Instructor Websites

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Instructor Websites

• Dan May
• Department of Mathematics
• January 26, 2007

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Outline

• How to obtain a website
• Basic (basic!) website design
• Information on your site
• Upkeep
• WyoWeb
• E-mail correspondence

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I need some ideas for my website.

• What are some of the most useful, interesting, or
  just plain cool things youve seen on an
  instructors website?
• What are some of your biggest complaints about
  using an instructors website?

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How to Obtain a Website Getting it all started

• http//uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/WebNews/
• UW Site Utilities
• Request Central Site Creation
• Allow FrontPage Extensions
• Submit Request
• Await e-mail instructions
• You can contact your user consultant at
  http//uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/InfoTech/support/webinfo
  /webpages.htm

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Mapping A Network Drive How to access your site

• Once completed, you need to map a network drive.
• You need to be logged on under your UWYO account.
• My Computer
• My Network Places
• Add a network place
• Chose another network location
• Entire Network
• Microsoft Windows Network
• Uwyo, WWW, WWW, Username, OK
• Go back and map your development site the same
  way.
• Uwyo, Webdev, WWW, Username, OK

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Basic Site DesignGet your site up and running

• Be sure to work on your Webdev site first to make
  sure everything is working.
• Templates are available at http//uwadmnweb.uwyo.e
  du/webnews/resources/templates/index.asp.
• Your department may have templates as well.
• I like to use FrontPage.
• Create a homepage, call it main.
• Save the file main as an HTML document named
  default as well.
• Every time you make changes to your homepage, you
  need to save them to default as well as main.

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Information on Your SiteOK, now what?

• My site is mainly for my students
• Office hours
• Syllabus
• Homework
• Quizzes
• Review
• Calendar
• Examples
• Formulas
• Grades?
• General information

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Include Other Information What else should I put
on here?

• Research
• Other activities
• Photos
• Links to interesting stuff
• Avoid personal information.

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Website UpkeepKeep your students up-to-date

• Update your website daily.
• Try to keep all documents current.
• Post changes in a obvious location.
• Make sure students know about the website.

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WyoWeb BasicsAnother way to reach students

• Faculty tab
• Faculty Dashboard
• Meeting time
• Class roster
• Office hours
• E-mail entire class
• Faculty Grade Assignment
• WebCT and eCompanion are other options.

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Instructor-Student e-mail A few thoughts

• Be casual and polite.
• Be prompt with replies.
• Send e-mails to the entire class when necessary.
• The person with lower status should be the one to
  respond last. (?)
• Dont sweat informal style.
• Expect the occasional bizarre message.

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Big IdeasIf nothing else

• Get a website set up for you or your professor.
• Use it to keep students informed.
• The more the students know about whats going on
  in class, the better chance they will have at
  success.

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Questions?