Some Do’s and Don’ts of Media Center Web Pages
• Do advertise the web page (URL) on the main school web site, newsletters, etc,
• Do not spend your entire budget on the design of the page. Be resourceful and try to use the least expensive editors, programs, etc.
• Do organize the content of the page with the audience in mind
The Jurkowski text cites that 90% of media centers have web pages and I think that is remarkable and it emphasizes the need to maintain a web page. If we are going to be the information and technology specialists of the school, we must have a webpage that shows the skills we possess and this will in turn motivate teachers and students to create pages of their own. The most important element of the webpage is the way the information is arranged. I really liked the North Elementary School media center webpage the best because of the way the information is organized. It will be extremely easy for a young student to find information there. The Creekview HS site had okay organization but it does contain information that will appeal to high school students like the link to the Favorite Web 2.0 tools, the picture slide show, etc. This webpage had a lot of choices and sources of information (blogs, podcasts, video tutorials, etc.) and perhaps they could tone it down a bit. I don’t think that the link to library statistics is necessary to have on a web page, at least not all the time! I am honestly a little jealous of this website because I wonder if I will have the time and commitment to have all the different tools featured on the page, but then again you usually make time for things that you really want to do.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
In today’s technologically focused world, it should not be surprising that 90% of media centers have a website. However it kind of is. From what I have seen, I think that many of those websites are going unused by students, parents, and teachers. If a website is being maintained by a media specialist, it should be another resource to help his or her job. This is mentioned in the “Building Websites That Work for Your Media Center” article by David Warlick. The website should enhance the types of assistance and collaboration that the media specialist offers in the real world. Students, parents, and teachers are part of the audience for a media specialist, and all three groups need different resources and tools. It may be a little extra work, but putting some effort into creating websites that address the needs of the audience and differentiating what those needs are can actually help a media specialist do their work better. Putting forth more effort in content organization and focus can lend to a more successful site. I would focus on having a few important tools done well on the needed websites; rather, than having a lot of junk that nobody looks at or uses because of clutter and lack of awareness of the audience.
Yes, many media centers have websites, but are they user friendly. It seems that many websites are not monitored or simply not updated throughout the year. It would be beneficial to the media specialists to attempt to update the information or ask for assistance. I personally believe that a website aids in the advertisement of the school and the media center. The website should encourage the viewer to want to visit the center and inquire about upcoming events and ongoing programs.
Post a Comment