Would you like to create your own web page? Our Schools Web Page templates are designed to allow every school district, school, school department, class and individual to produce its own web page. The templates have been designed with the input of teachers and students who have already used them to create web sites for their schools.

If this will be your first time creating a web page, these templates will guide you through the process by introducing you to HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the language used to create pages on the web. If you are already an expert, these templates are flexible enough to accommodate advanced HTML as well as other scripting languages such as Java and CGI. The Web Template Instructions included with the download can help you get started. There are also several sites on the web to help you learn more about HTML including the following:

• WebMonkey HTML Teaching Tool
• HTML Station

It is important to remember that many skills and talents are needed to create a successful web page. Everything from the look and feel of the site to the navigation needs to be carefully planned out. Artists are needed for design, writers are needed to effectively convey and edit the message, musicians can add another dimension by including audio and programmers are needed to put all the components together to make the site work. As you can see, it is important to have people with many talents on your web team!

Check back soon for more detailed information on web design and HTML including an online tutorial for using the web templates.

A web site is a great way to let the world know about you, your school, your business, your club etc. With thousands upon thousands of web sites a simple click away, the design you choose for your page is critical. This sheet provides a few guidelines to help you design an effective web site that your visitors will remember!

Step 1: Planning

The key to a successful site is to PLAN AHEAD! You do not need to spend all of your time in front of the computer. The more time you spend planning and thinking about the details, the happier you will be with your end result. A site does not only need to look great, it needs to have content that is well-thought out and relevant to the people who will visit your site.

Here are some important questions to ask yourself as you begin the web design process:

• What is the purpose of the site?
  Why are we making a web site? Is it to provide information? Is it to provide a service?

• Who is the intended audience?
  Is it for students in the school? Teachers? Community? Other Schools? There can be many audiences for a particular page.

• What kind of "look and feel" would we like it to have?
  Do we want an academic feel? A cool and funky feel?

• What content should we have on the site?
  What information will be available on the site? How will we get the information we need? Are we going to update the site on a scheduled basis?

Most importantly, do some surfing! Get out there and look around at different web sites. Which sites do you like? Ask yourself some important questions as you surf:

• What is this page trying to tell me?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is it easy to read?
• Can I easily find the information I want?
• Are the graphics neat or are they distracting?
• Do I stay on this page for a while or do I quickly click ahead?
• Will I go back to this page? Why or why not?
• Is it easy to navigate the site?
• Are there too many links?
• Do I get lost in the site?
• What aspects of this page might work well for my web site?

Step 2: Write it down

After you have figured out the content and "look and feel", spend some time planning out the different pages. One popular technique is to "storyboard" just like they do in the movies. This might include a diagram of each page of the site showing which pages are linked to one another. It also could include a brief sketch of each of the pages along with information it will have, such as links, text, graphics, navigation etc.

This step will help you and your team see the big picture of what the site will ultimately look like. As you divide up the work, this is also a way to make sure that all team members have a similar and agreed upon vision for the site.

Step 3: Make the Web Site

You're ready! It's now time to make your ideas come alive. Get in front of the computer, use the templates and show your stuff to the world!!

Resources:

There are many resources about interface design available on the internet that explore many of the above issues in greater detail. Two very helpful sites are the following:

Web Pages That Suck
You might laugh at the name but this site gives some very good advice along with examples of good and bad web design. Their motto is "Learn good design by looking at bad design." The site showcases current pages and provides accompanying explanations and opinions about the design. There is also a book that goes into further detail about various aspects of web design.

Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide
This manual presents many web design and interface issues. It is a good summary of the principles of good and effective interface design supported by many of the key players in the field. The annotated bibliography at the end is a great resource if you are interested in learning even more.

Good luck and have fun!