Hi everyone! I'm currently teaching middle school students (ages 12-14) at a special education school and I'm looking for a good platform or program that can help them learn basic web development skills. We're open to paid options if they're not too expensive. I'm hoping to find something similar to Canva for graphic design or Scratch for coding.
My students have low to moderate disabilities, and while Scratch worked well in the past, I want to make sure that whatever we use caters to their needs. Writing out HTML might be challenging for some of my dyslexic students, but I'm thinking if it's simplified enough—perhaps with some pre-written HTML that they can copy and edit—it could work. I'm just casting a wide net to see what options are out there. Thanks for your help!
4 Answers
You know, I think it's a great idea to look for something like a hybrid between Scratch and traditional HTML/CSS. Have you checked out Blockly by Google? It's kind of like Scratch but has a more low-level approach. Plus, there’s an open-source plugin that lets you integrate HTML blocks so students can build webpages with drag-and-drop ease! That's a fun way to get them started!
Have you heard of Processing or P5? They’re coding tools that are simplified and provide instant visual feedback, which could be fantastic for your students! It’s a bit different since it involves coding, but it’s straightforward and very visual, making it easier to understand!
Why not stick to just teaching HTML at first? Skip the CSS and JavaScript initially. Let them focus on the basics, and if they pick that up well, you can introduce some inline CSS as a little extra challenge later on. It keeps things simple and effective without overwhelming them!
I’d recommend trying out a GUI builder tool that allows adding custom HTML. This way, the more advanced kids can dive into coding a bit. In high school, we had a blast customizing our MySpace pages, and I think your students could enjoy the creative freedom too! If they can handle some basic HTML, maybe do a class project where they build a simple website from scratch!
That's a solid idea! I love the MySpace reference, gets the nostalgia going. I think making it a fun project could really engage them!
That makes a lot of sense! Simplicity is key, especially for new learners.