Website+Editors

toc Website editors are software programs designed to allow the user to create webpages. With a typical website editor, you are able to add information, media and links to your site. You can then publish it to the internet using your own custom address or domain name. With this technology, you can create a personal, business, or informational website arranged exactly as you envision it without a lot of coding experience.

=About= Website editors are programs used to create websites without knowledge of how to write HTML or CSS code. In the past, website creation was not possible for those who lacked these skills.

=Specific Tools=

Weebly
Weebly is a highly-recommended website editor that was established in 2006, and by 2007 was receiving national recognition for being one of the best resources for those who are wanting to create their own websites. Many big-time investors share ownership of Weebly, and it has been featured in articles from publications including Time, Newsweek, the Wallstreet Journal, and the BBC.

How to Use
Here and here are screencasts that will explain how to use Weebly step-by-step.

In Weebly, you can drag and drop desired elements directly onto the site that you are creating. You can insert text, pictures, videos, links, etc. and rearrange them into the layout that you want. In the elements box at the top of the page, it is very easy to identify the boxes to drag in order to insert text and pictures. To the left of the elements box, there should be a link that says "Basic" (containing text and picture elements), and, below that, a link for "Multimedia" (options for slideshows, audio, videos, etc.).

To change the site's aesthetics, click on the "Design" tab at the top next to "Elements." Here, you can select different styles for your page. Please note that there are all pre-made and to modify them you need to know how to write (or at least edit) HTML code.

You can also add more pages to your site, via the "Pages" tab. You can title the tab, and then from your home page viewers can easily navigate to the others. You can also make a tab fall under another (for "drop-down" menu options) with a simple drag and drop. This is done while under the "Pages" tab, not while viewing your home page. When inserting a hyperlink, you can check the "Open in new window" box if you don't want the link to navigate viewers away from your page.

=Implementation Ideas=

English

 * Have students upload a paper to Weebly, for other people to read and download.
 * Put up a book, or recommend a classical book to everyone from the Weebly page.
 * Use Weebly to create an interactive website for a novel, with tabs explaining the characters, plots, themes, setting, etc.
 * Use Wordpress to create a blog allowing students to post and comment on submissions, thus creating an interactive discussion on thematic concepts.

Mathematics

 * Use Weebly to help split up steps for a formula.
 * Use videos on sub-pages, to help explain how a formula works.
 * Use Weebly to collect data, display it, and interpret the data utilizing mean, median, mode, range, etc.

Science

 * Create a website that breaks down a scientific formula or concept into smaller, more manageable pieces as different sub-pages.
 * Use different sub-pages to show pictures or diagrams of a scientific process.

Social Studies

 * Make a website that deals with a certain historical period.
 * Use a website to deal break down a battle or event into different sub-pages, so not all the information is on the same page; this way, it is less overwhelming and easier to examine individual factors.

Health & Medicine

 * Create a public service announcement to encourage prevention methods of various health problems.

Elementary Education

 * Create a class Weebly to identify different types of animals, their characteristics and what class they belong to.

=Opinions & Feedback=
 * General**
 * In general, Weebly is very easy to use.
 * Weebly allows for neat organization, making a website that is not difficult to browse or understand.
 * A major criticism of Weebly is that it is difficult to customize a website beyond the built-in or pre-made options.
 * English**
 * Students can make a Weebly site to upload papers for other students to read or proofread.
 * Students can make a Weebly site to share their favorite author, so other students can see and read their work.
 * Mathematics**
 * Students can use Weebly sub-pages to help break up different formula.
 * Students can use Weebly as a way to help other students in math by showing them how do a problem, or by uploading a video to Weebly.
 * Science**
 * Students can make a Weebly site that explains a scientific process.
 * Students can upload graphs or pictures to help explain scientific processes.
 * Social Studies**
 * Students can make a Weebly page of their favorite historical time period.
 * Students can pick a period or event to break down into smaller events or influences by using the sub-pages to demonstrate knowledge.