Analysis of Math 301 Course Homepage

• To: Irvin Hentzel• From: Michael Bootsma

Ryan Crawford Megan DeJong

Rachel Duschen• Date: December 10th, 2001

Introduction

• Four criteria necessary for an effective web site are that the information is:– relevant– easy to find– accessible– logically organized

Introduction

• Web site components to be evaluated:– site architecture– page design– navigation– content– aesthetics

Advantages to Implementing Proposed Changes

• All of the proposed changes help to make the information more relevant, easier to find, accessible and logically organized.

• The improved web site will offer a more useful resource for Math 301 students.

• This will reduce out of class involvement with students.

Site Architecture

• Issues to be Addressed:– Providing insight into

site layout– Creation of a useful

structure from which one can navigate

Site Architecture

• Recommended Changes:– Categories of related links

– Move the link to the syllabus to a more prominent location

Page Design

• Issues to be Addressed:– The combination of navigation and written

content– The use of an effective grid– The use of different font types and sizes– The implementation of text chunking

Page Design

• Recommended Changes:– The use of a calendar to sort miscellaneous

postings– Use a consistent grid to separate course

information from lecture material– Use different font types and sizes to distinguish

more prominent information– Text chunking would make the information

easier to locate and read

Navigation

• Issues to be Addressed:– Ease of navigation

– Evidence of location within site

• Recommended Changes:– Use a monthly

calendar

– Use a “breadcrumb trail”

Hentzel Homepage > Math 301 >Lecture Notes > Solutions

Content

• Issues to be Addressed:– Organization of written

content

– Chunking of text

– Organization of links

• Recommended Changes:– Move contact

information to course homepage

– Use short chunks of text

– The use of a calendar would help to organize the links

Aesthetics

• Issues to be Addressed:– The presence of a color scheme

– Relevant links

– Effective graphics

– Balanced design

Proposed Page Layout

Aesthetics

• Recommend Changes:– Use colors of the book to create visual

coherence and to categorize information– Place informative links around centered content– Use graphics, including a picture of the book– Center important content

Proposed Page Layout

Advantages to Implementing Proposed Changes

• All of the proposed changes help to make the information more relevant, easier to find, accessible and logically organized.

• The improved web site will offer a more useful resource for Math 301 students.

• This will reduce out of class involvement with students.

Costs

• Implementing the proposed changes could take up to 40 hours to complete, but the benefits would far exceed the costs.

• Recruiting a student to develop the new site would be a cost effective way of making the site a more useful resource.