Webpages are the way to go!

Yesterday I showed my almost completed webpage to my English 191 class. There was an instant "ooh" factor. I was rather surprized as these students are on the web all the time. I had one student come up and click through the page. I asked them to write down their thoughts, but hardly anyone did. Instead they were so intrigued that they just told me what they thought.

They liked having the current class schedule and assignment up as text on a page. One girl expressed her wish that this page should have been available all semester; she does not like going to D2L and finding the schedule and assignment list. They liked all the links to the other pages and resources. They want the pdf files to show up as separate windows rather than having to push the back browser button. I intend to follow that suggestion.

They told me they did not need the word "doorway"; they would click on the underlined words or links to see those pages. Some of them would click on the pictures, but they noted that not all pictures on the webpages have links so they are not in the habit of clicking on pictures. Once they knew the picture worked, they would use the picture link. But they agreed that text and pictures both could be linked to the same page.

They liked the colors, pictures, layout, and easy navigation of the webpage. They wanted to use the webpage rather than D2L. If I were teaching next fall, I would definitely use this page instead of D2L. On the first day of class, I would include my URL and ask them to bookmark or favorite on their computers. I could see my students were ready to interact with this website so I am convinced that webpages as a teaching tool are the way to go.