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What is Build Your Own Website?
The WGTE Build Your Own Website service allows educators to create a Web site for a classroom even if one doesn't know HTML from FTP. All you have to do is point and click your way through the template of your choice. With no special hardware or software requirements, becoming your own Webmaster has never been simpler. Enjoy local training and support, and feel secure in the knowledge that, as an affiliate of PBS and NPR, WGTE's non-commercial mission means you will not see any inappropriate embedded advertising.
Building Web sites is just the beginning, however. Build Your Own Website also includes a vast array of specialized tools that make the service much more than just another template farm. With "point-n-click" simplicity, users can maintain Web site calendars, create and send newsletters, store files for public access or personal use, post homework assignments (and allow parents to opt-in to automatically generated homework email notices), create opinion polls and online quizzes (with real time grading and reporting), and save Web pages for use on other servers. In addition, the core Build Your Own Website tools are supported by rich media and resource libraries, tutorials, discussion boards, and more.
One of the most unique aspects of Build Your Own Website is the Strategic Partner Library. Local educational organizations are thrilled to provide local material for use on individual teacher Web sites. With nothing more than a click of the mouse, a classroom Web site can be filled with extraordinary information that comes directly from the local art museum or science center. WGTE is committed to the belief in educational partnerships, and no other Web building service can match this level of dedication.
Build Your Own Website is a strong stand-alone application, but its utility can be enhanced even more when used in association with the WGTE Portal Manager and Classroom Argus. For more information on these great new services, please contact WGTE at 419-380-4633.
Cost-effective, adaptable, proven, and always expanding, Build Your Own Website brings the very best in educational technology into your classroom.
Guiding Principles:
From concept to design to development and deployment, Build Your Own Website has been teacher-focused and teacher-tested. As a result, you'll be sure to discover an ever-present commitment to the core principles upon which Build Your Own Website was built.
- Effective education must involve interactive communication among teachers, students, and parents.
- The Web offers unprecedented educational opportunities.
- Teachers want the ability to post classroom information and make use of other Internet-based technologies.
- Teachers do not have time to learn complex new software. Learning curves must be extremely minimal and there should be few prerequisite skills.
- Tech coordinators are too busy to make regular, timely updates to the Web sites of a large number of teachers. The service must allow oversight and quality control, but should avoid creating bottlenecks.
- Teacher Web sites can get lost on the World Wide Web. Users are best served by having a single, well-organized, highly-trusted, highly-functional central location for online information.
- The service should be built from the user's perspective, and not designed in the traditional "top-down" approach. Teachers must have direct involvement in every stage of the design and development of the service. Simplicity of use and effectiveness at accomplishing educational goals are most important. Technology is a tool. Learning is the mission.
Functionality:
- "Point-n-click" templates allow rapid Web site development without any prerequisite skills.
- Unlimited number of Web pages can be created.
- Service is entirely online and can be accessed from any connection point (home, school, library, etc.)
- Upload your own images or use those available in the service's extensive library.
- The "Strategic Partner Library" gives teachers the ability to use local educational materials from community organizations (such as the museum, science center, etc.)
- Highly specialized tools give users the ability to create and maintain email lists for use with the "My Mail Center" bulk emailer. The "My Newsletter" service allows an unlimited number of newsletters to be saved and emailed, as well.
- A searchable calendar enables users to post event and homework information in an easy-to-use format. Parents can even sign up for automatic event and homework notices via email.
- The "Web Porter" allows users to save Web pages to HTML for use on local systems or remote servers.
- "My Locker" enables users to store files online, either for personal use, restricted access, or public availability.
- Online polls and quizzes can be generated in minutes. Polls can be placed anywhere on the Web site, while quizzes can be used for review purposes or set up to perform real-time grading and reporting.
- A multitude of libraries, tools, links, and other resources are never more than a single click away.
- Less costly than commercial alternatives.
- No inappropriate embedded advertising.
- Local training and support.
- Many other services, too numerous to mention here, are also included.
For more information please contact:
Betsy Hood
WGTE Public Broadcasting
1270 South Detroit Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614
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