I'm new to Classroom 2.0 and to using technology for my teaching in general. Where can I go on the web to create a website which my students can access for assignments, help, etc.?
Steve - Thanks very much for the leads. I'm truly impressed -- within 2 hours of starting -- with Classroom 2.0. Along w/ your leads I've got three others from two different members, and on New Year's Eve, no less. I also want to say that your tutorial, which I watched before I signed up, was very helpful and encouraging. Without it I'm not sure I would have signed up so quickly. Mark Chuoke
Haven't tried this new one out yet . . . but looks promising: http://snappages.com/ .
Personally . . . if I were back in the classroom again, I'd probably use Google Sites. It is basically a easy-to-use wiki . . . but ties in so well with other Google tools. I use Google Sites for my online "office." :)
I think it's pretty hard to beat Google Sites for that sort of thing.
It's even easier than most wikis, and it's easier to organize than a blog--since you can create separate pages and link to them like a traditional static site.
Our district webpages for teachers are terrible which made me seek out websites that I can use much like you want to above. I looked at some of the webpages that other teachers in my district made using independent sites (both these teachers used www.teacherweb.com)
and then researched others. I settled on using www.myteacherpages.com (prices were the same as teacherweb but I liked the look of it better). You can check out my site if you like at www.mrsheatonsclass.com (I also purchased a domain name, $10 for the year, so it would be easier for my students to get to my site...since I knew I was going to be using it a lot). I got the free trial for 30 days and then when I purchased the site for the year I upgraded to the more expensive package (just to see if I would like it...which I do...). Here is an example of another teacher using teacherpages (not in my district) http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/mri/index.cfm
I would certainly second the notion that these websites that you have named above are a great way for a beginner to start out. Our system uses teacherweb which is great for most. Personally I have a .mac account and maintain my website that way. My only problem with this is that well, it's expensive, and also I have had my computer crash before and had to start over from scratch. I am a Mac person and love that all my applications are streamlined, but not being able to edit my site from any other computer gets frustrating.
Eva, I checked out your webpage and I love it. I do have a couple of questions. Did myteacherpages give you the option to purchase your own domain or did you do that through an outside source? Also, I noticed that your blogs were through blogspot. Was this provided or did you have to set up your site through myteacherpages and then add in a lot of your outside stuff? Just curious. I'm seriously thinking about moving my site to something like this. My students do a lot of podcasting. Do you know if this is supported as well? Thanks for your time!
I went to an outside source to purchase my domain name (godaddy.com). I was emailed instructions on how to forward my domain name to myteacherpages site. It was well worth the yearly price of $10 to do that. Let me also tell you that I am not a technology expert by any means and if I can do that anyone can!
I went through blogspot because I was familiar with it. I puchased the upgrade package at myteacherpages which includes blog capability but have not used it (no reason only that I was on a time crunch and decided to go with a known blog instead of playing around with an unknown blog...although that might be my summer project to look at it a bit closer). The basic yearly rate for the website is $39 for the year and I think the upgrade was $59 (I think) for the year (so total with the domain name purchase was $69...I say it is the best money spent...I used PTO money I was given to do it this year but would gladly spend my own money next year for the freedom it gives me.)
Here is a teacher who uses myteacherpages and podcasts (http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/TeresaOakley/). She is very nice and could probably answer your question about podcasting better then I could since I haven't started that yet.
Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. My contact information is on my website.