Classroom websites create classroom communities

My final assignment in my technology class was to create a classroom website using Google Sites. I was relieved to discover that this process was fairly simple and straightforward, and all I really had to do was to pick a website template, my colors, fonts, and then create a few pages. Once the pages were completed, all I had to do was to add my text, links and images.


While my new website is supposed to mimic my future classroom website, it also is a place to showcase all the technology projects I completed in the class, and to maintain the collection of web resources I plan to use in future lesson planning. I am relieved to have a sound location for these documents and resources, where they can be easily accessed in the months and years to come, without having to recall a file name on my personal computer. As an added benefit, students, parents and other teachers can also use my website to find pre-selected websites and activities.


The website also gave me the opportunity to practice building a classroom community.
As it was created with student and parent use in mind, it was important to provide personal information about myself, and my professional experience on the website. While links to my resume, and a short biography were included, the link to my blog, and my collection of technology lessons will give parents more insight into who I am and what my capabilities are.


In my future classroom website, I will also include a classroom blog to keep parents, students and other school staff informed about my class and our progress. By following me on Twitter, parents and students can also receive homework and assignment postings and reminders. I will encourage my students and their families to be regular visitors to the website, and will probably even assign homework that requires the use of the resources available on the site.


I feel fortunate that I am learning to be a teacher at a time in history when technology can assist me in creating a classroom community. The accessibility of a classroom website will make it much easier to maintain communication with my students and families, and therefore will help me create closer and more cooperative relationships with them. I think classroom websites are a wonderful tool that I definitely look forward to using.