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GRAFTON, Mass. - In the Grafton High School computer science department, students aren't just working hard for goood grades. They have clients to acquire and a portfolio to build.
Business and computer science teacher Neil Harrigan began teaching the GHS web design class a few years ago, and needed an innovative way to challenge his students.
Harrigan also teaches computer applications, Microsoft Office, accounting, and personal finance at GHS. For his web design class, Harrigan got creative.
He reached out to companies in town that needed a website built and offered to have his students design one for them.
"It was really boring to have kids build websites about their dog, or about music or something like that," laughed Harrigan. "They really get to enjoy the beauty of seeing their work put to use online this way."
Harrigan's students have designed websites for local companies and organizations, including Operation Friendship, Pepperoni Express, Nelson Memorial Library, and Highfields Plantation.
The class has even designed a website for a company in North Carolina. Harrigan's brother needed to build a website for his company, Pop Up Movies. He was able to talk to students over Skype to talk about design and work with them on what he was looking for.
The class has about 24 students each semester, and his two classes for the spring semester are looking for new clients.
Harrigan said students don't need to be a computer whizzes before high school to take his class, and that most kids don't have any background in web design at all when they enroll.
"There's no pre-requisite at all. There's no background in web design required, and the kids don't have to come in with any experience," said Harrigan.
The class usually serves three or four customers per term. One customer will be assigned to up to six different students, who will all create their own website. The customer then chooses their favorite one to use for their company.
Every now and then, the student with the winning design earns a little bonus in the form of a Dunkin Donuts gift card, or maybe some free pizza.
"And in the end, it's something the kids can put on the resume," said Harrigan.
If your company is interested in having Harrigan's class design its website, you can reach him at harrigann@grafton.k12.ma.us.
You can view more of the GHS Web Design class' work here.
Mr. Neil,
I would think that our community that has many web sites could use annual improvements to their web sites. Plus, there are many community based groups that could benefit from partnering with your class.
May I suggest that within your curriculum, that you hold a work group class with your students to gestate what Grafton community functions could benefit from partnering with your class. Obviously this class is somewhat like a precursor to business development and sales, which in itself, is a great lesson to learn.