GoogleApps and teacher transparency - 4

This is part of a series about using GoogleDocs to help teachers be more transparent. The introduction can be found here.

Last two posts perhaps felt a little overwhelming. That's a lot of information to gather, to post, and, especially, to keep updated. Those of us with webpages know that keeping them current, accurate and organized is work. But there are strategies that can be used to reduce the work and anxiety associated with maintaining a website. These strategies include:

1. Remember that a good web site is a time saver in the long run. No more searching for that field trip permission form (send a link). Parent-teacher conferences can be more productive when things to be discussed can be read by parents ahead of time (a flipped conference?). Responding by e-mail is often more convenient than taking a phone call. If students can check what work is due and what is turned it, it may mean less after-class conferencing.

2. Find a simple, but flexible tool to create your web presence - and organize it. One of the reasons I promote teachers using GoogleSites is that is simple to use, but powerful, The text editor is straight-forward, links and media can be embedded, and a "menu" structure on the left side of the page is easy to navigate. 

3. Don't create when you can link. Much of the information that should be available from individual class sites can be provided by links to district sources of information. Does every third grade teacher need to enter information about the reading curriculum when it is standard within a district? Do all world history classes in a district have common objectives and projects? Can the page link to descriptions of the state requirements that are met within the class? Creating and linking to such generic sites can ease the burden of the classroom teacher.

4. Work in teams. If a team, of say, four third grade teachers works together on common webpages, the work can be reduced by 75%. Building common assessments, a common set of support materials, or common grading practices can really reduce the work load.

5. Start with the information that need updating only once a year. Add new information each year. Teachers need not eat the elephant all at once, just  in bites. Concentrate on basic items such as personal information, the large outline of course content, and commonly sought information the first year and add materials (based on parent requests) in subsequent years. Check to see if there is a required building or district minimum web presence required.

6. Take advantage of the gradebook and other data reporting systems in your student information system. Our student information system, as do many, allow students and parents secure access to individual student data - grades, attendance, lunch information, GPAs, schedules, etc.  In addition, teachers using the online gradebook can list due dates of projects, dates of tests, and other information that parents like to know about. Provide a link to the portal from the teacher website - and make sure parents know about it.

7. Make sure support and training are available. Nothing helps a project succeed like great support, and nothing kills it faster than a lack of training and working equipment. Provide teachers with reliable computers and networks. Schedule training during the school day or during in-service times. Give library media specialists additional training on webpage creation so they can provide in-building support to teachers when needed.

In my community, parents have the choice of sending their children to the local public school in their neighborhood, to a public school across town, to any public school in a variety of nearby communities, to a variety of private and parochial schools, or to a local charter school. They can home school their children, enroll them in a virtual school, or get them early admittance to a post-secondary institution. They can as readily choose the kind of school they want for their kids as they now choose a restaurant, dentist, or clothing store.

We need to be competitive by being transparent and providing parents timely information they find useful.

Comments

[Bill Storm]

Thanks so much for this series, Doug. Those of us still emerging from the analog educaitonal jungle appreciate your own organizational transparency!

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Bill. Always nice to know something one's written is helpful.

Doug