As an e-learning tragic, I have come to amass a number of class wikis, Nings, Spruz pages, blogs, Google Groups etc. over the past few years. Whilst bookmarking each site in a browser does allow you quick access to it, perhaps when a student asks you, 'Sir what is the URL for our class wiki?', your vast collection of online creations might make you hesitate in answering that question.
As a solution I have created a single webpage to act as a portal to all my class sites and resources. Throw in an email form to ensure it is no onerous task when you ask your students to 'email you something', and suddenly your online presence has now been streamlined.
In order to make it really easy for you and your students to remember the class URL, why not purchase a domain name? The domain name which I registered (mycoursework.net) costs me $7 per year through www.crazydomains.com.au.
If you do not wish to pay to host a site or to purchase a domain name, Google Sites (sites.google.com) offers a great alternative to creating that central portal into your online classrooms!
That's a great idea, Chris. I have a similar problem with online bits and pieces everywhere. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice stuff, Chris. Spotted a typo in your Dropbox article, btw: you refer to it as 'DopBox' in the post's title.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Mark Allen
@eintheclouds
And in the title no less....Thanks Mark, all fixed now!
ReplyDeleteChris