PPDP


 * This Page Contains My PPDP and Any/All Updates. **

First Draft PPDP **
 * Michael Bruno

Goal #1: To learn how to develop an elementary music website that students can access outside of school and that will contain scheduling information, listening examples, assignments, and other information of relevance to the music program.

In order to meet this goal, the following steps will be taken: • I will research and ask my mentor for ways in which to learn how to develop a website • I will research the difference between websites and wikis to determine which I think would best suit my students • I will poll both students and parents to get an accurate assessment of what information would be most important to them on the website • I will gather the information and construct a basic design for the website on paper • I will build the website using the information I have gathered

Progress will be documented in the following ways: • I will send updates to my mentor for regular feedback and constructive criticism • I will keep records of information that I gather, such as website development and student/parent polls • I will add the website to the West Greene School District website so that it may be accessed by anyone and anytime

Goal #1 will be assessed in the following ways: • The website will be reviewed by my mentor • Student/parent response to the website, both positive and negative • How effective it is in allowing students and parents to communicate with me and about the music program outside of school • Trial and error

Letter home to parents:

Dear Parents,

As part of a federally funded grant called Arts Educator 2.0 I am currently in the process of designing an elementary band/music website. I would like this site to be part of the West Greene School Dist. Website and to function as a means of communication between parents, students, and myself. As such, I would like some feedback as to what information would be most important to you. Any ideas at all would be helpful in the construction and design of this site. You may list your ideas in the space provided below or send me an email at brunom@wgsd.org. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely, Michael Bruno

_

- Although I did not recieve many return letters, most parents indicated that they would like to see the following items addressed on the site:


 * Calendar of events
 * Program information (Christmas and Spring)
 * Scheduling information (for band classes)
 * Rental information

- While studying the school's web software with our web master I designed the basic layout of the pages that I wanted to include on the site in several word documents.

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Back in early January I began meeting with our webmaster Matt Rychtarsky on Fridays after school for about two hours a session. He is in charge of design and upkeep of the West Greene School District website and as such has intimate knowledge of the Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 software that was used to create the website. He also teaches a class on website design using said software. At our first meeting he told me that over the next few months he was basically going to give me a crash course in design that he would typically teach to his students over a year’s time. In addition, he also gave me some training in how to use Photoshop. During the first few meetings he basically showed me how the software functions and how to do things like add boxes for text, pictures, and the headers and footers. He wanted me to learn how to design the headers and footers that were on the site and thus had to show me how to use Photoshop. Once I was more comfortable with the program I went about designing replicas of the headers and footers at home. I had some problems with the layering early one but he helped me through that at our sessions. Because he did not want me to take my work home I could only work with the Dreamweaver software at school. He suggested that if I wanted to begin designing the pages based on parent response I could create them in web layout using Microsoft Word. I was able over a few days to make the pages the color I wanted, insert the headers and footers I had worked on, insert some internet pictures and information, and create links between the pages. With the exception of including digital pictures (which I would need parental consent to post) and sound bytes I was able to create six pages that I would like to see become the actual elementary music website. I created a home page with a welcome and basic info, a calendar page with upcoming events, a program page where parents can find out what is planned for the upcoming concert/program, a page with information about the annual instrument rental night, a page with the band class schedule so parents know when to send instruments to school, and a page giving practice tips and expectations. The final goal is to convert the word documents into html and to add them to the West Greene School District website.

Although I’ve spent many hours of my own time working to create this website I can honestly say that it’s been for the good of my band/music program. Since I was hired I’ve always thought that having a website would be a good idea, but I was always so busy that I didn’t want to invest any time in learning how. To say that I’ve mastered the craft of website design at this point would be foolish, but I know so much more now, and, I now have a working relationship with our webmaster. That in itself is worth the time I’ve put in because I feel free to write him an email or call any time I have a question or issue. I still have much to learn but I now feel more equipped to do so. The impact that this site will have on my program will be great. I have already had parents (mostly those with students in the band program) ask about the content and time frame. During some after school rehearsals I showed several parents the word documents I had created and they all thought that it was wonderful. They suggested that I send out a letter at the beginning of the year informing all parents about the site so that there will be no question as to who, what, when, where, and why regarding music events. All of the feedback thus far has been nothing but positive. With regard to continuation, I see no reason why this site will not always be a part of the WGSD website. I would like to continue to learn and get better at using the software so that I can do it all from my school computer and not need the webmaster there looking over my shoulder to make sure I have transferred all of the information correctly. I would also like to make it so user-friendly that in the event that I leave the district, the person who takes my position will be able to step right in maintaining the site. This has been a really great experience for me and I look forward to having a better means of communicating parents and students.
 * Reflection**