1 / 35

Redesign for Success: Developing a Student-Centered Website

Redesign for Success: Developing a Student-Centered Website. Gina Garber, Digital Services Librarian Michael Hooper, Electronic Services Librarian. Program Outline. Background Analysis Conceptual Design Prototypes Production Launch Maintenance Questions. Background.

nyoko
Download Presentation

Redesign for Success: Developing a Student-Centered Website

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Redesign for Success: Developing a Student-Centered Website Gina Garber, Digital Services Librarian Michael Hooper, Electronic Services Librarian

  2. Program Outline • Background • Analysis • Conceptual Design • Prototypes • Production • Launch • Maintenance • Questions

  3. Background Factors that indicated change was necessary: • Original web administrator resigned • Students wanted a change • Poor usability of materials and resources • Too much information on the homepage • No website policy and procedures

  4. Background No one was maintaining the website Example 1: Library Test Collection Example 2: Gift Policy Example 3: Humanities 1010 Instruction

  5. Background • School of Business - Marketing 4310 • Dr. Carmen C. Reagan • Business Approach • Students developed five advertising strategies for the library (red folders) 10-20 pages each • Marketing Objectives • Relationship of Advertising to Library Usage • Consumer Benefits • Marketing Plan • Implications of Market Research • Communications Media and More…

  6. Background Students wanted a change “Homepage is too wordy” “Drop down boxes semi-confusing – do differently” “More color” “Add icons” “Organize databases for easier access” “Make it more user friendly”

  7. Background Poor usability of materials and resources Example 1: Library Reserves Example 2: Database Access

  8. Background Too much text on the Library homepage Example 1: Library Homepage(original design) Example 2: Library Homepage(mini redesign A) Example 3: Library Homepage(mini redesign B)

  9. Background No website policy and procedures

  10. Analysis • Identify Users • Identify Users’ Needs • Identify Web Administrators’ Limitations • Identify Library’s Limitations • Auditing Web Pages

  11. Programming Needs • Microsoft FrontPage • Microsoft Active Server Pages • Cascading Style Sheets • JavaScript • PHP • Dynamic Navigation (global navigation)

  12. Conceptual Design • Beginning the Creative Process • Defining Smart Design • Reviewing Website Goals • Developing Concepts • Presenting Designs and Gathering Feedback Goto, K., & Cotler, E. (2002). Web Redesign: Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN: New Riders.

  13. Visual Design • Focused on a relief sculpture that hangs in the stairwell entrance between the 2nd and 3rd floor (associated with the library) • Explored color schemes • Explored design options on paper • Explored other academic library sites • Reviewed site goals • Advertise Exhibits and New Services

  14. Design Graphics • Adobe Creative Suite Premium Photoshop

  15. Design Template

  16. Old Library Homepage Felix G. Woodward Library

  17. New Library Homepage Felix G. Woodward Library

  18. Prototype (Protosite) • Prototype: first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction • “we recommend building a Protosite, also called an HTML click-thru” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary Goto, K., & Cotler, E. (2002). Web Redesign: Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN: New Riders.

  19. Why Create a Prototype? • To test design feasibility (did the designers have the required technical knowledge?) • To determine if the website could be represented properly in HTML format • To seek feedback from relevant members of the university community (especially students)

  20. Prototype Development • Used FrontPage to create web pages and organize website • Took photographs and created graphics • Located scripts and modified code for rotating images, mouse rollovers, and the catalog search box • Used trial version of menu software to create main navigational menu

  21. Locating scripts & code • Library search box: Sheridan Libraries (John Hopkins) • Image (webpage) rotation: free script from Automatic Labs (website now unavailable) –requires PHP • Image mouseover JavaScript: W3 Schools • Main navigational menu: Free Trial download for Open Cube’s Visual Infinite Menus

  22. Prototype Review • Prototype reviewed by the university website designer (member of public relations department) • Meeting to discuss prototype with Library faculty, staff, and student workers • Focus Group consisting of APSU students

  23. Focus Group Questions • Name one of our frequently used databases. • Access your library account. • Who is the subject specialist or library liaison for the Music Department? • How would you contact a specific member of the Library verses asking a librarian a question? • How do you look up information regarding government publications? • How quickly can you find your information? • Is the information logically organized? If no, what needs to be changed? • Compared to the old interface, is the new interface easier for you to find information? If no, what needs to be changed? • Are you satisfied with the new Web site design? • Do you have recommendations for improvements? • What do you like and do not like? • What else you would like to see on the Web site?

  24. Prototype Feedback • Students provided feedback regarding colors, screen resolution, and desired content: Screen Resolution Test • APSU web designer provided a graphic with an official university logo • Staff made recommendations concerning priority of menu items, categorization of items under main menu, and the label for the library catalog.

  25. Prototype Recognition

  26. Production • Modifications made to prototypes based on feedback • Purchased software used to create main menu (Open Cube’s Visual Infinite Menus) • Resolved differences in prototype appearance among various browsers • Created template for new internal web pages and modified existing pages to match

  27. Production • Weeding of outdated and unused items • Transfer of new and existing HTML files to new web server • Check for functionality (modifications to ASP forms and other scripts were necessary) • Validate code using W3C Markup Validation Service located at http://validator.w3.org/

  28. Launch “Introducing users to a redesigned website can require some preparation of expectations. Users may not know what to do when they are suddenly confronted with a new look or navigation structure. Therefore, you should communicate any planned changes to users ahead of time” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2006). Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines.  Washington D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Retrieved January 15, 2007, from http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/guidelines.html.

  29. Launch Advertisements • Ad placed on existing homepage several weeks before launch: • Advertisement made on the university’s e-mail announcement system after launch • Information sessions held for APSU faculty members at start of Fall Semester New Library Website Coming Soon!Ad location on old homepage

  30. Launch Procedures • Activated new web server containing modified HTML files (no classes in session) • Alias domain name was created and set for target URL (homepage) on new server • Testing for appearance and functionality was done on various browsers and screen resolutions • Depending on the user’s ISP provider, the new site may not appear until their cache has expired

  31. Maintenance • Created Website Policy to designate maintenance responsibilities • Created Procedures for New or Substantially Revised Web Pages to regulate new additions to the website and help maintain integrity. • Provided template for creation of new web pages • Periodically check for broken links and outdated content

  32. Maintenance Announcements

  33. Future Development • Investigate website analysis software • Provide a blog to announce new services and policy changes (Ex: Electronic Resources @ APSU Blog) • Investigate link-checking software to discover broken links • University may move to a new content management system (not compatible with Front Page)

  34. References Ball, J., Roby, J., Senica, V. & Staggs, B. (2006). Advertising Plan for the Felix G. Woodward Library. Clarksville, TN: Austin Peay State University - Marketing 4310. Bean, T., Davis, K., Jones, B., & Meisch, R. (2006). Use Your Peay Perks and See How the Library Works. Clarksville, TN: Austin Peay State University - Marketing 4310. Bellinaso, M., & Hoffman, K. (2003). ASP.NET Website Programming: Problem, Design, Solution. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley & Sons, Inc. Bishop, B. (1998). Strategic Marketing for the Digital Age (pp. 13-29). Toronto, Canada: HarperCollins Canada. Byers, J., Flournoy, J., Jerrim, C., & Rascoe, T. (2006). Advertising Proposal for APSU Woodward Library. Clarksville, TN: Austin Peay State University - Marketing 4310. Chumbley, J., Ham, T., Harriman, J., Harris, M., & Henson, K. (2006). Advertising Plan for APSU Library. Clarksville, TN: Austin Peay State University - Marketing 4310. DeBolt, V. (2005). Integrated HTML and CSS: A Smarter, Faster Way to Learn. San Francisco, CA: Sybex Books. Dudas, M., Blair, R., Savage, B., & Kelly-Rich, M. (2006). APSU Library Advertising Strategy. Clarksville, TN: Austin Peay State University - Marketing 4310. Felix G. Woodward Library. (2007). Retrieved April 11, 2007, from http://library.apsu.edu Goto, K., & Cotler, E. (2002). Web ReDesign Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN: New Riders Publishing. Information Network Applications. (2007). Retrieved April 11, 2007, from http://www.sis.utk.edu/courses Nielsen, J. (2000). Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity (pp. 16-261). New York: New Riders Publishing. Opencube: The Menu Company. (2006). Retrieved January 15, 2007, from http://www.opencube.com/index.html U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2006). Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines.  Washington D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Retrieved January 15, 2007, from http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/guidelines.html W3C Markup Validation Service V 0.7.4 (2007). Retrieved April 11, 2007, from http://validator.w3.org

  35. Questions? Thank You!

More Related