Jimdo

Jimdo allows users to quickly create websites and blogs right from their iPads. To create a website or blog, users first have to launch the app, tap the “create a new website” option, and then enter their domain name (xxx@jimdo.com), email address, and password. Users then select the layout for their website or blog and add text, images, headings, and horizontal lines to it by tapping the “+” button. To adjust the content being shown, users must tap the “panel” button on the top right of the screen. To add additional pages to the website or blog postings, users must tap the “lined” button on the top left of the screen, and users can then use the “Navigation” button to add web pages or the “Blog” button to add posts.

Instructional Ideas

1. Instead of a traditional written report, teachers can have students create website reports using this app. To do so, students would add text, images, and links to report on their assigned topic. Students can then share their work by posting a link to it on a class website.
2. Teachers can transform daily journals into blogs. To do so, teachers can post the daily prompt they want students to engage, and students will respond to it by writing a blog post on their web page. Teachers can then check students’ blogs by visiting their website.
3. For a summative assignment, teachers can have students create a portfolio that showcases their best work from a semester, unit, or grading period. To do so, students would first create a “Welcome” on their website’s homepage and then create a page for each piece of work included in their portfolio. Students can copy and paste their work into their website or take a picture of it and then upload it to their website.
4. After reading a controversial text, students can create a website that espouses their stance on an issue. The website’s homepage can provide an overview of the topic and the student’s opinion about it. Students can then add additional web pages that support their opinion or explain why an opposing view is incorrect.
5. Teachers can have students compose blog posts or create a web page from the perspective of a fictional character, historical individual, or inanimate object. Sample prompts for students to base their blogs or websites on include: (1) How would this character feel about that? (2) What would this historical individual think about that situation? (3) If that inanimate object could speak, what do you suppose it would say about that? (Please note: Teachers would have to define “that” in the preceding prompts.)

Screenshots

Screenshots