Hi guys,

 

I'm after a few ideas of how a school (12-16 yr olds) website could get student involvement in their website. Not necessary designing the site but more of getting more students to use the website. Any ideas for this?

The best way to come up with an appropriate concept is to create a concept map http://cmap.ihmc.us/publications/researchpapers/theorycmaps/theoryunderlyingconceptmaps.htm no one could come up with a suitable solution without first researching ideas and concepts.

Posting information that the kids can actually use - after school clubs, sports results. A forum is a possibility, but obviously, you'd need heavy moderation.

You could ask them No, seriously, in my experience by far the best way is to get students of that age involved is to get them involved in the decision :-) Ask the students themselves what they'd like to see and they'll be much more interested in what actually appears. They'll expect way more than is possible but that has learning value too. It will take time too so you may have to reserve a section of the site for what they eventually come up with.

 

Other than that...

 

We have some customers who get their students to produce web-based revision materials for those in lower years - ideal for embedding learning.

 

If the school is doing any of the digital studies or computer science qualifications or has a computer club get them to produce content. Or display their curriculum projects.

 

Include content on extra-curricular activities (within reason of course )

 

Social media may be popular but can be very dangerous and IMO tends to be seen as personal - and attempts by schools to get involved can actually backfire - it's the Dad-dancing syndrome.

 

Also worth noting that some schools restrict the external sites which can be connected to - embedding content from YouTube is a prime example.

 

Be prepared to freshen the ideas often.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Paul

Edited March 26, 201412 yr by DigitalWorkshop