Vince Marsala’s Web Site Philosophy

http://www.avonlakecityschools.com/avlkhs/mrmarsala/home/

I established the web site because I wanted technology to enhance my teaching. A few years ago, I took a course on technology in education. One of the things we discussed was incorporating technology effectively. We never came up with an answer that satisfied me. I thought about the topic and I decided students needed a piece of technology that was as essential to the classroom as I was. After much thought, I decided a web site was the way to go. I took a short workshop to help get the web page started. After the workshop, through self-motivation, I continued to work on the web site, and my class has evolved into a web based English class. All of my handouts are on the web. The students go to the page, get all assignments, and then work on assignments. Since all of my handouts are on the web, the students receive almost no copies of handouts, saving me a lot of time. I no longer have to make copies or use class time to get an absent student caught up with an assignment.

Students use the site daily. As stated earlier, in order to incorporate technology to the fullest, I felt students needed to rely on the site completely. Therefore, I posted all materials to it, and students began accessing the site; now, both students and parents can go to the site and get all lesson plans, too. No student can say he or she did not know of an assignment. Students can take ownership of their education and responsibility for their success. Lastly, since many colleges are moving to web based instruction, my students are more ready to move on after high school.

The site has definitely enhanced my teaching by allowing me to extend what is going on in my classroom. The Language Network Help Center allows students to look through grammar and punctuation links without taking a book home. In addition, students get all of the information for an assignment upfront, so they have every chance at success. The Scholarship Links section allows students a chance to earn money, and the Career Center helps students move on to employment.

Students and parents have really taken to the site. Clarification of all ambiguities happens because information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Obviously, the success of this site is reliant on access to the Internet. At our school, access is not a problem. For a school where this might be a problem, a teacher might have access to a lab, or the students may have a library nearby. Since all of the lesson plans are available online, a student can go to the library occasionally and not fall behind. When a student is absent, he or she can access all class information from home. Upon his or her return, the student can be caught up. Thus, I do not have to take class time or time after class to get a child up to speed.

From what I have heard from people, my best work would be making the site user friendly. From experience, technology is most effective when it is accessible and easy to use. If a piece of technology is not user-friendly, some people may get frustrated and stop using the equipment. They simply stop trying because it is too hard. With this in mind, I created a web site even a first timer could use. I labeled everything, so a visitor can easily move through the site. Once again, this gives children the best chance at success.

In closing, the point of education is to put children in a position to attain success. Using technology effectively to enhance teaching is the way education is moving. As educators, we owe it to our students to get them ready for upcoming challenges, and if students are to succeed, it is our responsibility to help them be ready. The web site was a tremendous undertaking, but ultimately, it will make my job easier. By staying up-to-date with the page, I do not need to dig through a file cabinet, wait for a copier, run copies, and rush back to the room, saving time and stress.