| |
|
| |
School Web Publishing |
|
| |
As the web-publishing world becomes more mainstream, you can choose to design and build a site yourself, or outsource the work to a specialist provider, many of whom specialise in creating school web sites (often for much less than the cost of releasing school staff to do it!)
The information below is provided for schools who choose to go down the DIY path...
|
| |
The first decision to make is whether to use traditional web publishing package or a Web 2.0 application, such as Blogger or Google Pages.
Generally a traditional web publishing approach will provide a more "elegant" result (depending on your creative prowess!), but a Web 2.0 application will be up and running instantly, albeit with the standard templates from that provider.
A combination of the above is often a good approach, with your main site built from a local application, and the more dynamic parts of your site, such your News and Calendar pages, created in Web 2.0 environment.
|
| |
- Somewhere PS - Example (for iWeb)
- Use the templates included in iWeb to make a professional-looking site for your school.
Local examples: North Nowra PS | Mt Kembla PS.
Somewhere PS Web Site Template (for Mozilla/FrontPage)- A very basic primary school Internet site that you can edit to suit your own school's needs - to get started at least. Just change the name on each page, and you are up-and-running.
Download SPS Web Site Template for Mozilla/FrontPage (zip - 403k).
Content Management Systems (CMS)- This is a big jump up the learning curve from the first two options, and is suggested for experienced web designers only!
Content Management Systems, such as Joomla and Drupal provide the option for multiple site editors/administrators, each responsible for different sections of the site, but with no need for specialised web-publishing knowledge - all editing is undertaken through a browser interface. But there is a steep learning curve in the building of the site!
Local Example: Narwee PS
CMS on the cheap!- The attraction of using a Content Management System is that, once created, it is easy for non-technical users to update various parts of the site with the latest news, calendar events, etc.
An alternative to a 'pure' CMS, is to embed a Web 2.0 feed into your site, making it relatively easy for others to maintain current information, calendars, etc without having to directly edit the site.
Local Examples: Somewhere PS (includes Quickstarts) | Jamberoo PS | Other Examples
Commercial Providers- It is often an economically reasonable alternative to have your school's web site created by a commercial web designer. QuikDesign, for example, can create and publish a basic school site, or a site using a CMS, so that you (and others in your school) can edit the site, without any special web-editing knowledge.
Local Examples: Mt Keira PS | Mt Terry PS | Oak Flats HS | Jamberoo PS
Somewhere PS - GooglePages- An alternative to traditional web sites is the use of Web 2.0 applications such as GooglePages.
Example: Manorbrook PS (UK)
|
| |
| |
Web-editing and publishing software is no different to any other computer software - there is a learning period required to master the software.
Remember to Keep It Simple. You don't need to use every colour, font, and special java effect all on one page!
Design your site with your intended audience(s) in mind.
You will need to create all your web pages and graphics, and check that they "work" using your browser on your own computer. You should check your site using a number of different browsers (IE, Safari, Mozilla, FireFox, etc), and on both Mac & PC platforms.
Suitable web editing software for schools is listed at Wazza's Web Software Page.
|
|
Obviously this information will vary, depending on the software you choose to use. The information below describes the editing process using the free Mozilla Composer software. However, the process is much the same in other packages, once you work out where everything is!
- Editing a Web Site with Mozilla - Mac (pdf - 900k)
- Edit your website using Mozilla Composer. Use in conjunction with the SPS template above.
Editing a Web Site with Mozilla - WinXP (pdf - 800k)- Edit your website using Mozilla Composer. Use in conjunction with the SPS template above.
See also... - Wazza's Intranet Publishing Tutorials
More detail about editing a web page to use as an Intranet "gateway" for use on a school intranet.
RapidWeaver Tour (Mac)
Getting started using RapidWeaver - videos and other support materials.
iWeb Tutorials (Mac)
Use Apple's video turorials to learn how to create a web site with iWeb (part of the iLife suite).
Sandvox Screencast (Mac)
Using Sandvox - Getting started video.
-
|
|
| |
When you are happy that everything is working satisfactorily, it is time to make your site available for the whole world to see!
To do this you will need to "upload" it from your desktop computer to a computer which is permanently connected to the Internet (a web server).
Read the next section to learn about Uploading your web site.
|
.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
