Creating a Teacherweb.com Website

(by Kyle Smith, 2005)

Purpose:

To learn how to create a teacher web site using the commercial teacherweb.com website (this is free for you to use while you are in this class. If you wish to use it beyond this there is a minimal cost).

Task:

Set up your teacherweb.com website
Send Helen & Kyle the URL
Set up and customize your home page
Create a page that introduces yourself to your students: Tell them about yourself (in as much or as little detail as you wish) and include a photo of yourself. Include a border/divider that have you have customized to suit the theme of your site and this page.
Create a page that lists at least two virtual tours that you would have your students use for lessons in your area. Include with each a paragraph describing what the tour is about and why you think it is a good example and relevant to your teaching (you can copy and paste what you wrote on your blog!).
Attach the following documents to your site (where you put them is up to you)
- Photo tour (that you created the first day of class) or your Teaching with Multimedia lesson
- Word document (such as a handout that you would provide to students -- but for now it can be anything you like)
Create an online quiz/test (any topic of your choice)
Create a slate page and describe ways in which you could use this in your teaching.
Create a calendar or a schedule (doesn't have to be "real")
Generate a puzzle
Password protect a file
Anything else that you would like to do!

Due Tuesday June 27th to Helen (hrallis@d.umn.edu) and to Kyle (smitky@superior.k12.wi.us)

Steps for creating site:

Create your site by going to http://TeacherWeb.com and clicking on "Teachers-Create Your Web."
At the next page, click on the link to "Create your TeacherWeb® site now!"
Next, select "MN" from the pull down menu and click on the "submit" button.
Next, from the "Choose existing school name" drop down menu, select University of Minnesota Duluth (you have to scroll near to the very end of the list to find this). Also on this page, under "Enter Teacher or Class Name" write your name (I suggest that you choose your first initial and then last name, all lowercase, one word. The reason for this is this becomes the address for your web page, and it's best not to have spaces and capital letters in a web URL). Then click the submit button
This takes you to a page called "Step 3 of 3" that tells you the URL of your website (e.g. mine is http://TeacherWeb.com/MN/UniversityofMinnesota-Duluth/hrallis). You should make a note of this URL as you will need to provide it to me and to any one else with whom you would like to share your website.
- choose the design of your page from the choices provided (you can change these later, so no need to worry too much about these at this point)
- next, in the "Account code" box, type the number FF45EDMNDU (this is our UMD Education Department account code)
- in the next box, " Name to appear on web pages" type in your full name or name as you would like it to appear on your website (e.g. I typed "Helen Mongan-Rallis")
- next enter your current e-mail address in the space provided
- finally, choose a password and type it in the space provided, following the directions on the page.
- click button to create your website
You will be taken to a confirmation screen that gives you the URL of your website and the URL of the page you should go to in order to update your website (e.g. mine is: http://TeacherWeb.com/MN/UniversityofMinnesota-Duluth/hrallis/update.htm). You will also receive an e-mail (sent to the e-mail address that you entered above) from Teacherweb.com confirming your account initiation. You can print and/or save the current page for future reference.
Click on the URL that is listed with your name at the top of the page.

In order to edit your pages you will need to click on either an icon or the link on the left hand side depending on your design (links will be on the side without icons if you chose to have frames).

For an example let's edit the "teacher page"

Once you have clicked on your "teacher page" you will need to either click on the top border or bottom border. By clicking on the top border you will only be able to edit your "teacher page". If you click the bottom border you will then have access to edit all your web pages.
If you clicked on the top border then you can edit your "teacher" page.
If you clicked on the bottom border then you will need to click on the update link that is associated with the "teacher" link.
After you have clicked on the update link you will have the ability to type in information regarding your personal information. If there is any field that you do not want on the page or want to modify the name, leave it blank at this time (steps to deleting unwanted fields or changes fields can be found in step 14). After completing your information enter your password to save changes.

To edit other pages click on the link for the different page then click the top or bottom border. Or click the bottom border on the "teacher" page first to edit the other links.

Update Index Page Tips-The Update Index page is the location where you have access to all of your pages for editing. This page also has other changes that can be made throughout your web site. The following are some brief descriptions of some of the capabilities of the update index page.

Change Graphic-Select From Library-You can edit icons with graphics from TeacherWeb library. Also you can change the email icon.
Change Graphics-Select From Uploads- You can edit icons with upload graphics. To upload graphics to this page see step 17. This will allow you to customize your site with your own pictures.
Change Name/Email Changes-You can edit the name of your home page and email address.
Add/Delete/Rename Pages-This link allows the adding, deleting or renaming different web pages. Also you can add graphics. At the bottom of this page you can add a slate page. A slate page allows you to have a web page to be like a white board.
Change Fixed Text-You can edit fixed text on web pages. This is where you can delete or change fields from step 8.
Customize Home Page-This link allows changes to the home page which includes color, order of links, footnotes and adding a counter.
Color/Themes/Fonts- This link allows changes to font (size, color and family), frames, and divider (border) lines (some can be animated).
Add Photos/Documents-Add graphics or documents once they are uploaded (see step 11).
Resize/Edit Photos-This link allows editing of photos that will be uploaded to the home page.
Password Protect Photos/Documents-This protects photos and documents by putting password protection. Only those who have the password can gain access.
Puzzle Generators-Generates word searches or number blocks.

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