So, You Want a Website?

One of the questions that I most frequently field from fellow teachers is, “How do I go about creating a website like yours?” In fact, I’ve spent so much time responding to this question over the years that I’ve decided to post a response to the question here

I won’t waste your time with a long history of this site, but I started when your only real option was to learn to write HTML. My skill set grew as I wanted to add resources. At one time, before my school district had online grades, I had my own secure grade database for my students. Regardless, if I were starting a website today, I would skip learning how to code. I am going to recommend a couple of different approaches, depending on the answer to a few questions:

• Question #1: Are you ready to pay money for a site hosting service?
• Question #2: Do you plan to monetize the site (make money)?
• Question #3: Is it important to you that you “own” your content?

If your answer to all three of those questions is “No”, then the best option for you is to create a Google Site. Google’s new version is slick. It creates sites that are responsive to devices, so they re-size and modify navigation depending on the device used to view it. That alone is enough to recommend it as a site development tool.

You will not own the site. Google could make it “go away” on a whim – though that is unlikely. If you are a teacher, and you have a Google account through your school district, you might want to consider creating a site with a personal Google account. In the event of a move to another district, you would retain control of the site you have created.

There are some really nice features available with a Google site. If you have a Google Calendar for your class, it can easily be embedded in the site. Certainly, you are aware that you can create surveys, review activities, and even graded quizzes with Google Forms, which can be added to the site. YouTube videos? Google owns YouTube, so embedding videos couldn’t be easier. Teachers that I know have posted class documents, rubrics and even examples of work to illustrate course expectations. I firmly believe that a Google site is all of the “Website” that most teachers will ever need. For the rest of you, who are willing to pay, want to own your content, and maybe even monetize it, there is WordPress.

WordPress is the blogging software that I used to create this blog that you are reading (NOT the whole ScienceGeek.net site). But in reality, it is used as a Content Management System for millions of websites. What that means is that you can create and manage all aspects of a website using WordPress. There are so many “plugins” for WordPress that it is no problem adding a calendar, quizzes, interactive practice and YouTube video.

It is possible to create a WordPress blog for free at WordPress.com. However, the full power of WordPress really becomes available when you have it installed through a hosting service. If you are willing to pay for a hosting service, here are the steps:

1. Select a hosting service. I use BlueHost.com. Make sure that they are set up for automatic WordPress installations. BlueHost specialized in WordPress, but there are others who do so as well. When registering with a hosting service, you will have the opportunity to create a “domain name” (ScienceGeek.net is a domain name). A domain name that is easy to remember is important. The hosting service shouldn’t cost more than five or six dollars per month. You can always upgrade if you draw lots of traffic.
2. Once you are signed up, the hosting service will provide you access to online tools, including WordPress installation. So, install WordPress. This should involve little more than clicking a button or two. Be sure that you install WordPress at the root of your site. Most hosting services will walk you through the process, and even provide “how to” videos.
3. Log in to your WordPress installation – it will take you to the dashboard where everything takes place. PLAY! There are millions of WordPress sites. They are not all the product of computer geniuses, so rest assured that you can quickly climb the learning curve. For help and ideas, go to WordPress.org (not .com). The WordPress community is huge, and support is freely given.
4. Don’t share your domain name until you are comfortable with what you have produced!

If at some point you decide to monetize the site using advertising, understand that it takes a LOT of traffic to generate even a small amount of revenue. For most of us, earning enough to pay for hosting services and domain name registration is about all we can hope for. There are WordPress plugins for Google Ads, should you decide to take the dive. Just one warning – control the advertising categories. There are some things you don’t want parents and students seeing in ads on your site.