High School Websites

Paper Summary:

Consistent and meaningful communication between home and school are recognized as potentially critical factors influencing student learning and performance at the secondary level. Recommendations have been made as to the use of computer- and internet-based technology as a means for providing homes and schools with a medium for establishing and maintaining meaningful home-to-school and school-to-home communication. The overall purpose of the proposed study is to further develop an understanding of the degree to which secondary school and class websites are being utilized as a means of home and school communication. This paper suggests a study to determine the overall quality of secondary school-related websites by evaluating the types of websites constructed (e.g., school, class, instruction, homework), the purposes associated with such websites and the degree to which such websites were constructed following sound design principles. Evaluation of design principles for websites investigated within the proposed study follow recommendations regarding utilization of tagline, title tag, visibility in search engines, evidence of the site's priority tasks, site content, visual design and use of graphics, navigation, as well as ease of communication exchange (i.e., e-mail).

From the Paper:

"As reported by the authors, approximately 96 percent of all public schools now have internet access. However, while the access gap may have narrowed for schools, the differences that exist between homes throughout the US in computer and internet access remain extensive. According to NTIA (2000), between December 1998 and August 2000, home connection rates increased from 26 percent to 42 percent, with fewer differences apparent between those in rural and urban areas and females as compared to males. However, as reported by NTIA, certain groups continue to have less access to the internet than other groups, including the poor, those with lower levels of education, Blacks and Hispanics, those over 50 years old, single parents and those with disabilities. As emphasized by NTIA, there remains a critical need to insure that these groups gain greater access to connectivity through improving access in schools, libraries, and other public places."

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