Weblog 3

   Out of all the chemistry classes I’ve taken, I have always done better in courses where the teacher had an updated and useful website.  Especially those with helpful links to sites with extra practice problems if for no other reason than I didn’t understand the way that the book or even my teacher was presenting the problem.  That is why as a pre-service teacher I already know that my website will have a lot of resources.  The website should have a ‘homepage’ with my contact information, general information about the course as well as any announcements.  Then there should be tabs for resources available to the students of various helpful websites. There should also be a tab for a calendar; a tab for notes whether that is handouts or power points would also be needed.  Another option for tabs could be for the more serious chemistry students about lab technician opportunities for high school students as well as various chemistry programs at universities.

     As far as parents of my students are concerned, I believe that their ability to get in touch with me is very important.  There should be on my website a tab just for parents that can have all my contact info repeated as well as FAQ concerning grades, extra credit opportunities, tutoring options/contacts, and ways to help their child succeed in chemistry (a subject which most parents are unable to help).

     I think the most useful Web 2.0 applications for a high school chemistry class website would be a calendar, a digital drop box for homework, a white board so that I could work through problems online with the students, and a flashcard site for all the new terms/concepts introduced throughout the year.  I would also have a forum/discussion based application so that communication about upcoming tests and projects with parents and students would be very easy. The parents would also be able to use this medium to check in with me if they had any concerns about their child’s progress in the course.