1. How to Build a Great Class Website or Blog Presented by Tim and Sara Macmillan QSI Fall PD Session Oct. 21st, 2011

3. Have designed a basic layout for your site considering the needs of your students and parents

5. Other Options: http://edublogs.org http://blogger.com http://wordpress.com http://tumblr.com http://onsugar.com http://webs.com http://yola.com

6. A Video to Help with the Basics

7. Step One: Name Your Site e.g. Mr. Smith’s 6 Year Old Class

8. Step 1: Log in to Weebly and click ‘Edit.’ Step 2: Click ‘Settings’ from the tabs at the top of the screen. Step 3: Type in a new site title. Step 4: Click ‘Change site address and type in your new title to see if it is available and press continue.

10. Avoid overly dark themes

12. Step Three Decide on a Layout

14. Will you have content for students? How will it be organized (i.e. by subjects)

15. Will you have content for parents?

17. Example:

18. Step Five: Rearranging Pages

19. Think back to your thoughts on organization!

20. Step 1: Click and drag pages to better organize your tabs. Step 2: To create subtabs, drag under and over slightly from tab and release. Tab Subtabs Step 3: Click ‘Save Settings.’

21. Step Six: Adding Basic Elements

22. Step 1: Locate the ‘Elements’ tab at the top of the screen. Step 2: Locate the four categories of elements. Step 3: Click on ‘Basic.’ You should see the elements below.

23. Step 4: Click on ‘Paragraph with Title’ and drag to the home page. Step 5: Type in the title for your page. Step 6: Type in your welcome message. (Note: a welcome message should only stay on the site for the first couple of weeks after publishing.)

24. Step 7: Click on ‘Picture’ and drag to the home page. Step 8: Click on the sample image. Step 9: Click on the green bar to upload a file from your computer.

25. Step 10: Alternatively you may search the internet for a photo. Or enter an image URL.

26. Step Seven: Adding Multimedia

27. Step 1: Click on ‘Multimedia’ from the elements bar. Note: Some options are for pro users only! Step 2: In a new tab, open the site YouTube.

28. Step 3: Search for a topic-related video for your class. Step 4: When you find a video you like, copy its URL. Step 5: Return to the Weebly tab and drag a YouTube element to the page.

29. Step 6: You should see this image. Click just outside the YouTube frame.

30. Step 7: You should see this bar. Paste the video URL in the box. Step 8: Choose the size of the video and its position. Click on the outer margin of your page and you should see your video.

31. Step Eight: Adding Games

32. Step 1: In a new tab, go to the site http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/ Step 2: Choose a game you think would be appropriate for your students. Step 3: Click on ‘Free Link to Game.’

33. Step 4: Next to ‘Embedded Game’, you will find the code. Copy the code and return to Weebly. Step 5: On the basic elements, drag the HTML icon to the page you want.

34. Step 6: You should see the words below. Click to add the HTML code. Step 7: Paste in the code and choose the alignment. Step 8: You should now see the game embedded on your site.

35. Step Eight: Embedding Documents

36. Step One: In a new tab, go to the following site: http://beepdf.com/ Another good site is: http://embedit.in/ Step Two: Upload a pdf file to receive an html code. Drag down the HTML element to the page you wish and paste in the code.

37. Step Nine: Adding Photo Slideshows

38. Step One: In a new tab, go to the following site and register (They also give free upgrades to educators to make full length video slideshow!): http://animoto.com/ Another good site is: www.vuvox.com Step Two: Upload a photos to create a video. Submit to receive an HTML code. Drag down the HTML element to the page you wish and paste in the code.

39. Great work! You now have the beginnings of a great class website/blog!