Wiki Page, IPT 286 Sample Course: Internet Communications Project

Wiki Page
2014-03-11T13:40:49-06:00

Getting Started

Over the course of the next few weeks you will do your first project on internet communications.

The Internet Communications Project is meant to encourage you to learn a technology that can help you improve communication and collaboration within your class. In addition, I hope that you will be able to learn a technology that

1. you are unfamiliar with right now and

2. you are likely to use in your own teaching.

To achieve these two goals, I have provided several options that you can choose from for this project, and you can suggest your own idea if you can think of a better one. To qualify, you must select a project that meets these two goals. If you do not have a reason for choosing a different project, then I recommend doing the first option.

Project Options (choose one)

I recommended using Google Sites–this is the tool I’ll demonstrate in the labs. However, if you want to explore another technology (like Blogger, Edublogs, Wikispaces, iWeb, Edmodo, or something else), you are welcome to, and that is recommended if you are already familiar with Google Sites. If you use one of these tools, use the rubric on this page and tutorials available on the Internet to construct your website as closely as you can to match what we are expecting. Any variations to the rubric that you need to make because each tool is different is probably ok, but just approve it with me first.

Completing the Assignment Using Google Sites

To complete this assignment using Google Sites, create a new website by going to http://sites.google.com. Make it looks professional, clean, and ready to be used in your own teaching. Do not use the class website template that Google provides—use a blank template! Trust us, it’ll be easier this way!

You can make up the information on your website related to your future class to reflect the kind of classroom you anticipate having and the courses you anticipate teaching. At a minimum, the website must include the things requested in the rubric, available here (select the "Technology" badge to view the rubric below):

http://iptedtec.org/googlesites_1/

Examples! Notice there are example websites listed on the Badges webpage as well.

Resources For Creating Class Websites With Google Sites

IPT286 Tutorials
The IPT286 team has put together some tutorials for you on the tutorial/badges website.

Google Tutorials
I am not exaggerating when I say that your best resource will probably be Google’s help menus. As you create a website, notice if there are links to help documents, because Google often has them for you in all sorts of places. Also, just look for the “help” link in the upper right of the screen when you are logged in.

To help you, here are a few of the key tutorials from Google that may help:

Beginner’s Guide (notice the links on the left to creating your site, editing you site, inserting gadgets, and changing the look of your site.

Inserting a map

Inserting a calendar

This tutorial explains how to make pages under another page. This is how you create the different “sections” of pages we talk about in the rubric

An explanation of the class announcements or blog page.

Embedding photos and slideshows

Embedding docs, presentations, surveys, and spreadsheets

Changing your site navigation (the links to the other pages in your site) to be along the top instead of vertical on the side. (you don’t need to do this, but many like to)

Material to Embed

Part of the rubric that you will see on the http://iptedtec.org website is that you embed various items into your website. Embedding is different from attaching. When you embed something, you can see the item without having to launch a new page or download anything. For example, we embed most of our videos here in Canvas so you don't have to go to Youtube to watch them. For your assignment you need to embed various Google-owned stuff (like documents, videos, forms, etc.), and you also have to embed at least one thing from a non-Google source. There are SO MANY options to choose from! Almost anything on the Internet that allows you to create something will have a link to "embed" that item in your website. Just look for it!

On the iptedtec.org website, there is a whole list of tutorials on embedding to help you: http://iptedtec.org/googlesites_1/google-sites-tutorials/

Here is a list of websites that have interesting stuff that past students have found useful for embedding in their websites:

Goodreads (book lists)

Quizlet (quizzes, flashcards)

Slideshare (presentations)

Tal.ki (discussion forums)

Glogster (online posters)

Prezi (presentations)

Mindmeister (mindmaps)

There are many others. Have fun!