Web Design and the Community
Students Use Design Skills to Create Community Oriented Web Sites
May 7, 2008
When learning how to design and create web sites, students are exposed to a variety of tasks depending on the technology resources available and the teacher's comfort with the design features. Students can take these new skills to create a valuable resource for their community no matter what design features are involved.
Local non-profit or community based groups and businesses and individuals with interesting backgrounds or hobbies are ideal for this school directed project. High school and older middle school students can benefit from using their skills in a professional setting. They are exposed to the likes and dislikes of others, learn to adapt to needs of businesses and become involved in community service in a friendly, educationally oriented environment.
This project is designed with the intention that each student would do his or her own site. It can be easily adapted to be used with small groups depending on the dynamics of a class. Requirements can be put in place as to what web design features and styles are used, but can also be used to allow students the freedom to decide what is necessary to meet the requirements of the non-profit or business.
Challenge
Prior to beginning, students need to find a subject for their projects. Ideas include:
- redesigning or creating a site for a local non-profit organization
- creating a site for a local place (i.e., park, building)
- designing a site for someone's hobby, sport, or activity
- creating a portfolio site for a friend or relative – NOTE: this is not a personal site, but a site that highlights professional or intellectual interests or memoirs
Proposal
To provide another connection to business, have students submit a proposal for consideration. This proposal should include information such as:
- the purpose of the project (explain why the project is useful and/or interesting)
- identify the audience for the web site and how the project and site will be designed around this audience's needs
- brief discussion of the technical aspects of the project (i.e., the software and hardware that will be used)
- identify the resources (i.e., communication or testing related) that will be used as work proceeds on the web site
- identify similar sites and describe how the site will be similar and different from these (for example, a minimum of three other sites that share the same general audience and have a similar purpose)
Reflection
Once students finish the work on the site, have them each reflect on their individual experiences. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on the teacher's preference. Make sure that each student is able to explain why certain design features were chosen instead of others such as using CSS, Frames or a template. Also have each student reflect on the process, what went well with communicating with others during the design and creation of the site and what did not go well. Encourage students to provide suggestions to improving his or her own performance in the future.
