Teacher Websites
Activity 3: Pre Planning with Storyboards

While visiting BCPS teacher websites, one thing you probably noticed is the number of websites that are incomplete, missing content and/or have dead links. Many teachers have attended a quick, one or two hour training session on creating a teacher website and spent the majority of their time working on design elements rather than the content of their message. After the training was over they never updated their website and it shows!

The content is the most important part of your website. Good website design starts with developing a strong message - about you, your classes, policies, resources, etc. - that will be communicated to students and parents via the web. For some parents, this may be their first encounter with you - a good first impression is important! 

Remember, sometimes less is more. If you develop ten webpages, these are ten separate pages you need to keep updated. You may want to consider starting small and developing a website that doesn't need much upkeep.

In this activity you will learn how to plan your website using a storyboard. A storyboard is a series of pages that include a rough sketch outlining the content and design of your website.

Directions:

1. Examine the sample secondary or sample elementary website. This should give you a good idea of what a "typical" teacher website might contain.
2. Open the storyboard template secondary or storyboard template elementary and print five copies.
3. If you consider yourself a "beginner" when it comes to developing a teacher website using the BCPS template, open the Teacher Website Manual and follow the instructions for Planning a Website on pages 3 - 4. 
4. Use the storyboard template to plan five pages of your website. (You probably want to use pencil.) Here are some tips:
   • Decide what five pages you want to design. List these on the five lines on the left side. This should be the same list on each storyboard page.
   • Suggestions for website pages in addition to your home page include an announcements page, a class management page with homework and absence policies, a calendar or schedule page, and a subject area page. Remember to consider what you liked or disliked about the websites you visited in Activities 1 and 2.
   • If you already have a website, list the pages you have published and feel free to add a new page(s) to the list.
   • Write the content of each slide in detail - this will save you a ton of time. Don't forget to check spelling, etc.
   • If you already have content on your slides, use the storyboards to edit or enhance it.
   • Decide what types of pictures and/or files you need. Be sure to list these at the bottom.
5. View a sample storyboard secondary or sample storyboard elementary to see what one completed page would look like.
6. You are strongly encouraged to share your completed storyboards with a friend, relative, parent, or co-worker to get feedback. There may be something you missed and a fresh perspective is always a good thing.