Current options include:

LabNet class pages: Class pages are automatically assigned for each class you teach. Because of this, they are the easiest option for getting course materials online. Once you're logged into LabNet, your class pages will appear automatically under "My Classes." For more information on using LabNet pages, contact webmaster Joe Kallo. 

Traditional web pages on our servers: There are three basic flavors of these. You can build one yourself with Dreamweaver, use templates in the iWeb program, or work with Joe to build a web page template you can edit from Web Express, our easy web content management tool. Of these options, iWeb and WebExpress are easiest to learn and maintain. Dreamweaver has a steeper learning curve, but allows maximum creativity and the fewest constraints.

Blogs: You’re no doubt familiar with blogs, but in case not, a blog is an easy way to publish in a journal-type format and receive and share comments from others. To see what other Lab folks are doing with blogs, visit the Blog List page linked above.

Wikis: A wiki is a web page that can be added to and edited collectively. They are great for sharing committee work, doing projects collaboratively, and group-editing written work.

Quia: Quia is a subscription-based suite of web tools including simple class web pages, online activities you can create, online tests, quizzes, and surveys, and other teacher-friendly resources. Subscriptions are available. To learn more about Quia, click on the link below.

Moodle (in development): Moodle offers users “one stop shopping” for online learning needs in an easy-to-modify format. It can contain dozens of resources all in one place – calendar, homework assignments, files, links, discussion boards, blogs, and more on a per-course basis. We have worked with a handful of teachers on a soft rollout of this product; while the software itself is mature, our implementation is still in its infancy. Interested parties will need to work with us while still in our development phase.

3rd party products and services: There are untold thousands of online services and sites with powerful feature sets and great potential as learning and teaching tools. Many of these are “hosted” solutions, meaning that our school-related data sits on their servers. This arrangement can be tricky, so please make sure you read the next paragraph carefully.

Using services like these is permissible, but only under the specific conditions listed in the Acceptable Use Policy. If you are considering using one of these tools for professional purposes, you must consult the Director of Information Technology before you go live with the resource. There are potential problems around privacy, security, and copyright that must be addressed formally.

If this all seems complicated, you need only remember this: you are not authorized to enter into binding legal agreements on behalf of the Laboratory Schools. Before agreeing to Terms of Use or contracting with a vendor for a technology service of any kind, clear it first.