Creating Classroom Websites

Creating Classroom WebsitesMeredith Martin

Sites to Get Started

Smore - extremely simple single page website

smore.com

Wordpress - extremely popular, easy to use, flexible

wordpress.com

Google Sites - built in to our Google Apps account, easy to set up

Website Creation Tips

Start Simple - you can always add to it later

Plan It Out - take the time to plan out what you want on your website rather than just adding things randomly

Clear Navigation - your website navigation should make it easy for people to find what they are looking for

Sample Website Map

Websites With SmorePART ONE

Why Smore?

Extremely simple and easy to use.

Just a few clicks and you have an attractive web page.

Only one page - perfect for teachers who don’t need a lot of content.

Quickly create an online presence.

Signing Up

smore.com

Click Try it Now

Choose Sign Up Without Facebook

Fill in your information

Setting Up Your Page

Start A New Flyer

Start From Blank

Add Your Title & Subtitle

Add Main Content

Add Other ContentPhotos, Links, Video, & More

Customize Your Design

Final Steps

Once you have told Smore you are finished, you are brought to a page with a few final options.

Edit, Preview, or Print

Link to Page

Flyer Settings

Flyer Settings

Choose elements you want on your page.

Set privacy levels.

Presto! You Now Have a Webpage!

Websites with WordpressPART TWO

Why Wordpress?

Easy, hosted website

Allows multiple pages

Simple to customize

Interface is easy to navigate

Lots of design options

Signing Up

Click Get Started

Fill in your information

Choose free Basic plan

Check your email for activation link

Choose Your Title & TaglineYou can always change these later

Choose a themeMany themes are customizable

Create your first post

Sample Post

On the Dashboard, Click My Blogs

Click on Blog Admin

Welcome to your main dashboardManage all your settings from this page

Posts Vs. Pages

Pages are static - they are always in the same place

Posts are dynamic - most recent posts will be first

Posts are most often used for blogging

For websites, use pages for most things

Pages

On the menu to the left, select PAGES

All Pages shows you a list of pages already created

Add New lets you create a new page

Copy A Page duplicates an existing page

Page Editor

Page Title Goes Here

Page Content Goes Here

Page Attributes

PARENT - Lets you nest pages under other pages

TEMPLATE - Some themes have multiple page templates to choose from

ORDER - Lets you choose the order your pages are listed in

Add Images & Other MediaUpload or Choose from Media Library

Once you upload an image or other media file, it is saved in your Media Library for

future use

Links

Link to often accessed websites

Links show up in your ‘Blogroll’

Can be organized into categories

WidgetsFound under the APPEARANCE menu

Widgets are little extras you can add to your site.

Important Widgets

Some themes may not have these as default widgets

Be sure you have Pages, Links, and Meta visible on your page.

Settings

Wordpress has many different settings

Customize how your site is viewed

General Settings

Writing Settings

Reading SettingsFor most sites you will want a static front page.

Discussion Settings

Your Live Site

Log in here

Your Website Address

Don’t ForgetEmail your site address to Jonathan to have it added to the district page!