Create a MY HERO Web Page

With the MY HERO web design program visitors of all ages can publish on –line tributes to heroes from all walks of life. Each visitor has several weeks to add images, text, and links to their MY HERO Web tribute. The MYHERO design program is a user-friendly introduction to Web technology. The design program allows greatflexibility as students can access their hero stories from any computer with an Internet connection, be it at school, home, or in the public library.

1. Register

The form asks for relevant information such as name, grade, school, and email contact. This information is only used to contact authors whose stories are "featured" and will not be given to any third party. Students may use a school contact or email address, rather than their own, in the requested field. Minors working at home must have parental approval prior to giving out any email or telephone contact information.

Teachers and after-school program instructors using this project in classrooms should ask all participating students to identify the name of the school or organization in the requested "organization field" on the registration page. Completed web pages can then be identified by "organization" name in a search on the MY HERO database program.

2. Write your MY HERO essay.

Stories can be prepared as a text file in any word processing and can be one to five or more paragraphs long. MY HERO editors encourage authors to answer these five questions within their essay.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY?

1. Who is your hero?
2. What has your hero done?
3. Where does your hero live?
4. When did your hero live?
5. Why is this person important to you?
(How have they made a difference in your life?)

Completed essays can be saved as text files on your computer and then can be pasted into the MY HERO online template. Visitors may return to edit and revise their text online as often as they like over the next several weeks.

3. Add Photographs and original illustrations to your My HERO page.

Original artwork or photos can be scanned into the computer and then uploaded onto the MY HERO web page. Images must be saved as jpg or gif files on the desktop at 72 dots per inch (dpi) maximum resolution. Choose the layout of the images (left, right or center of the text). Those without access to a scanner or digital photo tools can snail mail copies of their images to MY HERO. Do not send original photos or artwork. Be sure to clearly label the photos with the hero's name, and credit the photographer or artist who made the image.

Audio, video and multimedia files can also be added to MY HERO web pages. Multimedia files must be mailed to MY HERO on a cd-rom, zip drive, audio or digital video tape format:

4. Research "links" to other educational web sites

Copy and paste the web site's URL into the area provided for “links” on your MY HERO web page.

Link: The My Hero Project
HREF: http://www.myheroproject.org
Link Detail: My Hero celebrates the best of humanity.

Make sure that you have clearly described the names of the web sites that you have chosen to link to and that all of your “links” are working.

5. Edit and Revise your HERO web page

Log on to your MY HERO account to continue to revise and edit your web page. Adjust the image sizes and layout. Add additional information, for example, a bibliography. Be sure to have credits under each image and a caption providing the name of your hero. Check your spelling and punctuation. Once you are satisfied with your work you might want to PRINT a copy or save a copy of your work on your desktop.

6. SUBMIT YOUR MY HERO STORY

Be sure to "SUBMIT"your finished work. All "submitted" stories are reviewed by the MY HERO staff and activated for public viewing. Stories can then be found by searching the MY HERO database by name or keyword. Teachers can also search the MY HERO database using their school name or organization to locate stories created by their class.

PRIZES:

All authors of stories "FEATURED" on the MY HERO web site will be awarded Genius T-Shirt Prizes. A school email or telephone contact must be provided on registration forms in order for the MY HERO staff to notify teachers that their student’s work is featured on MY HERO.

Each year several authors of MY HERO stories will be selected each year for special recognition. All students, parents, teachers and authors of all ages are eligible for this special award. Stories selected by the MY HERO editorial staff will then reviewed by an outside panel of writers and journalists. There is no deadline, stories selected for this honor will be FEATURED on the MY HERO home page in a special awards section.

To be eligible, the MY HERO essay must be 200-800 words. The web page may include original illustrations or photos. All images must be credited. Authors must provide their grade, age and an email or telephone contact. The Award comes with a cash prize.

Be sure to use the MY HERO create program to submit your work. No special application is necessary.

http://myhero.com/guest