A classroom Website is created by a teacher or other educator specifically for his or her students. It is an extension of the learning environment; a central place to access information any time. Classroom websites also provide teachers with the ability to communicate and involve parents beyond the school day.

Parents and students today are going online to shop, get their news, communicate with family and friends, find jobs and search for colleges. They expect to find information online and have it be current and interactive. Classroom websites are no exception. Parents are interested in knowing how their district is preparing students for the future and how well they are succeeding.

SchoolWorld's Classroom Solution allows teachers to easily set up and maintain a classroom website with no programming knowledge required and no software to install. With our convenient Web-based applications and vibrant, scholastic-themed templates, making updates is a breeze; allowing the focus to be on the quality and quantity of the content.

As experts in classroom website management, we recommend the following suggestions for an effective, successful classroom site:

• Information should be fresh, interesting and comprehensive.
• Avoid lengthy paragraphs. Often, it can be difficult to read on the Web, therefore, content should be concise and easy to read with short paragraphs, small images, bullets or numbering.
• Web pages shouldn't be overloaded with lots of headlines and different fonts and type sizes. Headlines and page titles should be clear and simple. Please keep in mind, pages will load faster with fewer images and tables.
• Include a contact method. It’s important to keep a two-way communication with students and parents. Include a mailto link, phone number or email address at the bottom of every Web page. Quick response to inquiries is a good way to impress visitors.
• Conduct weekly Web page checks. Once a Web page has been created, check the content, images, files and links to make sure they are working properly. Outdated information, dead links, or broken files can immediately discredit a website.
• Keep the colors reasonable. Pink, red or yellow letters are not easy on the eyes. Try and avoid too many fancy scripts or animations which can cause visitors to lose focus on important information.
• Avoid attaching large files. Keep in mind that many homes are still accessing the Web via dial up. Files should be 4 MB or less.