Good Instructional Websites Take Time

All planning of units and lessons take time to create.  The first part is identifying the audience and standards that the unit will aim to meet.  Then it is important to establish specific learning goals and targets that the students will achieve at the end of the unit.  Afterwards comes the designing of assessments (formative and summative) along with the instructions and activities to which student will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to meet the learning goals and targets. 

I have done a couple instructional websites prior to the assignment in the course instructional applications of the internet.  Although each instructional website is unique in structure and learning experience, one thing remains constant for all: it takes time to create a good instructional website.  The planning and designing phase certainly takes time as with any good unit and lesson.  However, instructional websites have an additional element that units and lessons with out technology do not have.  Instructional websites require time to create the actual website as well as all of the resources and materials to be used and uploaded onto the website.  It takes time to create the materials to be uploaded and then to organize the website so it is easy to navigate and access the materials.  If students struggle to navigate and access materials, then there is a greater risk of students not learning the information defeating the purpose of the instructional website.

I strongly feel that instructional websites have their place in education at all grade levels.  For younger students, the website could focus on developing reading skills and learning math concepts.  Then, as students get older the instructional website would provide opportunities to acquire more depth of knowledge pertaining to the learning goals and targets.  Additionally, instructional websites promote growth in 21st century knowledge and skills.  Of course the instructional website has to be designed and implemented in a means to achieve certain 21st century skills.  From my experience of using instructional websites in my classrooms, the results are worth it!  My students showed tremendous growth especially in 21st century knowledge and skills that I believe otherwise they would not have gained.  Although instructional websites take time, I am all in favor of using them.