Teacher Created Websites Elective

The Pacolet Elementary Art Department: Barbour Bordogna

http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/Pacolet/teachers/bordogna/webpage/bordogna.html

Elementary grade level.

Visual Arts class.

Useful Aspects:

The site provides links to rules in the classroom and grading policy. These aspects of the art room are now clear to parents and student. The teacher also provides an email link. This invites parents to communicate with the teacher.

Improvements and how:

A few of the links are not connected. These need to be connected in order to do certain aspects of the site. Also titles of each site should be provided yet are not. The third improvement would be changing the artwork. It is relevant to the text, yet it is not exciting nor realistic for elementary students.

Commendations and why:

The rules are in large print and easy to read. Parents and students do not want to read pages and pages of rules while on a Website. Also there are lots of relevant and useful links. Parents and students will be able to use them with ease. Lastly, the teacher provides her educational background and teaching experiences. She shows her own artwork. Parents can see she is knowledgeable and capable.

Central Heights Elementary: Mrs. Baumstark

http://www.myschoolonline.com/folder/0,1872,46485-144149-50-23144,00.html

Grades Kindergarten through 5th.

Visual Arts Class

Useful Aspects:

The site provides a school schedule for every art class. The general education teacher’s name is listed with the time the class will be in the art room. Also the teacher lists and asks for household materials that will be used in the art room. Parents can save these items and send them into the art room.

Improvements and how:

The backgrounds for this site are too busy and distracts from the words. To keep the background the same, change the lettering to a bolder font. This will make it easier to read. More links could be provided. A list of classroom rules and procedures could be an additional link that is helpful. Also a picture of the art room could be provided to make the class more familiar to parents and students.

Commendations and why:

Pictures of student artwork is provided. The viewer can click on each picture to enlarge. This makes it easier to view. An actual lesson is provided on this site. This gives the parent and student an idea of what to expect in the art room. The links are simple and straight-forward. They are easy to use this way. If they were wordier some students and even parents may not use the links.