With society coming to expect that more and more things should be available online, it only makes sense for schools to have a website. For students who wish to take on the task of coming up with the site but may not be aware of just how to do so, the below information should provide help. With social media as an ever-present form of communication in every high schooler’s life, it is important to integrate their high school website with some form of it. For those that currently are not satisfied with the current forms of social media then now has never been a better time to create your own social networking site.
1. Site Map
Before anything else, it is important to first come up with what is called a site map. A site map is basically a layout or outline of what will be placed on the site and where. Without planning ahead of time, a website can appear messy and confusing to the people who visit. Without any structure, there can only be problems.
As far as information goes, the following is typical of a site that focuses on education.
-Parents, whether their child is in kindergarten or the twelfth grade, like to know how they can stay in touch with teachers and remain aware of important events their students will be taking part in. They may also want to know what the school’s policies are, among other things. A special section of the site dedicated to keeping parents in the know is always a good idea.
-Students will be more interested in when the next sporting event is taking place or whether they have homework on a certain day. An area of the site that focuses on academics and athletics is a good thing to have; however, these two subjects should be separated not to be overwhelming.
2. Navigation
Once the site’s content has been decided and it is time to focus on other things, the student should then settle the issue of the navigation. Where are links to the information going to be placed on the site? One of the more popular areas to put navigation is at the top. This makes everything easier to find and can make a layout appear more attractive. Another popular place for navigation links is on the left side of the page. Either can work well, and it is up to the student to reach their own decision. No matter what is chosen, however, they should be simple and not cause any eye strain.
3. Written Content
Of course, a website is not as if it does not have written matter of some kind, outside of words used for links. The student may have a great deal of the content already written out for them, perhaps at the teacher or other authority figure’s assistance. If they do not, they may still need to get help to make sure that everything looks right and appropriate. Everything should be checked for spelling and grammar errors before they are put on the site. This will give the site more credibility and cause fewer problems.
4. Fonts and Images
Pictures play a vital role in giving a website life; it is one thing to be told about how much students have fun at the school, and it is another to show a picture of them having fun. Images should be playful, informative, and revealing but not vulgar and offensive in any way. If carelessness is taken with this, it could cause damage the school’s image, and the student who chose the images will reap the consequences. Fonts for the site should also be large enough for anybody to read. If too small, some parents may not be able to find what they need.
5. Coding
Coding is one of the most important parts of putting a website together, no matter what it is for. A page with a color background or images will not simply show up on a site; there need to be instructions, which can come in HTML, CSS, and so on. For students who may find it confusing, several websites provide tutorials for just about anything they might need. As the website will be for a school, the coding does not need to be overly complicated and may need only the simplest coding techniques.
It should be noted that editing programs are recommended for assisting in putting everything together. They allow the creator to see exactly what they are making as they put the coding together, making it easier to spot mistakes early on in the process. The school probably provides the editing program, but they can find several free ways to get what they need if they do not.
6. Keeping Everything Up To Date
A website for a school is hardly useful to anybody if it is rarely updated. If they are allowed and so choose, the student should update the site at least once a month. Because the school’s event calendar could change at any moment, students and parents alike should be made aware of it as soon as possible, for example. If the student does not hold the power to do the updates, the one in charge should be made aware of the importance.
When a student is looking to Create web pages for school, they should treat it as challenging by a thrilling learning experience. They just might come to need those skills in the future when you are ready to create a site for your school. Head on over to Host Otter to either register your domain or purchase a website builder.