Know anything about HTML? CSS? Javascript? PHP?

No? That’s ok.

While those are all topics that a web designer would be highly familiar with and skilled in, you don’t need to know anything about any of them to build a class website. Using some freely available tools, you can build a great website with no prior knowledge at all – except how to click and type.

Over the next several pages, this guide will explore how to create a simple class website. It has been designed to be small in scope so that it is easy for a first timer to tackle. Despite its simplicity, you will find it to be incredibly useful and you can easily tailor it to your own needs.

The class site’s basic functions will be to allow students to easily access information and to open up a channel for communication with parents.

Oh, and it’s 100% free. I thought you’d like that.

This guide will be published throughout the week, at the rate of about one part per day. The estimated publication date for each part is in parentheses, and the table of contents here will be updated with links to each page as it becomes active. So check back daily or subscribe to the Teach Them Well RSS feed to keep up to date!

Table of Contents

1. Defining Goals: What Do We Want the Class Website to Do?
2. Creating a Site: Using WordPress to Build Your Class Website
3. Publishing Information: Posting Your First Assignment
4. Design Studio: Changing the Layout and Appearance of Your Site
5. Navigation: Setting Up the Sidebar of Your Class Website (01/20/2009)
6. Custom Navigation: Adding Custom HTML and Info to the Sidebar (01/21/2009)
7. Special Pages: Adding Pages (Not Posts) to Your Class Website (01/22/2009)
8. FAQ: Other Frequently Asked Questions About Creating a Class Site (01/23/2009)

Have you finished reading the guide? Did you make your own site yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Get to it!

If something is unclear or if you have any extra questions, feel free to drop a line in the comment area below or send me a private message via the Contact Form.