Edline has tremendous potential to improve communication within the district.  Although Edline can accommodate web links, it is not the best choice for a web site featuring locally produced content and extensive links. The RLMS Virtual Library and Virtual Silk Road are large and complex web sites.  Some statistics:

The Virtual Library is a customized educational resource that is updated several times a week.  It supports the entire curriculum and it serves as a school-wide textbook for the Linking Learning Curriculum.  Some examples:   

Student Productivity Tools:

Subject and grade links that support formal research projects:  Grade 6 Social Studies Page

Links that support classroom instruction:   Grade 8 English  (Demo Types of Poetry) I add links to a grade and content page and then e-mail teachers to advise them of the update.  

Locally produced handouts and worksheets for Linking Learning projects:  Egypt Research Handouts

Tech Tips, handouts for student projects: Creating a Tri-Fold Brochure

Pages designed for direct instruction  Evaluation of Sources 

Power Points that are used in direct instruction and as a tool for parent communication:  Silk Road Parent Guide

Teacher Productivity Tools:

Current contents for class sets of magazines: (developed in response to the district initiative of Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum)   Junior Scholastic '05-'06

Locally generated lists of debate articles for which we own class sets (developed in response to the district initiative to improve persuasive writing)  Debate Articles

Highlights of LMC resources for academic disciplines:  History Highlights

Multi-Media Links for the 21st century classroom.  (presented at a school-wide PD):  Multi-Media

Tech Tips for teachers ( presented at a school-wide PD)  Readability

Virtual Bookroom, a list of bookroom titles including reading levels and links to Barnes & Noble for description and reviews.  Options include Grade and Theme Sort or Title Sort.

 

The Virtual Silk Road is wonderful showcase for the major Linking Learning project for the 7th grade.  Each student team  creates a web page about their city.  An external web presence helps motivate students and serves as an excellent public relations tools.  

Edline Migration Options:

Option 1: Simply Zip existing web sites to Edline

Navigation: RLMS Homepage>Library Group>Virtual Library:  3 clicks to begin!

Every internal link must be redefined to open in a new window, otherwise we cannot easily direct teachers and students to a specific page.  Demo Geography /  Parent Guide 

Every external link must be redefined to open in a new window or students will not be able to cite their source (This is a component of both the district adopted Network Code of Conduct and the Linking Learning Curriculum.)  Demo first Geography link.

This is no easy solution:

Every page must be modified to accommodate ease of use, Network Code of Conduct, and Linking Learning Curriculum.  

Even the simplest update requires that we zip the entire site.  This will discourage frequent updates.

Edline pages are not indexed.

Bottom Line:  We're forcing a large round peg into a large square hole. 

 

Option 2:  Take content from existing web pages and "chunk it" in FrontPage for easier update

This is no easy solution:

We'll have to break the existing site into multiple FrontPage webs.  

Even if we cut and paste, we still have to redefine every link to open in a new window. 

Edline pages are not indexed.

Bottom Line:  We're forcing a bunch of small round pegs into a bunch of small square holes.

 

Option 3:  Redesign the web site using the Edline template.   

This is no easy solution:

Edline pages are not indexed.

Bottom Line:  We start at square one.  The new web will not be as extensive.