Throughout this module, students will apply advanced web development skills to create highly professional, dynamic web sites for clients in a simulated business environment. Students will apply their web development skills and gain employability skills by building a web site for either a real or fictitious client. Students will work in teams and practice role-playing, reflection, communication and presentation. For more information about the class, see the syllabus.
The "clients" used in this web quest were derived from New Perspectives HTML and XHTML by Patrick Carey. Digital assets for each client (such as writing, logo, graphics, and more) were taken from the book's companion CD and modified. The students were then given their client's digital assets to work with. You can make up your own, too, or your clients can be actual community members (like a local pizza joint or community health center) or teachers (who needs a class web site?), or the school (build a site for the basketball team). Additionally, you can recruit actual paying clients from your local community.
If you recruit actual clients, your clients will be required to complete a Client survey. The students will then analyze the answers and complete Team Guide Sheet PART B "Compare & Contrast" using the sample sites the client gave them. In some cases, however, the client may not provide sites for your students to compare and contrast, and so your students may need to skip that section of the Team Guide Sheet.
It is important to provide a networked area for each group to save their files into. The folder will need to give yoru students read, write, and modify priveleges. This ensures that the final site is built in one location and eases collaboration. As a teacher, be sure to back up the folder often, especially near the end of Stage 2!
On the final exam day, invite representatives from the technology community to present to the students, network, and judge their final web sites. For example, I invited (1) an alumni of the high school who is majoring in graphic design at a local college (2) a professor of multimedia from a local community college (3) the director and employer of student web consultants that works with our school.
If your students are actually building sites for real clients, bring them in for the final showcase! Your participants can actively score the students' presentations and sites, and/or simply provide written and oral feedback. Provide awards for "best interface" or "best teamwork" in a "Webby Awards" format!
See the Schedule for a week by week breakdown of activities, agenda items, checkpoints, and assignments. Each week's learner outcomes are based on the employability skills identified by NWCET, the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies in Building a Foundation for Tomorrow, 2003 Edition, and the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills [SCANS] from the U.S. Department of Labor Commission.
Please send me any feeback or questions at the email address below! Enjoy!
( this is an LKR design, 2006, contact Lisa : lisa@lkrdesign.com for more information )