Past Participants' Comments

What was the most meaningful and useful for you as a teacher...

"I have been teaching for 22 years.  This course would have to rank right up there with one of the very best and most interesting of all the classes that I  have taken. One of the most valuable things that I have learned is that I appreciate more now just how complex and simple a website can be.  When I look at complex websites I've got at least a little bit more of an idea as to how it was created."
~ Technology Teacher, Prentice, Wisconsin

"I see great potential for applying this knowledge, both in my current role as a school counselor, as well as in some future role I have yet to discover.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the format, organization, presentation, and relevance of the course content. The hours have felt well-spent, the feedback from Jim has been swift and thoughtful, and the pace conducive to people with full-time lives to conduct. I took an online graduate class 2 summers ago summer where my experience was the opposite, so I really appreciate the difference this time around!
Middle School Counselor, Madison, Wisconsin

"What I was surprised to learn from a web design course was the remarkable variety of different things I could bring to "customers" through a classroom page. I have uncovered a great source of information for my students. Also, I have touched on an ability to communicate many classroom details with parents. Certainly my instruction and communication will be strengthened with my new web page.

I was also pleased with my first experience with a course taken over the Internet. The flexibility and learner focused format of Web Design for Educators has been a blessing. I will keep my eye open for Internet courses in the future and use them to my advantage.

Making my own web page has been a terrifically rewarding experience. It was an enjoyable experience in problem solving. The effort produced a powerful and valuable tool for my teaching. Looking to the future, I can envision my page taking on many crucial classroom tasks, potentially evolving to be the focal point of instruction."
Science Teacher, Waverly, Iowa

"The most valuable thing I learned was gaining the ability to control what I want to do on my web site in every aspect of the HTML code. I've used an HTML editor in the past but there is no comparison to doing the code yourself. I get more satisfaction in doing the coding than the finished product. I can sit back and say, 'I did that.'"
Psychology Instructor - Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

"My perception of the WWW has changed incredibly in the past three weeks! I thought that Web pages were some kind of mysterious thing that I could never learn to master. Instead I feel very comfortable with my work on the Web, all due to the training I have received in this class. It is no longer a mystery!"

"I am going to use what I have learned in the class starting day one this Fall! I'm going to get students busy writing the articles for all the different sections of our class site, and I'm going to start taking pictures with my digital camera to add as well. I can't wait! I think this site is going to be a great addition to the services the Music Department currently offers. As a result of taking this course I will also feel comfortable in helping to train the other members of staff at my school, if they ask me for help."

"I feel that this site is going to be of great benefit to my school, the parents, the students and their relatives back home. Not only can they all get "up to date" information on concerts and events, but they can see the groups and find out more about the program. I also feel that the site will be of great use to parents who are considering relocating overseas and want to find out more about the school their children will attend."
Music Teacher, England

"The most valuable thing I learned was how easy it is to design and create a website. Up until now I thought the creation of a website was a mysterious venture that only the most knowledgeable of computer people could do. I thought that the programming language was so far out there that it was beyond the "regular guy" on the street. However after taking this class I learned that this is not true. Anyone who wants can create a website."

"As a result of taking this workshop my perception of the World Wide Web has changed quite a bit. I now look at not only the information on a page but also the design of the page. I now know how to look for the source information to find out how something was made and to question if it adds to the effectiveness of the page or not. I also question the information on the site and look for authenticity.

I also was impressed at how easy it was to take a course online. The most challenging part for me was to make sure I allotted the hours needed during the week to the course work and not to let myself fall behind. For me this was an ideal way to learn since I work full time and am a mother of a ten year old boy. I look forward to taking more courses in the future.
Elementary Teacher, Quito, Ecuador

"This course on Web page development was valuable to me in many ways. Probably the most essential knowledge was the design principles that Web sites should follow. This information will be used to develop a set of guidelines for the high school students that I will teach second semester, and they will spend a lot more time studying principles of design than they would had I not taken the workshop."
Technology Coordinator, Quito, Ecuador

"This class has made me feel somewhat like the apprentice learning a new trade. I was initiated to one step at a time, allowed hands-on experiences, and given a task to complete successfully before moving on to the next step. The instructor and classmates provided support and reinforcement of thoughts/discoveries each step of the way. Even though I am still very much a novice, I felt the courage to start the final project with our built-in support system. Having successfully completed all the links within the pages definitely made me feel as though I had just finished making that first pair of shoes (or whatever I was apprenticing to make)!"

"I have enjoyed the flexibility and freedom permitted with the online classes. Deadlines and requirements are established, but I can choose when it best works into my daily life to complete those commitments. I greatly appreciated the flexibility provided in the final project. Each of us could develop something that will improve our school district's Web sites and/or student learning. For those of us receiving some tuition reimbursement, our school districts have never gotten a better return for their money!!"

"The expert guidance of the instructor has made this online technology class one of the greatest personal and professional growth experiences I have had during the past decade!"
Third grade teacher, Harlan, Iowa

"The instructor has done a wonderful job of organizing the course and providing excellent resources to help us learn. The instructor has provided wonderful feedback to help me learn."
Elementary ESL teacher, Beijing, China

"Even before my page was complete and posted to the server and intranet, my students were using the sources from my HTML folder on my computer. I am excited that they appreciate having my site to remind them of upcoming project dates as well as key sites. In the future I plan to add even more links to my site, as well as concentrate even more heavily on updating the site as a classroom bulletin board of sorts.

"I am already using my Web site to not only benefit my students, but also to help motivate fellow science teachers at my school to develop good resource sites since our libraries are VERY limited. A high school biology teacher has asked me to teach him how to do a website, so he and I are going to use my HTML skeleton so we have consistent looking pages for the entire department. I am glad all of my work can be used again, since it takes so long to initially decide the layout of one's pages.

"This course helps you design your own Web site, which can extend your teaching classroom for your students. My students now use my site in the library, computer lab, and at home."
Middle school science teacher, Thorpe, England

"My husband was asked to reapply for a position in Hawaii that he had declined last year. Because it was earlier in the spring, and I had a chance to look for another position, I started looking into job opportunities also. There was an opening at Punahou School in Honolulu for a head librarian. I took the plunge and sent in my application. I included the URL's of my web design project on my resume. I feel that having a physical presence on the Web helped to get the interview (first by phone and then later they flew me over for a personal interview)."

"During both interviews, the Web sites were mentioned often because they were looking for someone with strengths in technology. I was offered the position and will be moving over in less than a month."
Media Specialist, Glenwood, Iowa

"I have learned so much in the last month and a half! I know that my Web page was not the fanciest one ever built, but I am still pleased that I can build a site from scratch. It's a site that is easily expanded and that will provide my students with information."

"I will definitely use my knowledge of Web page design in my current job. I have already talked to my principal about putting my site on our school server. He is very excited about my doing so. He wants all of our teachers to have Web sites, and he has asked me to be one of the "go to" people to help teachers develop theirs!"
Elementary media specialist, Johnston, Iowa

"What a wonderfully diverse group of teachers in this class. It was fun corresponding with some of them. I have "talked" to Nancy some, and it has been interesting to hear from her perspective about the problems in the Middle East. I hope that my school will be able to do some collaborating with their schools. That is also the advantage of taking an online class such as this. What an opportunity to meet other teachers from the United States and around the world."
Media Specialist, Independence, Iowa

"The most important thing that I learned in the class is to have pride in your own work and accomplishments. Perhaps I didn't really "learn" it in the class, but only developed it again.

I showed my Web site to some friends -- and they asked if I did it for a class. I answered with what I considered to be the most important information -- I did it for myself. I could have made a "boilerplate" site and met the course objectives, but I wanted more than that. And now I have ideas for even more elaboration. (Including taking the Inspiration software class later this month.)

Before taking the class, I had been interested in building Web sites, but I lost my focus. Without a good foundation in the literature or hands-on experience -- I wasted a lot of time looking for the "best" sites. I was never quite sure what I was doing, and I didn't have anyone to ask. By taking the class, everything was prepared and ready to do. Even a guide was provided. Each student makes an individual decision as to what to do with the opportunity. It was my chance and I went for it. I thank you for your kindness and courtesy when my dilettante tendencies blossomed and your willingness to review one more bit of student work. Your messages always sounded like our projects were as interesting to you as they were to us."
School Librarian, Guam

"I definitely want to keep working on this Web site. I want to keep adding to it, particularly in the area of curriculum ties. I really feel this can be helpful to parents, students, and teachers. Just to know that there are free encyclopedias on the Internet allows them to make use of these tools. Not to mention the museums, virtual field trips, magazines, and experts available."
Elementary Media Specialist, Marshalltown, Iowa

"The outcome of this class has exceeded my expectations. Designing a Web page has been a goal of mine for over a year. I was lacking the knowledge to accomplish my goal but now have the knowledge and a finished project!

The Web pages are used daily by our students so this class has been a definite benefit to our school. I am very pleased to have the knowledge to add to and/or modify the pages as needed.

"A most valuable outcome of this class is the knowledge that I still have the ability and desire to accomplish my goals. (13 years since my last class for credit) This has been a rewarding experience!"
Media Specialist from Beech Grove, Indiana

"I have recently been appointed webmaster for our school home page. Before the class, I cringed when I thought of being in the position of maintaining the page since I knew how little experience I had. So, the class has definitely made me feel more positive about my abilities to do the job.

The course was 'just perfect' for what I needed."
Media Specialist, Keflavik, Iceland

"I'm also very pleased with this online format for learning and see great promise for those of us very busy with our own careers and lives but yearning to learn and grow as professionals. I've taken many classes over the years, but really feel this one afforded me the hands on tools that I needed and will utilize often in my teaching."
Teacher from Boxholm, Iowa

"I particularly like the chance to review others' sites. That made each of us take a good look at another's work and offer them an analysis and remarks."
PE, Keyboarding Teacher, Newhall, Iowa