The media center webpage should also be user friendly and easy to navigate. No one will visit a webpage where they cannot find what they are looking for. Berta’s webpage seemed to be pretty user friendly by having the parent, student, and faculty tabs. When a webpage has tabs to take you to another page, the webpage creator should be sure to make them open in a new window. This keeps from having to hit the back button or try to find the webpage again.
I like to see resources on a media center webpage. There are so many tools that could be included when designing the webpage. For example, a high school webpage might include information on MLA format, a middle school webpage might include resources that might be used for research papers, and an elementary school webpage might include interactive activities on media skills. Most of the media center webpages that I have looked at have information about Accelerated Reader, but that is all! There are so many more things that can be put on the webpage. The media center could also have a link on the webpage that goes to the Scholastic book orders webpage. Parents could use this link in order to purchase their child or their child’s teacher books.
Glenwood Academy, in Atlanta, has a great media center webpage. They have a link for student resources which then goes to a menu where the student can choose to go to various places, such as the media center blog, listen to podcasts, and use other various tools. I am glad to see a LMS embrace blogs and podcasts. Gardner Newman Middle School, in Troup County, has a media center webpage on glogster. There are so many new technologies and media that can be used other than a traditional webpage.
Blogs or wikis would be more useful media center webpages than the traditional webpage. They would allow for students to contribute to giving information. Glenwood Academy’s blog contained poetry that the students had written. The media specialist could also post a blog and the students could comment on it. This might be a way for students to earn extra credit. The students could respond to posts on the blog. Using a blog or wiki would make the webpage more interactive. It would also allow for the webpage to be changed more easily, while continuing to have the older information available. There are definitely MANY possibilities to having a great media center webpage!
Britney Keith
I completely agree with you about the organization and ease of navigation being important with a webpage. I too like the use of tabs and ones that open in a separate screen. I feel a media center webpage should offer something to all patrons. Webpages that offer a “parents”,” teachers”, and “students” tab seem to consider the whole of the school and the media center’s role in the school and community. I think have an upcoming events page is a great tool for communication and participation. I look at the Glenwood Academy’s website and, you are correct. The links to podcasts and blogs are aligned with the students the webpage for which it was designed. I also like that the school posted student work. That is one more door the media center can open to parents and the community. This webpage alone offers a window into the school and its goals for their students. Your comments of organization and helpful links are right on the money for a helpful, accessible media center webpage.
ReplyDeleteBy Cecilia:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how important it is to have well-organized information on the school media center webpage. I think categorizing the sections by the user group names will definitely increase usability. There is one thing that I particularly like about my mentor's webpage: a mission statement. Not all MC webpages have them, but I think they are relevant, important and may help in promoting the media program. We have to have a mission or goal statement in our Media Center Handbook that we work on in other classes; this statement will be my guide for when I have my own MC. I also like the idea of having a monthly MC blog; my mentor has one where she lists fun literacy activities.
Britney:
ReplyDeleteYou raise a good point when you say that a blog or wiki might be a better platform for a SLMC since both are more interactive. But whatever the format of a SLMC public outreach, it must be designed to meet the needs of its users. You gave good examples of this when you shared that a high school could have links to MLA links, a middle school could have research method links and an elementary school could share links on media skills.
I also liked your idea of having a book order link available for parents. Good point!
I think it is a wonderful idea that the website be broken into different sections that are directed towards the users. This would allow for each page to be designed for a specific audience. The students section could even be divided farther by grade levels or age ranges. This would allow for specific links to be included for specific ages. The sites for Kindergartners would be different than those for fifth graders. If the school was even larger (K-12) there would be a real need to divide this section up. Grade level pages would also allow for teachers to put specific assignments or links that they are using in class for the entire grade level.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of having the links open in a new window or tab. I cant say how many times I couldn't find my way back to the initial website once I had gone off on a tangent. This would be the solution to that and I have noticed many sites have begun to link to a new window.
I feel that there should be a place where links can be found for useful sites or databases. This is a bit of a maintenance issue as the Internet changes so rapidly. It would be necessary to make sure the links still work but the sites would help the students and that is the ultimate goal. You could also put the needed websites on a bookmarking site such a Delicious (http://www.delicious.com/) and simply link that site to the web page.
I do agree that a media specialist does need a webpage. It's important that high school students learn how to use the web in a safe and helpful ways. A media specilaist could share safe tips on how to blog or use facebook to high school students. It very importnat that the webpage be people friendly. This could be a positive tool to get more parents involve.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the other responders, I love the idea of tabs for different audiences. This organization of materials would increase the "user-friendliness" of the media center webpage. This is something I will try to use more on my page.
ReplyDeleteAs wonderful as wikis and blogs are, I have to disagree about them being a good option for the media center webpage. I think linking to wikis and blogs for specific topics or activities can be a great practice and can boost students' Web 2.0 experiences. However, presenting a high-quality page with appropriate links and proper grammar, spelling, etc., would require limited editing privileges. While students can contribute some amazing things to a wiki or blog, I think better results for a webpage would come from one editor: the media specialist. Just my thoughts!!! :)
Great post!
I do agree that a media webpage should be people friendly. this allows everyone to be able to use the website. Information on a media webpage is very important. Students and parents can use this information to help improve their children education. It also helps to connect the teachers, media specialist and students, and parents. Taps are great to use because it save time from having someone to look up the source.
ReplyDelete