Web Activity and Reflection

URL: http://bbaresearchweek.weebly.com


What is your reaction to the entire web development process? Please describe any positive and negative reactions and obstacles that you encountered (if any).

Well, my first obstacle was lack of experience. I truly had to just experiment with different features. After a few days, I discovered I had really created too many pages or subpages, and I needed to delete a few to make navigating the site simpler. Unfortunately, in my attempt to reorganize my pages I had forgotten to click the ‘new page’ button. Note to anyone about to use this program: if you don’t click the ‘new page’ button the program will delete whatever page you happen to have highlighted at the time and replace it with a new one. I created quite a mess for myself that way.

I am not at all finished with my sight. This makes sense, as I am only beginning to create next year’s Research Week agenda. I did finish the Home Page, Fall Research Week Page, Library Skills Page, Internet Research Skills Page, Spring in DC Page, the Contact Page, and the Blog Page for parents. This website will be a great resource. The idea of taking 2 weeks from standard curriculum for research activities is a source of confusion for many of our parents. Having a website that they can view for an overview, sample documents and activities, and an itinerary will be a huge help. Being able to include a blog for parents to post questions and ideas to is also a huge help. Returning parents can be a huge help for those that are new to our program. I loved the flexibility of combining the two features.


Did you share this web site with your classroom? Family? Friends? If so, what type of feedback did you receive? Did this require you to make changes?

Please explain. Unfortunately, my school is already in exam mode. This left me with little opportunity to share and reflect with colleagues and students. I did share it with family members, however. We agreed that I need to add some more interactive features. One aspect I’d like to change would be to add audio files to read the text for students and parents. This would be a huge help for those with dyslexia. I also plan to add a schedule and detailed itinerary as the time approaches. This site could easily be used while we are traveling with the students to keep parents updated on any changes in itinerary or flight plans. I will not be able to make these changes, however, until the time gets closer and our plans become finalized.

What errors/issues did you find when you tested your web site for 508 compliance? Based on 1 or 2 of those errors/issues, what changes would you make to your site?

I had many errors. To begin, I failed in accessibility, privacy, and website quality. I did receive an OK status for Section 508 compliance though. I read through the ‘Issues’ link, and, to be honest, found most of the information incomprehensible. Among the issues I did comprehend were the inclusion of “low contrast text.” I will have to look more closely at the font chosen. I went with the standard font. Perhaps I need something a little bolder. One other issue was the lack of a privacy policy link. I’m unsure that this applies to what we do, given that I’m not asking for any information or planning to share any information about any of our students and their families. Working in a special education environment, I do feel it would be good for me to learn more about the Section 508 compliance for the site. Any suggestions on where one might find resources that a lay person like me might understand?