Classroom Toolkit Redesign
Classroom Toolkit's redesign is in underway at "full steam ahead."
Here is a catalog of the changes:
- Site host change
- Blog moved to new site and redesigned
- Forum Added
- Site structure prototype posted online for review
These changes allow a greater use of Open Source Web software, i.e., 1.) Blog -- Wordpress™ and 2.) Forums -- Simple Machine Forum™
Here is a summary of these changes…
Site Host Change
The transition to the new Web host was smooth. The only issues that developed in the move were an hour or two with the RSS and MY Yahoo, My MSN icons becoming invisible. While fixing this issue, we added a My Google link.
The new hosting plan costs less than $50 per year. The previous plan cost about $300 per year. This is important because this project is privately supported, does not seek donations and does not sell products or services.
Blog Redesign
The Wordpress™ Blog allows quicker and easier updates. We chose a different program than our newsletter (which uses Serendipity™, another Open Source software package).
Link to the new Blog site…
We will use the Blog to share quick comments, items that 1.) are timely and can't wait for our newsletter, or, 2.) items that are short and don't match a general theme.
Please feel free to comment on items that are posted on the Blog.
Sidebar
Our newsletter Classroom Toolkit has nine components and provides plenty of content that can be explored in greater depth than a Blog.
Each issue of our newsletter follows a theme (There is often a loose, fuzzy logic, holistic, divergent thinking connection among the articles.)
Feel free to 1.) comment about the articles, 2.) suggest topics for the newsletter, or 3.) write an article for the newsletter
Our Simple Machines Forum™
This is our first forum. We will learn as we go.
The purpose of our Forum is to gather feedback so that we can focus on more of what you want.
The Forum is moderated because our focus is on teaching, and benefits for teachers. (Note: No one wants to wade through a long list of advertisements before they find the next post in the topic thread.) Moderating the forum keeps the SPAM out.
The Simple Machines Forum™ software that powers the Forum is Open Source, and available without cost. Check it out at…
Link to the Simple Machines Forum site…
Site Structure Redesign
A prototype of the site structure redesign is posted at…
Link to site redesign prototype…
Our goals for the site redesign are:
- Provide a visual overview of our philosophy
- Structure access so that source materials, tools and resource are easier to find and use
- Develop more integration with our newsletter articles
- Provide more coaching and support for teachers
We are testing this design, and exploring whether an Open Source Content Management System (CMS) can handle our design requirements. We have explored Drupal™, Joomla!™, Mambo™, Plone™ and Xoops™ software packages.
So far, the only Open Source Content Management System that seems to hold promise for the type of site that we wish to develop is Plone™
Redesign Timeline
Our target for the updated site prior to the start of the upcoming (2007-2008) school year. We want to allow enough time for teachers to implement our planning strategies.
So, share your ideas about how we can improve our site.
Use our Forum, E-mail or "Snail Mail." Your ideas are important to us.
