Nairobits E-learning > Course 'Web Stars' > Publishing > lesson 2
  Kick off – African Culture website
Introduction
10 mins		 In this lesson we will use the framework of the 6 stages of a web project to start developing a website about African Culture. We will brainstorm our theme, present it to the group and start defining the elements of our website. .
Activities

Opening: (60 mins)

  • Introduction: A new website….
  • Warming up: Talk
  • Recap on 56 stages of website development

    • Work: (120 mins)

    • Kick off - African Culture website
    • Exercise 1 - Brainstorm
    • Exercise 2 – Present themes and discuss
    • Exercise 3 - Work on stage 2 – definition, target group, site content etc
    Closing (60 mins)
  • Trainer: closing talk, homework and evaluation
    		•  
    Warming up
    Talk

    Talk: languages

    How many languages do you speak?
    Which language is better for you in which situation ? Why ?
    What do you associate with the different languages you speak ? take them one by one.

    		  
    Homework discussions Discussion of the previous homework and its relevance to this lesson  
    Students exercise 1

    Kick off - African Culture website
    Make a website on one aspect of Kenyan / African culture that you think people should know about. Choose a perspective that interests you especially. Something related to yourself or which you find attractive or important. It can be about the arts, it can be about a practice you see around you that you want to both explore and present. Think broad.
    Brainstorm with your group to find a topic that interests and inspires everyone in the group
    Keep the following in mind:
    Choose something which you can find or make images and photographs about, so for example west African architecture would be too difficult ?
    For the text and information you can interview people, write it yourself or research on the internet.
    Once you have chosen your topic answer the following questions:
    For whom are you making this website, what type of visitor are you aiming at ?
    What different aspects of the topic can you explore, a story or issue is often more interesting when you can show tow sides of the coin.
    What kind of content can you use?

    		 
    Tip

    Use the handout – 6 stages of a web project continually during this website development and production

    		  
    Students exercise 2 Present themes and discuss
    Each team should present their chosen theme and aspect they wish to explore.
    The other groups should fire questions at them, don’t be shy, the more critical you are now toward each other the better the websites that will come out of the process

    Types of questions you can ask eachother:
    Why do you find that interesting / important ?
    Can you look at it for the point of view of another culture ?
    To whom does this characteristic belong
    What is the history of this culture
    What other types of cultural activity are related to this ?
    How will you get information on this topic ?
    What aspects of this topic are changing these days ?    		  
    Students exercise 3

    Work on stage 2 – definition
    definition of target group, site content etc
    Having presented and discussed, each groups should now move to the definition stage as defined in the 6 stages doc and start defining their project.
    This is in preparation for developing then presenting their proposal and flowchart next week.

    		  
    Closing talk & test
    • Prepare students for the next lesson
    • Give evaluation forms and homework. (if any)
    • Ask what they have learnt that they didn’t know before?
    		  
    Websites

    1. The power of African cultures
    www.urpress.com/4451.HTM

    2. African Filmakers in Ne York
    www.africanfilmny.org/giving2003

    3. African new media works
    www.universes-in-universe.de/africa/e_med.htm

    		  
    Hand-out

    There are two handouts for this lesson
    2. 6 stages of a web project

    		  
    Evaluation Printed lesson evaluation forms for the students to fill at home.  
    Learning goals

    Knowledge* Students knows
    that culture is the sum of all social practices and not just what is found in museums or past things
    The 6 main stages of website development

    Skills* students can
    talk about their culture, define aspects of their culture, brainstorm on themes, work in a group, present their opinions

    Attitude*students feel:
    that culture is important to understand
    The importance of planning your web process

    		  
    Materials - One computer per student connected to the internet
    - Hand out
    - Evaluation forms
    - Enough time