Website Builder Review

Are you considering creating a website for your classroom or club?  Are you looking for a better way to connect with students and parents?  Recently, I’ve had several teachers ask me about how to design a simple website to provide information that can be easily updated and maintained.  I usually direct people with these inquiries to one of the free website builder sites that are available online.  As you probably know, these sites allow you to create a simple website with a template, no coding necessary, for free!  However, the options for these types of sites continue to grow.  I found 19 different website builders in a quick 10 second search.  So I decided to do a little experiment and rate a few of these websites to see which one was the best option.  I chose to compare two of the most popular options, Wix and Yola, as well as Google Sites since we all have access to this easily through our school Google accounts.  I rated the sites on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best in the following three categories:

• User-Friendliness: Is the sign up process easy?  Is the creation process intuitive? Do they provide tutorials?  
•  Customization: Can I easily change colors, fonts, links, etc.?  Can I upload my own images and backgrounds?  Can I change the layout of the navigation bars, headings, etc.
• Free features: What features are provided for free?  Do I have to pay for “premium” features?

The highest possible rating is a 15.  And since we all have limited time, I evaluated these sites based on an hour spent on the website.  If it takes more than an hour to decipher, I figured it probably wasn’t a good option for teachers.  I’ve included my reviews of the websites below.  I hope they are helpful to you in choosing an option to create a class or club website.

Wix: Overall Rating – 12

User-Friendliness: 5

I gave this website a 5 for user-friendliness.  Setting up an account and getting started is super easy on this website.  You just provide name, email, and password and you are ready to start designing.  As soon as you begin to create your website you will see a video pop up explaining where to access all the features.  It is very intuitive.  The toolbars are easy to use and the layout of the toolbars makes them easy to navigate through.  Overall, I found the creation process very simple.

Customization: 4

I am giving this website a 4 for customization.  There are a ton of templates to choose from so it is fairly easy to find one that fits your needs.  However, I found the process of customizing the template to be somewhat confusing.  First of all, the color options are in schemes.  So you choose a color scheme and it affects all the colors on your site.  It is possible to further edit the color schemes but it is very confusing.  For example, it is not easy to choose one color for your heading, and a different color for your links, and a different color for your borders.  There is one customization feature that I love and that is lists.  Wix gives you the option to add a list to your site and gives several layout options.  This is basically different table formats for organizing information.  They are very well formatted in my opinion and can give your page a more professional look.  Overall, I rate the customization process as fairly easy but some features can be frustrating.

Free-features: 3

I am giving this website a 3 for free features.  I’m rating it a little low due to the fact that your free website will have large ads for Wix included in the header and footer of your page unless you pay to upgrade.  You can pay $4.08 a month to change your domain name but you will still have ads included on your page.  You have to upgrade to the $8.25 a month website (yearly plan) to get rid of the ads.

Yola: Overall Rating - 14

User-friendliness: 5

I am giving this website a 5 for user-friendliness.  Setting up an account and getting started is very simple and takes less than 2 minutes.  Just like Wix, the toolbars are very intuitive and are very easy to navigate through. 

Customization: 5

I am giving this website a 5 for customization.  I found it really easy to customize colors, layout, and fonts on this website.  The process is very easy to work through and unlike Wix, you can choose a theme but can still edit individual colors easily.  You can also add social media links but Yola, unlike Wix, includes a Pinterest option.

Free Features: 4

I am giving this website a 4 for free features.  Just like Wix you have to upgrade to change the domain name.  There is also an upgrade required for “Premium Styles”.  However, unlike Wix, there is only one very small ad at the bottom of the free page for Yola.  It is very unobtrusive.

Google Sites: Overall Rating - 11

User-friendliness: 1

I am giving this website a 1 for user-friendliness.  I found the creation process to be very confusing and not user-friendly.  The actual editing of the site is mostly done by going into a separate information screen with a very text rich interface to input the edits you want.  This is not as user-friendly as making the edits directly on the site preview screen.  Also, to access the help instructions you have to keep clicking on their written tutorials and read the through the instructions (see example below).  This is not nearly as easy as seeing a quick video tutorial. 

 

Customization: 5

I am giving this website a 5 for customization because I think it is possible to do a lot of customizing in Google Sites.  You have the ability to start with a completely blank template and create the layout however you would like to.  You also have the normal options for changing colors, fonts, images, etc.  Even though I don’t like the interface, if you have enough time (more than an hour) it seems that you can figure out how to customize everything on your site.

Free features: 5

I am giving this website a 5 for free features.  While the other sites charge you to change your domain name, it is apparently possible to change your URL on google site for free if you follow the written instructions.  I also didn’t see any ads for Google included on your final site.

Final Thoughts – If you are looking for a quick and easy website builder with a lot of good customization options, I think Yola is your best choice.  It has all the features you need to customize your site in a user-friendly format and it’s free without a lot of ads.

A Tale of Two Student Teachers at NHS

The first day of school is daunting for even the most veteran of teacher… we, however, were nothing but newbies - student teachers soon to be thrown to the anticipating mobs of students.  Wait, it wasn't that bad.  We survived and are here to tell the tale: a tale of hardships and successes, of fun and distress.  Together, Jamie Hoffmann and Will Verkamp, will tell our stories from North High School.

Jamie:  Not wanting to be too overwhelmed on the first day of school, I decided to come before the start of school to the first faculty meeting.  I was told to text Mrs. McCutchan when I entered the school and she would come and meet me.  I stood nervously at the office knowing my relationship with my co-teacher could make or break my student teaching experience.  After standing there for a minute or two, a perky tall brunette lady came walking up asking if there was anything she could help me with.  I replied, “No thank you, I am just waiting on someone.” She smiled and walked into the office.  As I watched her leave I noticed the back of her shirt, “McCutchan”.  She was the teacher I was waiting for!  I awkwardly chased after her into the office and the ice was broken from the laughter of the realization of who I was.

Soon after my student teaching began it was clear to both students and faculty that Mrs. McCutchan and I got along very well.  Before long we were finishing each other sentences while co-teaching and enjoying our lunches with Mrs. Carraro.  With these two powerful women by my side throughout my entire experience, my confidence level was high and my goals were set even higher.

Will: To say that I was more than a little apprehensive about student teaching would be the understatement of the century.  Before my placement at North, I had mainly worked with younger grades and never for longer than a few hours at a time over the span of one semester.  To think that I would soon be "in charge" of over 100 students seemed more than daunting.  However, I decided to face my fears head-on and get comfortable as soon as possible.  I too attended the faculty meeting prior to school starting where I learned that my co-teacher raised and bred snakes.  Uneasiness level: unchanged.  

As the semester progressed, though, my reptile-loving fellow educator did much to raise my confidence level and guide me along my journey.  With a mixture of firmness and understanding, Mrs. Bartley led me through the myriad of both challenging and rewarding experiences that are inherently associated with co-teaching.  She helped me when I struggled, and she never failed to make the experience at least a little more fun.  Looking back, I find it hard to imagine that I was so worried that first day.  I learned so much and look forward to one day passing on my newly gained knowledge.

Perhaps the most important part of student teaching was the relationship between student teacher and co-teacher.  Working day in and day out with the same person  would have been hard to do with clashing personalities.  Every teacher at NHS treated us with respect valuing our input and ideas.  We were both treated as teachers at NHS rather than student teachers though we both received the obligatory ribbing at certain events.

We were expected to attend SLC’s, PLC’s, open house, faculty meetings, and many other events that were expected of the staff at NHS.  Through the SLC’s and PLC’s we developed the skills necessary to successfully collaborate with students' best interests in mind.  The open house provided us with a chance to meet the parents of our students (and give our own parents a tour).  Faculty meetings gave us an inside look at how the faculty is addressed in a school and the small aspects that we never realized before (like what procedures to take  if Santa Switch is cancelled).

We both plan to continue our career path of education; thank goodness for that!  Perhaps someday we’ll end up teaching back in the halls of North.  Who knows?  Maybe those poor co-teachers of ours will one day become our co-workers!

And now, here we are; over 16 weeks have passed since that first nerve-wracking day as student teachers.  We may have our individual goals for the future, but we are both armed with the tricks and tools of the trade that we learned while at NHS.  No matter where we end up, we will always carry Our Husky Pride.

- Jamie Hoffmann (Beth McCutchan’s student teacher)

- Will Verkamp (Christina Bartley’s student teacher)

Not Assigning Homework = Lazy?

In a few, recent, unrelated conversations, the topic of "homework" has come up.  I've talked to a few parents who hate it, a few students who hate it (no surprise there), a few teachers who hate it, and many more teachers who hate grading it! 

These conversations reminded me of something I overheard last year.   A group of educators (not at North, of course) were referring to another teacher as lazy because she was advocate against homework.  What? Not assigning homework = lazy?

I felt the need to say something - I was too wimpy then, but I can totally say it in a blog that I know they will never read!   I love the variety of teaching styles among educators and think we all have things to learn from each other. #1) Let's not put labels such as "lazy" on one another.  #2) Since the reasoning behind homework has been well-articulated since...forever,  I'd like to explain why some do not assign homework.

My Four [Main] Arguments Against Homework:

1)  Students need immediate feedback so they do not waste their time doing things the wrong way. 
Example: A student writes twenty sentences in Spanish with incorrect verb conjugations every time. The student does not find out this mistake until 36 hours later (if the teacher isn't too busy to grade it the day it is turned in).
The harms: (1) The student has practiced incorrectly and perhaps has developed a bad habit.  (2) The student has been in class for an entire 90 minutes since turning in the assignment and probably cannot understand the new material because no one has fixed his misunderstandings on the foundation material.  (3) The student spent 30 minutes away from his family or anything that actually interested him the night before because he was doing an assignment incorrectly.

2)  Students time at home is important and should be preserved, if at all possible.
Example: A student needs to complete a formal lab report at home.  The student understood the lab perfectly and is not in need of immediate feedback.  The teacher will grade it ASAP.
The harms: (1) This student is involved in many activities and didn't get home until 8pm.  He had to eat his dinner while doing his homework from each class and did not see any of his family. (2) Doing the lab report did not teach this student anything - he already understood the lab perfectly.  It was just a time-consuming way to prove to the teacher that he understood it.  (3) Now you have to grade a lab report instead of spending time with your family or other students - especially sad if the actual completion of the lab report did not teach this student anything.

3)  If students get busy and/or do not understand, they are tempted to cheat. There is no way you can police that if they are not in your classroom.
Example: A student has to turn in a chapter of math problems on test day.  The student did not make the time.  He can take a zero, or can copy off a friend.  In this case, he chooses to copy off a friend.
The harms: (1) You grade this student's paper without knowing he cheated, give him points, and so have accidentally rewarded him for cheating.  He is more likely to do it again...and so are others.  (2) You wasted your time that could have been spent with family, friends, or other students grading a student's paper who did not learn anything from that assignment.

4)  Not everyone has adults at home who can help them.  They go home and are all alone.
Example: A simple math assignment is sent home.  Julie's parents help her.   Tim "google"s for help.  Sally's parents work in the evenings and she doesn't have Internet access.

Here is a video that also helps explain why some educators choose not to give homework:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZONH4B-qCAs&safe=active

Because of the four points above, my goals relating to assignments are (1) only give students assignments if I can give them immediate feedback and  (2) only give students the bare minimum assignment required to teach them the standard.   As for the cheating, I think we'll have some cheating no matter what.  However, I'm better at cheating prevention if the work is happening within my classroom walls.

I realize there must be many different schools of thought on this issue.  Thanks for reading, and feel free to share any thoughts you have in the comments section!

Digital Handprints

Stop and think for a second about the piece of technology you are using to read this blog article on right now. Think of all of the individual pieces of the device that work together as a whole. If you’re sitting at a computer you have a screen, a keyboard, a mouse or trackpad, plus all of the internal parts like processors and memory that go into making the entire thing work.

Now think even further than that… think to the hands of the people who made each of those components, and assembled them into a whole. Think of the hands of the people who mined the gold and silicon to used to create the most crucial parts of the computer. Think of the truck drivers that transported parts and then assembled machines and delivered them to the store where you purchased it. Think of the team of people that created ads that helped drive your decision to purchase that particular computer.

I could go on but the moral of the story is that one simple device, that we take for granted in today’s society, requires the work of hundreds if not thousands of people, worldwide, in order to go from raw materials to finished product. The moral is that we are all interconnected. We rely on each other in order to enjoy the things we enjoy in life. We rely on our fellow human beings to provide so much for us when you really break things down.

So what does this have to do with Digital Citizenship? It's the idea that we are all interconnected. What you share with a friend could be spread all over the Internet within a matter of moments. The mean things you say to what appears to be a simple avatar are being said to a real-life human being, with real life feelings. And those comments are forever connected with your personal Internet record. Everywhere you go on the Internet, everything you post, leaves a digital handprint on the Internet. And just like we can break down a computer into ever smaller parts, we can break the Internet down into ever smaller parts until we arrive at the handprint of the person who made any specific posting.

Just as every person leaves their mark on the physical world, every interaction online leaves a mark in the virtual world. What do your interactions, your handprints, say about you? Do they show a hard-working, dedicated individual with a giving heart and a great attitude. Or do they show that you have an attitude, in the not so great meaning of the word. These handprints that you leave behind each and every day are never going away, there is no delete function on the Internet. And so I ask you to examine your digital handprints and see what they say about you. The worn and battered hands of a miner who has toiled for years bringing ore from the ground that we need to build parts to make our devices run show the hard work and dedication in every callus and scar on them.

What do the marks on your digital hands say about you? Take a look at your digital profiles with a fresh eye, and see what they really say. To someone who doesn’t know you, what do they really say? Is it positive? Is it what you would want a potential employer to see about you? Is it what you want a scholarship committee to see about you? Is it what you want a college admissions officer to see about you? How do your digital hands reflect who you are? What story do they tell. And what can you start doing now to make those digital hands tell a new story? For it is never too late to change the story those hands tell, and there is never a better time to start than now.

Husky Nation

If you didn't know, the North Teacher Softball team, Husky Nation, has had at least four practices now.  I attended my first practice last night - and it was surprisingly fun.  We are really looking forward to our first double header: September 4th at 6pm and 7pm @ Iglehart Field.  We would love for you to come!!  It should be fun to watch - I was really impressed at our players performance during practice!  So who is on this team?!


After intense tryouts, I would like to introduce you to your very own North softball team... ::drumroll::

Christina Bartley! Sarah Braun!  Tina Carraro! Adam Cooper! Andrea Gilham! Mechelle Gilles! Karen Halle! Joe Hancock!  Chris Herron! Errick Lickey!  Shawn McGeorge!  Michelle Roach!  Amanda Salomon! Leslie Wilhelmus!

Now, I've only attended one practice ..but let me just say,  what.an.impressive.team.

Bartley was throwing underhanded from the outfield and the ball would go right where it was supposed to go!  Tina was pitching so well that she was technically striking people out! I asked Adam Cooper to hit the ball directly to me in the outfield...and he did!  Errick Lickey is such a wise batting coach, he changed my batting life!  Karen is an amazing, A-League-Of-Their-Own-quality first basewoman!   Chris Herron had an amazing backpack - I think it was even made for baseball players!  I've only attended two-thirds of one practice, so I haven't seen everyone's stuff.  If the rest of the team is anything like yesterday's bunch, we are in good shape.  Plus, I hear McGeorge knows what he's doing.

Here's to a great season!

End of Year Reflections from North Teachers

 

 

 

 

When I tell everything we're doing in PLCs and SLCs to my teacher friends at other schools - they often comment, "Wow. That is a LOT".  It does feels like a lot. But, a few months ago, it felt like a WHOLE lot.  A year ago, it felt impossible.  I think that means I've made it through the toughest part - and that's exciting!

Cannot believe summer is already here - and that's a great thing -  but I think I'm actually going to miss you all.

Practice What I Preach…

To begin, I consider it a privilege to be invited as a guest blogger for NHS.  You see, in my role as an “academic/lead/literacy coach,” we don’t always know where to hang our hat.  I didn’t realize how important this was as a teacher.  

From South Marshall Middle School in little Benton, KY…

to Wea Ridge Middle in lovely Lafayette, IN…

to Fairview Middle School in beloved Fairview, TN…

(with a little bit of USI in good ole’ Evansville, IN)

I have always been surrounded by colleagues that I considered friends…and even some family. 

With this role as a coach and my charge to serve 8 different schools, it has taken my relationship building to a new level.  I have had to learn to be intentional with my time, always looking for connections and similarities that can forge relationships quickly.  In seeking these bright spots, I thank so many of you who have reached out and invited me in.  Including this opportunity to blog.

And since many of you have asked, I want to take this blogging opportunity to share with you about the next step in my journey.

I’ll start with professionally…

Beginning this summer, I will be stepping into the new world of the River Bend Writing Project.( http://www.riverbendwritingproject.com/)  I will be going through the Institute this summer and then move into my new role of “Summer Institute Coordinator”  the following summer.  Already, I have learned  through my work with the RBWP that I have a lot to learn about teaching writing.  And that is ok.  (If the sound of RBWP calls to you and you have a desire to connect with a network of K-12 educators in the tri-state area who are passionate about learning from each other and desire to grow as writers and get paid while doing it, you should seriously check River Bend out for next summerJ)  

Also, beginning in the fall, I will go back to teaching in the English Department at USI.  For Fall 2013 , I am slated to teach three ENG 100 classes and one ENG 101 class.

 I can honestly say that I am forever changed as an educator due to my 2.5 years coaching in EVSC and I am excited to once again practice what I preach.  To start, those lovely MAX Strategies that you all have grown to hopefully love along with me will deepen as a part of my instruction.  And this newly discovered concept that I have learned from my work with Harrison High School’s Center for Family and Community Outreach/CFCO(http://www.thecfco.com/community-schools-project.html) will overhaul the way I approach writing…bringing my students to true purpose in writing and true authenticity in their audience.  All while impacting our community.  What is there not to love about that?  

I could go on here with all of my dreaming, but I tend to have a problem in life with biting off more than I can chew, so I’ll let the accountability factor that comes with this post fall here.

And finally, on a personal note…

My husband, Mike Allen(who is transitioning into working for Evansville Christian Schools), and I are about a year and a half in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia.  We are told that our little 1-2 year old will join our family in about a year and a half.  That’s still a long time.  But I take heart in knowing that though it will probably be a year and a half…it could be tomorrowJ  Until then, I am trying to focus my energy into my present 3 & 5 year old boys, Isaac & Ezra.  From broken collar bones …to lost legos…to bedtime snuggles, there is plenty to give my attention to while we pray and wait.

So, for those of you who have asked me why I am choosing to make this transition, these words above are my answer.

I look forward to crossing paths with my North High School friends in the future.  Whether it be at Granola Jar or EVSC’s eRevolution or Walmart, I hope that when those paths do cross that you will stop and say hi and even better, share a bit about your world with me.  

Nothing but blessings to you, North High School.

2012-2013 North Attendance District Lead Coach,
Kim Allen