www pdragons com Pendragon Productions Using the Web

www. pdragons. com Pendragon Productions Using the Web for better Customer (Parents & Students) Service Michael Perry Business Teacher, Chapel Hill High School, Douglas County Adjunct Business Instructor, Kennesaw State 1 University

Why a website. . . Service • Increase service – Centralized information – Students • Presentations • Assignments • Instructions – Parents • Consent forms www. pdragons. com

Why a website. . . Service • Improve communication – Students • News/Updates – Parents • News/Updates • Announcements www. pdragons. com

Why a website. . . Service • Advance learning – Testing • Online • Quicker and more accurate results – Class Organization • More accurate information • Better team building www. pdragons. com

What are the goals of the website. . . • Service – One place for the student and parent to retrieve data • Communication – More informed students and parents • Learning – Students are more eager to learn to use technology as a tool for improved learning www. pdragons. com

1 st Website • The 1 st Website was done in Microsoft Front Page • Goal was to provide convenient access to files for students • Other ideas were added as needed without a consistent design www. pdragons. com

Website main page version 1 www. pdragons. com

What was learned from the 1 st site… Old Site • Poor navigation • Lacked information content • No pizzazz • Hard to update • Not aimed at target • audience www. pdragons. com New Site • Improved navigation • Increase content • Added “eye candy” • Targeted specific audience • Developed in Macromedia’s Dreamweaver

Macromedia Dreamweaver • Chose Dreamweaver for site development • Program is part of a comprehensive design suite • Program is powerful • Program is easy to use • Industry leader www. pdragons. com

Who is the website targeting… Others Teachers Parents Others Students Teachers www. pdragons. com

How to organize the site… • Create Pages – Main Page • Keep in mind what all your sub-pages are going to be – Sub-Pages • Create all sub-pages

How to organize the site… • Create Links – Navigation Rules • Create all sub-pages links • Only link up or down 1 level • Easy to get back to main page • Easy to return to subsequent page • Easy to understand where you are

How to organize the site… • Create order to pages • Follow a hierarchical structure • Use same structure for all class pages – Documents – Powerpoints – Assignments • Create a way for user to jump around site

How the site is organized. . . www. pdragons. com

Drafting the website… Storyboard – A document of sorts that expresses the idea in which something is told, written, or developed. Time First draft storyboard Review Second draft storyboard Review Development www. pdragons. com

Storyboard • A storyboard allows you to lay out the design of a visual presentation – Can be used to plan a Website or Power Point or a Video – A helpful tool for the non-programmer to convey the design to the site programmer www. pdragons. com

Storyboard page 1 www. pdragons. com

Storyboard page 2 www. pdragons. com

Storyboard page 3 www. pdragons. com

Site design… Consistency – Items must be arranged to keep the user feeling like they have not left the site Logos – Set number of logos used to keep the “branding” of Pendragon Productions Theme – Used to keep audiences attention Easy & Effective Website www. pdragons. com

Website Versions 2 and 3 • Version 2 was launched in spring of 2001 – More interactive and Better organized • Version 3 was launched in Jan. 2002 – Name was shortened to pdragons. com from pendragon productions. com – Email addresses were changed to pdragons. com • More Dreamweaver features were included – Menu bar provides for better navigation – Scroll bars on post-it notes provides detailed timely info – Calendars provide students with assignments and activities daily, weekly and monthly basis www. pdragons. com

Finished website main page version 3

A teaching/time saving tool… • Grading center – Easy access to grades for all students – Eliminates the waiting for period for grades – Students can see grades and argue discrepancies immediately www. pdragons. com

A teaching/time saving tool… • Testing center – Better teaching aid – Grade posted right away – More accurate grading www. pdragons. com

Finished website main page ver. 4 • Color scheme changed to a neutral background • Blackboard used as graphic for pages • New Cleaner menus www. pdragons. com

A teaching/time saving tool… Version 4 (Fall 2002) • Databases (coming fall 2002) – Student & Parent information • Helps to track all pertinent data for students • Eliminates “mis-keys” when transferring from paper to electronic form • Querying capabilities – Eliminates manual searching – More accurate www. pdragons. com

Accountability through Contact version 4 • Teacher accountability through the use of databases for Client Contact • Web forms for Parent Contact that create a database record of contact and response – Accurate searching for student contact records www. pdragons. com

Improve Student Work Submission version 4 • Web forms to Submit student work directly to an indicated folder on the server – Work is named according to a preset protocol that identifies the student, assignment and class – Student is thanked by a closing screen for submitting work – Student is emailed a confirmation that work was received. www. pdragons. com

Quotes from users… • I think that computer web-site is a great thing. The calendar helps me track what is coming due for class. - Pamela G. • It is a good way to keep parents and students informed. For me, the most useful aspect is being able to check grades anytime. - Michelle T. www. pdragons. com