Easily Update Static Websites

Does your school/college still use a static website?

Well, if you haven't yet converted to a new dynamic content management system such as wordpress, then you will be pleased to know that CushyCMS provides you with a really easy way to update the content on that old static site.

Your prospective editors don't even have to know any HTML or how to use 'complicated' web design software.
* Great for getting the non-techie teachers involved.
* Great news for the hard pressed resident techie expert!!

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With CushyCMS the process is very simple:
* Create your account
* Add your website ftp details.
* Add class="cushycms" to the webpage elements that will be editable.
* Add the individual webpages.
* Create one, or more, editors and allocate pages.
NB: I just added a <div class="cushycms"> at the start of the content and a </div> at the end.

Pages are edited using a familiar text editor or word processor layout. So, with a little bit of direction even the 'least-techie' teacher will be able to have a go. CushyCMS even provides a 'Revision History' so if someone, accidentally, makes a complete mess then a previous version can be accessed.

No more handwritten notes, photocopied pages or emails with copy/pasted text. It's a win win situation and great for increased productivity all round!!!

Thanks CushyCMS. What a great Christmas present :-)

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Create Impressive Interactive Pageflip Books

MegaZine 3 is a powerful pageflip engine, which allows you to create striking interactive pageflip books. Include text, images, videos and background sounds.

You can also add a 'zoom' function to your image by including a link to a high resolution version of the same image.

A certain knowledge about HTML and/or XML is needed in order to use MegaZine 3 but if you have the basics then setting up a book is extremely simple as an intuitive XML structure is used to control the content of a book. But, even if you do not know any HTML there are a couple of tutorials provided in the forum, which will help you to get started.

Creating books with MegaZine 3 could prove to be a nice incentive for those students needing to learn HTML.

Check out the demo book to see all the features in action!!

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Create Data-Rich Interactive Pages

Exhibit lets you easily "create web pages with advanced text search and filtering functionalities, with interactive maps, timelines, and other visualizations".

With Exhibit you can create dynamic visualizations of your data collections without having to resort to complex database and server-side technologies. Your data can be searched and browsed using faceted browsing. Various different views including tiles, maps, etc can also be provided.

To keep things really simple, the data can easily be created and accessed from a google spreadsheet.

Although not necessary, a rudimentary knowledge of HTML and CSS is beneficial and will enable you to enhance the basic appearance of the webpage. Several examples are provided to help you get started.

Exhibit would be an excellent tool to support an integrated project involving spreadsheet/database and web design modules.

This website was created with a little data from the International Edubloggers Directory.

NB: Best viewed in Firefox or Chrome. Some formats appear to be lost when viewing in Internet Explorer and sometimes the page is redirected!!

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Technorati Tags: exhibit, simile

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Teach HTML using Online Editor

Red Peach Designs provides a feature-rich online HTML editor, which could be a great little tool for introducing HTML coding to students.

No need for any downloading or installing of software with this online editor.

Set up and view the text, tables etc in the WYSIWYG editor and then simply click the 'Source' tab to reveal the HTML code which is nicely presented in indented format.

Found Red Peach Designs thanks to Malik.

21/1/09 Update: Thanks also to Ross, who pointed out that Red Peach Designs are using FCKEditor.

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Technorati Tags: html coding, red peach designs, wysiwyg

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Create Image Maps of Web Pages

With Kwout you can easily create fully functioning images maps of existing web pages.

Simply add their bookmarklet to your browser's toolbar and you are ready to go.  You can also adjust the image's size and surrounding border before embedding in your own web page or blog.

Unfortunately, Edublogs strips out the code so I can only show you the image here :-(

GetBodySmart: Interactive Tutorials and Quizzes On Human Anatomy and Physiology via kwout

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Technorati Tags: image map, kwout

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Web Authoring with NVU

NVU is a complete web authoring package including WYSIWYG page editing and CSS capabilities. NVU is a great software package for both beginners and experts alike. Direct access to the HTML coding is enabled for the more experienced web designer.

For the beginner there is a built in help menu and a useful online user guide. An online tutorial on how to design and publish your website using NVU is also available.

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Technorati Tags: css, html, nvu, web authoring, web design

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Create your own Online Presence

If you want to create a traditional website presence on the Internet, then look no further than Edublogs. Although designed as a blogging platform, this site also allows you to create a 'static' first page, which gives the look and feel of a traditional website.  You can then add as many other pages as you wish.

Netvibes, Protopage and Pageflakes all allow you to create your own personalised website by using widgets. All of these sites let you to create multiple 'tabs' so you can build up a whole set of web pages.

You can choose to make your pages either private (for your eyes only) or public (for anyone to see). The public feature is currently not available in Netvibes but will become available shortly.

Before deciding which one to use it is advisable to try them all out and see which one suits you best. For more information, Graham Wegner gives a personal review of Netvibes, Protopage, Pageflakes and Webwag.

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Technorati Tags: edublogs, netvibes, pageflakes, protopage, startpage, website, webwag, widget

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