2009 Web Rehab
-
Upload
acenetc -
Category
Technology
-
view
760 -
download
2
description
Transcript of 2009 Web Rehab
Web Rehab Pulling it all together for
users
Beyond documents – Programs on the web
ACE/NETC, June 2009, Des Moines IA
University of Minnesota Extension
Presenters• Karen Lilley
Extension Communications/PRPublic website manager
• Heather LeeExtension Family Development Project manager
University of Minnesota Extension
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0Most work is behind the scenes.
This is not about new designs yet.
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site
• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0
Updating & upgrading
The way we were…
• 2001 design• In-house CMS• Very web 1.0
Updating & upgrading
The way we are…• Transitional designs• 6 Overview pages• 62 Program pages &
counting• Web-only documents• Workshops automation• Video, audio, RSS,
blogs• Outside Extension sites
Updating & upgrading
Where we’re going…
• More user centered • More automation• More metadata• More customization
• University brand compliant• 960 pixel wide XHTML
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site
• A plethora of Extension websites
• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University &
Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0
A plethora – overabundance –
of Extension websites
A plethora – embarrassment –
of Extension websites
http://www.myminnesotawoods.org/
www.mn4h.com
www.mncost.org/
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites
• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0
Documents & programs
• Document-based website: news releases, publications, briefs
• Program-focused Extension• Needed to pull all program
content together in one place: documents , online store, workshops, online registration, web-only content, audio, video, online courses, etc.
Extension websitesOne Story
Extension websites One Story:
Parenting.umn.edu • One of first program sites• Met a need that the
Extension site couldn’t meet
• Has strong ownership• Crosses several programs• Site has had a consistent
following
Extension websites Parenting.umn.edu: Growing
Pains• Infrastructure issues• Reinvented itself too
frequently• Old designs = not easy to
update• ADA compliance issues• Content in multiple
places• Out of control
Program Pages Our solution: merge content into the main
Extension site
Program PagesOur solution
• Transitional designs• Gateway to existing websites• Consistent program
presentation• All program content together• Flexible modules• Decentralized maintenance• Plan to review and merge
content from other websites
Programs are the package of research & scholarship-based educational events (seminars, courses, tours, conferences, field days, etc.) and products (web pages, publications, displays, modules, etc.) that address a needs-based issue for a specific audience.
Documents & programs
Program Page ContentRequired• Title, description, photo• Upcoming workshops• Contact info, program teamOptional• About page, info sheet• Link to website • Features, Hot Topics • Educational Offerings• Related links in right
column
ONE Extension website
What’s selling it • Point of pain• Referrals to “Extension site”• Listening to user/owner feedback • Program navigation soon• Compliance with standards• Flexibility within templates• Redirected URLs • Automation & integration
benefits
ONE Extension website Automation
ONE Extension website
Automation & Integration
ONE Extension website Integration
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs
• User-centered info architecture
• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0
User-centered information architecture
Youth Development Project*
*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
User-centered information architecture
• Staff identified audiences.• Audiences surveyed.• Research results describe
website users. • Personas based on research.• Scenarios made from user
tasks.• Personas & scenarios guide
site development.*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
User-centered information architecture
Research resultsTop reasons to give to the MN 4-H Foundation
(n=37)• 4-H Alumni (78%)• Reputation of 4-H (78%)• Evidence of Organization’s Impact (73%)• Leadership Skills Developed by Youth (70%)
Content looked for on the MN 4-H Foundation site (n=18)
• 4-H Highlights (61%)• Giving options, online donation, Annual
Report(44%)• Special Events (44%)• Stories on how my donations were used (29%)*Laurie Southerton
southertonconsulting.com
User-centered information
architecture Persona: Donna
Donor • 69 years young, retired Home
Economics teacher from St. Louis Park, currently living in Willmar.
• She was in 4-H, her children and now grandchildren are too!
• Current income is over $80K and every year she donates $100 to the Minnesota 4-H Foundation.
Donna Donor
*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
Persona: Donna Donor
I want all kids to have the great 4-H experience I did!Donna gets really excited when talking about 4-H and her experiences. She strongly believes that 4-H was responsible for her decision to become a Home Economics teacher 40 years ago. She also knows that it helped her 3 children become more successful in their own lives. Since she and her husband, David, retired to their hobby farm in Willmar, they visit each county fair where their grandchildren show animals and other 4-H projects. This year they attended the State Fair to support Christa who won a purple ribbon with her pen of Bantam Breeding Ducks. Before going to the fair, Donna went to the 4-H site to find information about the project that Christa was working on – what did Christa need to do? How will they judge her project? After the fair was over, Donna also wanted to see the pictures that were taken of her granddaughter. Her teen-aged grandson, Nathan, is trying to get Grandma Donna to use the computer more often. He spent a few days with them over the holidays showing her how to download digital photo’s and post them for the family to see; how to research and book a trip to Italy they want to take; and to make contributions to several local charities.
Donna Donor
*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
Persona: Donna Donor
Scenarios• Find info about 4-H – what does
granddaughter need for a project?
• Find the Foundation website• Donate online• Find a way to share your story
and experience as a 4-H alumnus
Donna Donor
*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
User-centered information architecture
• Look at the site from the persona’s viewpoint.
• Map high level site organization.
• Draft wireframes.• Test scenarios: team/personas.• Test scenarios: users.• Designs are end of process.
*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture
• Branding University & Extension
• Content Management System• Web 2.0
Branding University &
ExtensionNot very consistent
Branding University &
Extension
First, be compliant with the U
ExpectationsAll University communications should look like University communications
Branding University &
ExtensionBeginning May 2009, units may not develop new logos, and existing unit logos must be phased out
• New website to use U template
• New Extension templates • Standards for all materials• Extension branding
everywhere, including PDFs, PPTs
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University &
Extension
• Content Management System
• Web 2.0
Content Management System
• University enterprise system• Steep learning curve• Extension Employee site in
CMS• New U templates in CMS to
encourage adoption, consistency
• Not our focus right now
Content Management Learnings
• Will not solve all your site’s problems.• Clean up old content first!• Put automation, metadata, databases
outside the system.• Build site in HTML/CSS outside of
CMS.• Focus on site improvements, not
implementing CMS.• Distribute publishing: ownership,
training, skill, standards, guidelines
Our challengesAre these yours?
• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System
• Web 2.0
Web 2.0
Raise your hand if your Web 1.0
is totally under control.
Web 2.0A Maslow-like hierarchy
• Collaboration: owners, users share content, provide feedback (2.0)
• Task interaction: order materials, register for workshops (1.5)
• Foundation: users can easily find the content they need (1.0)
-- Danny Sussman
Web 2.0
Start conversation
Find content
Web 2.0Engagement
Personas and Scenarios• Find info about 4-H:
What granddaughter needs for a project? (1.0)
• Find 4-H Foundation website. (1.0)
• Donate online. (1.5)• Share your story and experiences
as a 4-H alumnus. (2.0)
Donna Donor
Web 2.0
Start conversation
Find content
Web 2.0Learnings
• Web 2.0 is a lot of time & effort.
• Maintain Extension’s research base while collaborating.
• Community building is a process, not a one-time project.
• Develop guidelines, support pilots, showcase success.
• Integrate 2.0 with 1.0 content.
Web 2.0
Start conversation
Find content
Summary Vision The new Extension site
will:• Provide the public with a single
source for current Extension information.
• Help learners to accomplish their tasks and find content unencumbered by administrative structure.
• Ensure compliance with University and Extension branding, navigation & accessibility requirements.
Summary Vision The new Extension site
will:• Be consistent in look, feel and
functionality. • Decentralize and simplify
maintenance by integration, automation, templates, and standards.
• Allow content owners to focus on education instead of technology, and benefit from higher visibility.
Thank You
Watch our progress:www.extension.umn.edu
Contact us:[email protected]
University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.This material is available in alternative formats upon request.
© 2009, Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
QUESTIONS?