Hi! My name is Amy and I am the media specialist with a mundane website. During my research this week, I viewed many media center sites, analyzing their features for usefulness and "curb appeal." I "inherited" a webpage, and it's layout has always bothered me as not being user friendly or appealing. I've included my webpage link for you to look at and provide thoughts. Input from peers are greatly appreciated!
Jurkowski (2010) stated the most difficult part for a media specialist could be designing the look and feel of the media center website. It should meet the needs of the students and staff, especially those with disabilities. He continues to explain that websites should be sketched out prior to creating them. This means media specialists should do research by looking at other websites and identifying needs at their schools. About a month ago, I edited the website I "inherited." I added a secti on about my paraprofessional and myself. I also added a place for us to share the books we are currently reading. I actually got this idea from my para. She used to do this at her old school. If students see we are reading their books we have something in common and this opens up a conversation.
During my research, I found several websites useful. I would love to implement an idea from each of the sites I am about to mention. My favorite elementary website was Barrow Elementary School's media website. This site appealed to me visually because it was "clean" and not cluttered with too much information. The media specialist also included a blog he updated regularly. I searched several of his articles and felt the connection to be helpful to me.
In middle school I enjoyed searching through Milton Middle School's media center page. The site is more inundated with information but I loved the design. I loved the section "Teacher Stuff." There seemed to be something for everyone at that school. Most of the middle school webpages I looked at included more information than the elementary pages. I think it is because of the age group and the material they use. The Book Blog was a great idea and I think it could be a useful resource in elementary school too. Though the blog's last entry was 2008, I liked that it was student created.
At the high school level, I was truly impressed with the Unquiet Library Blog. It was much more mature with the information presented and the manor it was presented. I loved the blog manners. The material in the blogs was very appropriate. I felt as if I was stepping into a high schooler's social networking scene. I would love to interview the media specialist and see data about the site's usefulness.
So, getting back to my acknowledgement of my drab blog, I beieve the research for this post will help me recreate a user friend blog for teachers, students and parents. I really do not have control over the background format, but I can work with the layout. I would like to create separate sections for teachers, students, and parents. I also want to create links under subject names. I'd like students to be able to go to one place, whether at home or school and find what they need.
After looking at your website Amy, I found it to be informative. There were many useful links regarding your school's Follet shelf as well as information regarding Accelerated Reader. The pictures were nice also and really brought your website "alive"!
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to have a website that not only gets students to visit, but also parents. Parents really like to see their children being spotlighted. In the past, I have featured a child on each grade level on my website and noted what books they are reading. I have seen some excellent Media Center sites that have web 2.0 tools such as Wallwisher or ThingLink. These specific tools provide students, parents, and teachers with the chance to contribute to the Media Center's page. I have not stepped into this type of interactive tool yet, but I am eager to try it. I am wondering if anyone in the class has ever tried any of these interactive web tools.
I have tried to make my website a collaborative space, that is inviting to my elementary students and their parents so that they can take ownership of the programs that are driven by the Media Center. In reading this blog as well as looking at other Media Center sites, I think that it is important that a good Media Center website needs to contain resources of quality not quantity. The same old out of date links will not get the traffic desired. Instead, the resources we share on our websites should be updated frequently to reflect student needs as well as directly linked to student learning while giving visitors a taste of the overall Media Center experience at your perspective school.
Loved your blog and the insightfulness into the various webpages. I enjoyed Unquiet Library blog as well. There is so much information that can go on a website, but choosing what is best can be difficult. I am going to try and make a website strictly for my students and a second website for my teachers as to not to have too much in one place. I look forward to seeing what you come up with on your website.
ReplyDelete