Your own website making machine Powerful and simple cutting edge networks of websites for schools HomeHome pageThe front page, the diary, the jumping off point for everything StoriesMain list of pages All our main pages, jump into who, what and why DiscussJoin our discussion group Come on in and start communicating those ideas, just join up or log in MembersA list of all our site members If you want to be anonymous with-hold your name, use something like Mickey Mouse, or Anonymous Coward Email usNeed to tell the webmaster... Get in touch straight away! If we need to we'll pass on your comments to the right person About usEverything about us Read more about who we are, and why we're doing this
We build and run sites for schools. Killer, kicking sites. Sites you'll love.
Site structure
Home
Create
About
Quick overview F.A.Q.s Benefits
Who and why How much? What users say Legal Legals 4 kids More Stats Educational uses of blogs Bloom's taxonomy & blogs Case Studies Supporting the curriculum Lesson Plans Schools' banner ads Curriculum Online FAQs Thumbnail interface Group brains Don't do this on your website
News Departments
Members
About us
We want to and will make it easy for schools to keep their staff, pupils, parents, partners, other stake-holders and wider community informed, updated and engaged.
Now, by merely typing in the text you can do it too!
It's so easy even 7 year old children can do it. If you are able to move a mouse, click a few buttons and string a few sentences together you can maintain a cutting edge site.
We'll give you all the training you'll need, support you on the phone or with email, all to make sure you get the best out of your investment.
Our killer features are:
Superb content management and blog software. Excellent Google optimisation.
An email to weblog interface, making updating your school blog a doddle.
Top draw support and feedback.
Try a demo or build your
Now, by merely typing in the text you can do it too!
It's so easy even 7 year old children can do it. If you are able to move a mouse, click a few buttons and string a few sentences together you can maintain a cutting edge site.
We'll give you all the training you'll need, support you on the phone or with email, all to make sure you get the best out of your investment.
Our killer features are:
Superb content management and blog software. Excellent Google optimisation.
An email to weblog interface, making updating your school blog a doddle.
Top draw support and feedback.
Try a demo or build your
30 day free trial
school website yourself. What will you write today's school news to be?Who we are, where we're going
Introductions
Walsall Schools org is run by two long time bloggers. Steve Hooker who runs the technology and Lee Baker who's a blogging teacher in Walsall.Steve has been running and developing a weblog server since mid 2000, for a variety of blogging communities as well as individuals and small businesses. He has also been pivotal in the development of the Government Office for the West Midland's intranet and external sites, which run on the same platform as these school blogs.
Lee has been blogging using the same site and technology since mid 2001 and has come to know the software and blogosphere very well. Blogging about his main passion, Aston Villa Football Club, he's used many of the power features and even added some of his own.
Since 2003 Lee has badgered Steve into providing a blogging service for schools. Recently, Steve complied and built Walsall Schools dot org as a community dedicated to all the schools in Walsall.
Where to?
Why Walsall? We know it, Lee works there, and Steve used to live in Chuckery. Lee wanted the service so his schools could benefit from the ease and power, Steve thought, "may as well do it for all schools in Walsall, then we can do fun things interconnecting them."It's the interconnection that will be where the ultimate usefulness of the platform truly shines. Going past all the teaching and communication benefits of blogs in schools, to the power of the network, the network of schools will be much, much bigger than the mere sum of its parts. Consider:
- simultaneous classroom interactions
- teacher help and resource centres
- events co-ordination
We don't want to lock people in! One of the benefits of our technology is that you can export your entire site and take it elsewhere! So, if ever you're not happy with us, you can move. We want to provide a service that makes you want to stay, not because you have to.
One day, we'll hand over the keys to the dot org to a fitting organisation, possibly a committee of headteachers from Walsall. Though, it'll be up to you lot, who is on the committee. Our favour would be outside of official control. For credible and effective management of these communities the delete button must not be in the hands of any LEA, government or similar body.
Think of the possible income streams from co-operative advertising and associate sales, say on Amazon, or eBay shops. There are plenty of outlets for group buying—more reasons to harness the community for the common good. An independent thinking, free moving, adaptive community of heads, teachers, support staff, parents and Governors can do all this.
We will be drivers of the community in both spirt and code developing for the needs of the whole. With self ownership, self direction and self policing eventually, we will be mere carriers, service providers, designers, trainers, engineers and tech support, trying hard to keep your custom and push you forward.
