Module 4: Review and Publish Your Website
Overview
After you create your website, it should be reviewed and inspected before being published on the World Wide Web for your learners and others to use. It is understood that many of the website editors allow you to publish your website any time changes are made. Before you publish your website for your learners and the parents and/or guardian(s) to use, you want to make sure it is reviewed and inspected thoroughly.
Reviewing Your Website
There are a variety of things you can do to review and inspect your website. Some things to specifically pay attention to are listed below; however, please note that this does not encompass all things to review and inspect.
Access
Site Purpose
Overall Presentation
Navigation
The Header
Fonts and Text Size
Colors and Images
Cross-Browser Inspection
Currency
Again, as mentioned before, there are a variety of things you can look for within your website to review and inspect it. Remember, the aforementioned information are only some questions to help you begin reviewing and inspecting your website. Be sure to review and inspect every portion of your website to ensure the content is correct and accurate and the website functions accordingly.
Access
- How long does your site take to load?
- Do pages load slowly due to large graphics or external links?
- Is there information about the author(s)/instructor(s) of the site?
- Is there a contact page to contact the author(s)/instructor(s)?
Site Purpose
- Is the content relevant to your objectives?
- Are the titles and explanations clear?
- Is the grammar correct - are their spelling and/or punctuation errors?
- Is the language appropriate for the intended audience?
Overall Presentation
- Do you have an appropriate theme selected?
- Is the use of color conducive to the learner's learning?
- Are the graphics and links appropriate, as well as placed in appropriate locations throughout the website?
- Do the links work when clicked?
- Is the layout consistent throughout the different pages?
- Is your site easy to navigate?
- Is the site interactive?
Navigation
- Is there a navigation toolbar? Is it located in the header, the footer, or in the margin?
- Can learners navigate through pages within one another?
- Is there a site index or site map to help learners navigate?
- Are the pages and categories clearly defined?
The Header
- Does your site contain a header, either text or images?
- Does it provide immediate information about what your site is about?
Fonts and Text Size
- Is your text large enough and easily readable?
- Do you use common themes of fonts and text size throughout your website? i.e. all headings are the same font and size, and all written context is the same font and size?
Colors and Images
- Does your website use the same color theme throughout the website, or does it vary page by page?
- Are the font colors easily readable?
- Are the images appropriate?
- Do the images support the text written, or are they randomly placed throughout the pages?
- Do images overwhelm the website?
Cross-Browser Inspection
- Does your website work in other platforms other than the one your using? i.e. Firefox, Chrome, AOL, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
- Does your website appear to look the same in each of the web browsers?
- If it does appear different, have you included recommend browsers to view and use your website?
Currency
- Will the site be updated regularly?
- Will you highlight the recently updated information for the user?
Again, as mentioned before, there are a variety of things you can look for within your website to review and inspect it. Remember, the aforementioned information are only some questions to help you begin reviewing and inspecting your website. Be sure to review and inspect every portion of your website to ensure the content is correct and accurate and the website functions accordingly.
Publish Your Website
Upon completing a thorough review and inspection of your website, you are ready to publish your website to the World Wide Web. Depending on the website editor you selected to use, the way to publish your website will differ.
Remember to publish your website to the World Wide Web after any and all changes and updates are made, so your learners have the most up-to-date information at their hands! If you have forgotten how to publish your website to the World Wide Web, you can refer back to the appropriate website program you selected, and learn how to do so. |
Congratulations on completing the "Creating Websites" module. Hopefully this tutorial was able to help you get started in creating a website that is beneficial to you and your learners. Get creative and have fun creating and updating your website! Make sure you maintain your website and regularly update it to meet your needs as well as the needs of your learners! |
Now that you have completed how to begin creating a website using the "Creating Website" tutorial, please participate in the "Creating Websites" Evaluation survey on the next page to provide comments on how this site can better meet your needs. Click the button below to go directly to the evaluation.