Instructor Introduction

Welcome to Blogger!

Before anything else, let me reduce your fears--I know many of you may feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the process of creating and maintaining a teacher Web site. You are probably thinking, “I’m a teacher, not a Webmaster!” The good news is I will not try to make a Webmaster out of you. Do not think of your Web site as something extra you are going to do; rather, think of it as an improvement on and replacement for some things you are already doing with student collaboration and connecting with parents.

Relax and know you are in good hands. Not only have I been creating Web site professionally since 1995, I have also been teaching people how to do so since 2000 at the collegiate level at Webster University. I was using Web creation tools from the very beginning; in fact, I remember when there were only a few tools for creating Web sites beyond pure computer coding of HTML, and I tried out all of them (anyone remember HoTMetaL Pro?).

Nowadays, the tools for making a Web site are very advanced, very slick, and made for non-Web programmers like yourself. I guarantee you that with Blogger, you have the simplest and best tool for the task of creating and maintaining a teacher Web site. If you have ever edited a Word document or Google Document, you have most of the skills you need to get started. I know the tools you have had available before--they were not fun. Not to oversell it, but as you learn Blogger you will also learn creating your site can be fun and get help further engage your students and parents beyond anything you have made before.

So rest assured--while I know the ins and outs of HTML and all that goes into Web creation, I am also a teacher, first and foremost. I will not try to impress you will bells and whistles--my focus will be on how to make you a better teacher, a better communicator, and to do so in less time than you have previously been spending on making a Web site. I know as a teacher that Blogger will help transform how you teach!