network districts and found that some websites had easy access to the information while others took multiple links or no possible lead at all. By categorizing the information under a general link or "folder" as Ms. Han has done with each grade level, will make it easier for viewers to find what they are looking for as well as browsing through the website.
Another wonderful aspect of Ms. Han's website is that it shows the beneficial use of the Internet and technology. Similar to the district calendars, there is an interactive one near the bottom of the front page. Future tests/quizzes and homework are also listed and known ahead of time not only by the links but by the calendar as well. This allows parents and students know what is coming up and how much time they have for preparation. Fortunately, many district websites have at least a pdf calendar link on their sites. The more advance, or interactive, calendar allows the conservation of paper as well as the easy accessibility rather than the need to download documents. There is also the usage of the Quizlet application on the website that pertains to the lessons being taught. This helps students to not only visit the site for information, but to practice and improve their skills as well. District websites should have a tab with various sites or applications that students can visit to learn more. It is without saying that many district websites can follow and take Ms. Han's website as an excellent model in creating an informational and helpful tool by using her website.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
District Website Evaluation
I first looked at several districts from each of the categories listed on the "District Factor Groups" page. It was interesting to look at the websites from two aspects: the first, in the design of the websites for each district in general; and two, the types of website functions available based on the socioeconomic division among the districts. I think that in his article, "Reasons for Websites," Dr. Jamie McKenzie makes a valid point that more complex website designs require more investments to keep them running. In comparing the websites from the different categories, it is obvious to see the more complex functions in the higher categories; however, the categories do not necessarily dictate the efficiency in the designs and layouts of the websites.
I decided to choose Mountain Lakes School District's website because I felt that, although the school district is in the highest category, it has both complex website designs (i.e. search boxes, flash player, log-in feature, etc.) and some simple ones (i.e. clickable links) that other school districts in the lower categories have as well. From a design point of view, Mountain Lakes School District's website is organized with text divided in sections by the boxes of colors and is easy to navigate. Besides the continuous changing of pictures and the scroll down menus at the top, I felt that the scroll window with the upcoming events is very efficient, not only in saving space, but following the events.
From an effective school website point of view and according to Dr. McKenzie's four primary goals of an effective school website, Mountain Lakes' has the following:
1) It has an introduction on the front page with the statistical opportunities they provide to all students. The mission statement is hidden in a further link under the "Our District" link. I think that the brief introduction that they have is sufficient enough in luring in parents and other viewers to the website. It would be a lot to soak in all the information in their mission statement on the front page of the website.
2) The website introduction hints that by going through their website, one can see what kind of school atmosphere the district has. One aspect is the colors used in the website.
3) Under the link, "Community Partners," is a list of several organizations that help the school, i.e. the support of visual and performance arts by FOTA (Friends of the Arts).
4) The main site does have data on the community and its history.
The front page of the district website has the calendar, schedules, lunch menus, and forms essential to parents and students. The scroll down menus are helpful in looking at what the link includes and affords viewers less mouse clicks and going backwards to navigate through the website. Overall, this website has the general information students and parents, especially, need in order to keep updates on what is going on in the schools and what kind of education their children are receiving.
I decided to choose Mountain Lakes School District's website because I felt that, although the school district is in the highest category, it has both complex website designs (i.e. search boxes, flash player, log-in feature, etc.) and some simple ones (i.e. clickable links) that other school districts in the lower categories have as well. From a design point of view, Mountain Lakes School District's website is organized with text divided in sections by the boxes of colors and is easy to navigate. Besides the continuous changing of pictures and the scroll down menus at the top, I felt that the scroll window with the upcoming events is very efficient, not only in saving space, but following the events.
From an effective school website point of view and according to Dr. McKenzie's four primary goals of an effective school website, Mountain Lakes' has the following:
1) It has an introduction on the front page with the statistical opportunities they provide to all students. The mission statement is hidden in a further link under the "Our District" link. I think that the brief introduction that they have is sufficient enough in luring in parents and other viewers to the website. It would be a lot to soak in all the information in their mission statement on the front page of the website.
2) The website introduction hints that by going through their website, one can see what kind of school atmosphere the district has. One aspect is the colors used in the website.
3) Under the link, "Community Partners," is a list of several organizations that help the school, i.e. the support of visual and performance arts by FOTA (Friends of the Arts).
4) The main site does have data on the community and its history.
The front page of the district website has the calendar, schedules, lunch menus, and forms essential to parents and students. The scroll down menus are helpful in looking at what the link includes and affords viewers less mouse clicks and going backwards to navigate through the website. Overall, this website has the general information students and parents, especially, need in order to keep updates on what is going on in the schools and what kind of education their children are receiving.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Technology ~ A New Life Style
I feel so fortunate that my childhood was during the '90s, a decade not only at the end of the 21st century, but also when most households only had one or two desktops, dial-up Internet, CD and MP3 players, and bulky cell phones, which were even rarer than computers. I remember being in 3rd grade and the excitement my peers and I expressed when our teacher told us that we were going to use the Macs to print out our final drafts of our poems. At the time, there were only two computers, but that didn't deter us from making sure our poems printed out neatly. I got to experience the time right before the turn of the century when technology boomed across the world. Most teenagers today have a laptop, cellphone, high-speed Internet, e-readers, and are on the Internet whenever they are free from school or meals. Although the curriculum in the '90s was still mostly traditional, such as having to go to the library to find resources because we couldn't really rely on Internet sites, the turn of the century began to incorporate more technological skills into the classroom. I remember being in middle school and having to take a computer class to work on my typing skills, repeatedly writing letters, such as "dedededekikikiki." Because the advancement in technology progressed drastically during my years in school, I was able to learn quickly the new technologies that were constantly coming out. I am not an avid, "must-have-the-lastest-technology" person (as I am when it comes to collecting books), nor against all technology. Although, all of my current technology knowledge and skills are what I have needed for assignment and work, I am open-minded to learning new technological skills.
So, I think it is very interesting to see how technology (and its progression!) is shaping educational curriculums in today's century. I agree with the video, "Learning to Change - Change to Learn," because technology has become a major part of everyone's, especially students', lives; thus, we need to integrate it into the educational system. It practically runs everyone's lives. There's that saying of "I can't live without my cellphone!" The need to communicate and stay in touch with others is necessary, essential to the core of living and existing. For me, I am pretty sure I can live without a cellphone, but when it comes to possibly making emergency phone calls it is required that I have a cell phone anyway. Because students are constantly near some sort of technology, we as current and future educators, need to change our way of teaching how to develop necessary skills to become successful based on current events, one of which is technological integration in the classroom. Technology has opened gate ways to reaching out to others across the world, not just communities or states like the past. Karen Eini's "Friends and Flags: A Multicultural Learning Project" amazed me because she has created a wonderful opportunity for students to improve on their English skills as well as connect and talk to people millions of miles away, which would otherwise be nearly impossible for students to accomplish before the turn of the century. The article, "Using Digitized Documents in the Classroom," relates to the video because teachers are pulling first hand resources from easily accessible websites that they can use in their classrooms. Teachers do not need to waste time going to the library or ordering those first hand resources. Students also learn how to use what technological resources are available to them to easily find resources for themselves. Rather than wasting class time teaching and supervising students' research progress with books and the library card system, the convenience of online website resources has cut down research time, leaving more time for analysis and critical thinking. These are two of the many skills that teachers want their students to learn in order to become successful future citizens and people in general. Technological advancement has helped provide a more convenient method in learning skills, especially being relevant in children's future because they will continue to use newer technologies and be surrounded by them. Thus, why, it is essential to integrate technology usage in the classroom.
So, I think it is very interesting to see how technology (and its progression!) is shaping educational curriculums in today's century. I agree with the video, "Learning to Change - Change to Learn," because technology has become a major part of everyone's, especially students', lives; thus, we need to integrate it into the educational system. It practically runs everyone's lives. There's that saying of "I can't live without my cellphone!" The need to communicate and stay in touch with others is necessary, essential to the core of living and existing. For me, I am pretty sure I can live without a cellphone, but when it comes to possibly making emergency phone calls it is required that I have a cell phone anyway. Because students are constantly near some sort of technology, we as current and future educators, need to change our way of teaching how to develop necessary skills to become successful based on current events, one of which is technological integration in the classroom. Technology has opened gate ways to reaching out to others across the world, not just communities or states like the past. Karen Eini's "Friends and Flags: A Multicultural Learning Project" amazed me because she has created a wonderful opportunity for students to improve on their English skills as well as connect and talk to people millions of miles away, which would otherwise be nearly impossible for students to accomplish before the turn of the century. The article, "Using Digitized Documents in the Classroom," relates to the video because teachers are pulling first hand resources from easily accessible websites that they can use in their classrooms. Teachers do not need to waste time going to the library or ordering those first hand resources. Students also learn how to use what technological resources are available to them to easily find resources for themselves. Rather than wasting class time teaching and supervising students' research progress with books and the library card system, the convenience of online website resources has cut down research time, leaving more time for analysis and critical thinking. These are two of the many skills that teachers want their students to learn in order to become successful future citizens and people in general. Technological advancement has helped provide a more convenient method in learning skills, especially being relevant in children's future because they will continue to use newer technologies and be surrounded by them. Thus, why, it is essential to integrate technology usage in the classroom.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
About Me
Hello! My name is Christine and I just graduated from Rutgers University this past May with a BFA in painting and graphic design. I'm currently working on a MAT in Art and hope to become an inspiring art teacher both inside and outside of the classroom. Since I majored in the arts and took mostly painting and graphic design courses, I hope to learn more about the teaching aspects of art education and education in general here at Montclair. I am highly interested in book design, specifically, the structure, binding, designs, paper-qualities, form, weight, etc. of books. I aspire to have a personal library with many bookshelves filled with various genres. My current book collection consists of mainly art, foreign languages, romance, and manga books.
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