Engagement activity- Week 3 Static website review

Static website reviewT

I have learnt that static Web defines a web page with fixed content, this style of learning is know as "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG). All viewers view the same content each time the page is opened, the only way the content can be changed is if the developer updates the information. Static websites is a one way communication style, lecture style, with all the control based on the teachers decision of what they want the students to learn and explore.

Flicker

The goal of this website is to allow people to share their photos using a privacy setting or share it with the world, using blogs to share where the location was, what they did and to gain peoples feedback, even asking if they want to see more images from their holiday.

The program is free, providing 1 terabyte which allows you to store up to 5000,000 photos. The beauty of this program is you only need to upload once and can share your photos to any device, with anyone and at any time. 

SWOT analysis

Strengths- What actions does it do well?

• Sharing images could be done using the privacy setting for the class only.
• Can be set to privacy setting for safety of students.
• Students can comment on the blog and links can be made to our classroom blog.

Weaknesses- What could improve?

• If students did access at home they may not use the privacy settings and this could become an issue if they put up personal photos without privacy.
• Unable to upload clips, sound to photos unlike powerpoint.

Opportunities- What real opportunities are present in our contemporary society?

• Share images with fellow classmates, could be used to prompt students to speak in front of groups.
• Students will achieve using this program, beginning to upload just photos without text.
• If using the blog, students may feel confident to comment in this situation.

Threats- What are the negative tendencies or obstacles?

• The only threat I can see is if students do not have the privacy component saved and upload images onto the web.

Blogs

Blogs are an extremely useful tool when observing students involvement in a project. Students who struggle with the confidence to speak up during class discussions may prefer to write their thoughts instead of using verbal communication. I know this would have been a useful tool for me as a child.

Blogs have many uses allowing teachers a little control by adding links to the site for students to explore. Students can upload images, videos, links, vokis, popplets the tools to explore are endless.

A useful blog for understanding the difference between static websites and blogs, similar to the SWOT analysis.

http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

                                                                              and

                                      http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

Weebly

I have gained previous experience with creating a weebly website for teachers to use in a classroom environment (see below). The links that are available for teachers is an introduction, what is number and algebra, how it links with the curriculum, web maps to demonstrate a visual link (mind map), caters for all year levels, potential challenges and strategies, diagnostic assessment ideas, and web links to resources for students.

http://scaffoldingnumberandalgebra.weebly.com

SWOT analysis of a "Weebly"

Strengths- What actions does it do well?

• Offers training/ lecture style information in a easy to access topic based links to view up to date information that allows teachers or students to focus on the same information similar to a library book in the lower level of the SAMR model. 
• The resources on the scaffolding number and algebra weebly that I created did allow for further resources to be accessed by teachers/ students.
• Lots of media can be added.

Weaknesses- What could improve?

• In my experience it was slow and frustrating to line up the rows of wards when typing.
• Columns were difficult to add, and adjust the width.
• When more then one person in the group trying to work on things at the same time, the program didn't cope well, this was probably due to my inexperience.

Opportunities- What real opportunities are present in our contemporary society?

• Allowing students to view the weebly from home, school and in the community.
• Easy for students to navigate and create their own.

Threats- What are the negative tendencies or obstacles?

• The only negatives that I can see is the inability for students to be able to add their thoughts and ideas.

Slideshare

Is similare to a powerpoint, individuals own the editing rights and upload their research topics or photos themselves. You can choose to follow peoples interests/ uploads. This is not a program that I would use a lot but could prove to be a good sharing tool with other teachers/ studnets. I have added a link to view a slidedshare on how to begin using "weebly", this is a step by step show of how to start.

http://www.slideshare.net/joeyweaver/creating-a-website-in-weebly?from_search=1

SWOT analysis on the slideshare web

Strengths- What actions does it do well?

• Clear images of the topic.
• Able to add text to the document.
• Can share to other sites.
• Can embed the URL within other web sites such as wiki, weekly etc.

Weaknesses- What could improve?

• The shareslides I explored did not have links embedded within them to take you to other sites.
• I would probably use a powerpoint or prezi instead for this reason.

Opportunities- What real opportunities are present in our contemporary society?

• This would be a good starting point for students to create their own design.

Threats- What are the negative tendencies or obstacles?

• There did not seem to be any really threats, but the privacy settings may need to be set on private as people can follow you on this particular site which could pose as an issue for schools.