Does this web site work? State University of New York, College At Oneonta (www.oneonta.edu). (First Click).BEST FEATURES * Kudos to the site for including an automatic browser browser Software that allows a computer user to find and view information on the Internet. The first text-based browser for the World Wide Web became available in 1991; Web use expanded rapidly after the release in 1993 of a browser called Mosaic, which used and bandwidth detection script, which forwards users to an appropriate Web site designed for their browser (e.g., Internet Explorer Microsoft's Web browser, which comes with Windows starting with Windows 98. Commonly called "IE," versions for Mac and Unix are also available. Internet Explorer is the most widely used Web browser on the market. It has also been the browser engine in AOL's Internet access software. , Netscape) and their connection speed (e.g., 56K, DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary , T1). This feature also allows surfers
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* Offering instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or is a very immediate, personal. (and, ultimately, very cool!) way to connect current and prospective students. * The site is user-friendly for all. There is a text-only version of the site for those with visual impairments/text readers, slow connections, older browsers, or those who desire information without graphic embellishment. It presents viewers with large type, easily accessible phone numbers and information, as well as a page wholly dedicated to the visually impaired that includes important links to on-campus construction areas and maintenance projects, descriptive maps of the campus, and the college's Center for Students with Disabilities (unfortunately, this last is the only functional link at this time). * The site accommodates 17- to 19-inch monitors nicely. Within a 600 x 800 pixel area, it includes almost all important information and links, except for four links at the bottom of the browser window that do not seem to play as important a role. * The site not only presents a wealth of information, it does so in an effective manner. Pages do not scroll To continuously move forward, backward or sideways through the text and images on screen or within a window. Scrolling implies continuous and smooth movement, a line, character or pixel at a time, as if the data were on a paper scroll being rolled behind the screen. See auto scroll. excessively, and information is broken down into logical, digestible digestible having the quality of being able to be digested. digestible energy the proportion of the potential energy in a feed which is in fact digested. digestible protein see digestible protein. chunks. * In the Prospective Students section, the visuals of the school's professors would appear welcoming to any applicant. * Upon hitting "refresh (1) To continuously charge a device that cannot hold its content. CRTs must be refreshed, because the phosphors hold their glow for only a few milliseconds. Dynamic RAM chips require refreshing to maintain their charged bit patterns. See vertical scan frequency and redraw. ," the site visitor is presented with a new set of images in the upper left-hand corner of each page. Nice touch! The rotating ro·tate v. ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing, ro·tates v.intr. 1. To turn around on an axis or center. 2. slide show also gives visitors the impression (accurate or not) that the site is frequently updated. NEEDS WORK * Consider broadening the scope of instant messaging. Currently, it is limited to student-to-student and to selected hours during the week and on Sunday. * The calendar on the home page is a bit frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: . Details can't be grabbed from it, because it is continuously scrolling (chat, games) scrolling - To flood a chat room or Internet game with text or macros in an attempt to annoy the occupants. This can often cause the chat room to be "uninhabitable" due to the "noise" created by the scroller. Compare spam. up. * Visually, there is no order of importance or special, emphasis placed on any of the home page's links/elements. To help a site visitor find information more quickly and easily, the page could use some sort of visual hierarchy through size and color emphasis, as well, as a consolidation of certain page areas. * The site's tab-based navigation pane A rectangular area within an on-screen window that contains information for the user. A window may have many panes. See menu pane. rolls over into various colors, creating confusion at times. For instance, the Home link on the home page is displayed in red to give the visitor the visual feedback that he is on that page, While that is usually effective, when the user mouses over that link, it turns to white. This would seem to indicate that the link is functional and that clicking it would bring you to a page other than the home page. Further confusing con·fuse v. con·fused, con·fus·ing, con·fus·es v.tr. 1. a. To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; throw off. b. the issue: Unlike the Home tab, the other tabs are not displayed in color to indicate the user is in a particular section. * Users are bombarded with endless link choices on certain internal pages, particularly the Current Students page. * Use of too many fonts make it difficult for site visitors to determine which information is most important on a page. In addition, some of the fonts look too "casual" for the general tone of this site. * The upper portion of each page is consistent in design; however, the lower portion of each page changes too much in look and feel. Many pages are fine, but some simply look amateurish. * The Campus Visit--one of the most important sections of any college or university Web site--is flat. It's important for site designers to be reminded that students who visit campus are much more likely to enroll than those who don't. * The Special Admissions Events information is buried bur·y tr.v. bur·ied, bur·y·ing, bur·ies 1. To place in the ground: bury a bone. 2. a. To place (a corpse) in a grave, a tomb, or the sea; inter. b. in text at the bottom of the page. These events should be promoted via links on the home page and at the top of the Prospective Student section. * The Academic sections are inconsistent in quality, content, and navigation. By providing templates to departments, the college could maintain navigation and branding standards while facilitating some creativity and customization from department to department. * The Majors/Minors link on the Prospective Students page is confusing on the high-bandwidth site. There are actually two links-one for majors and one for minors. "I wasn't clicking carefully and ended up looking at a list of minors and related codes (not linked back to the academic departments). Then I found the Majors section by backing up and clicking more carefully." * The Current Students page still features information from fall 2002. Never forget that out-of-date information makes an entire site seem less reliable. * The Take a look at Oneonta presentation is a plus. But with all of the other items featured on the opening Prospective Students page, it takes too long to realize that this is a link. It would also be helpful if there were a "page 2 of 20" cue cue, n a stimulus that determines or may prompt the nature of a person's response. cue Psychology Any sensory stimulus that evokes a learned patterned response. See Conditioning. on each screen, so that students could decide if they wanted to click on or move to a different section. SUGGESTIONS * Any links that pertain to pertain to verb relate to, concern, refer to, regard, be part of, belong to, apply to, bear on, befit, be relevant to, be appropriate to, appertain to a currently viewed page should either be static, "grayed out," or "pushed-in" to strongly convey the sense that the page and the link are one and the same. * The overall navigation for the site is good; from nearly every page you can get back to the top of each main section. But the site would be even stronger if it included some subsection subsection Noun any of the smaller parts into which a section may be divided Noun 1. subsection - a section of a section; a part of a part; i.e. navigation, so that visitors can drill through an entire section (such as Prospective Students) without having to pop back to the opening page to see what else is available in each subsection. There is room on the left of current page construction. * The design and navigation for the Financial Aid section doesn't Fit the rest of the Prospective Student section. If this is left over from an older design, work quickly to cut this section into the new templates. The content can also be "warmed up" by adding some testimonials From current students and their families. * Work on the inquiry form. There isn't much of a pitch to get students to complete the form; what's more, there's little detail regarding next steps after completion of the form. The college could use drop-down menus See pull-down menu. drop-down menu - pull-down menu to provide major/program choice listings or lists of extracurricular activities. * The landing page after submitting the inquiry form unnecessarily repeats the student's information and only provides a link back to the home page. A better approach would be to direct students to some key areas within the site for further review, such as Financial Aid (once it's fixed up), Academics, Student Life, or the student IM link found on the opening page of the Prospective Student section. * In the Campus Visit section, include compelling text to encourage students to visit, such as testimonials from current students and their families talking about the importance of the visit in their decision to enroll. There should also be an online form to facilitate quick and easy registration, student ambassador/tour guide photos, and quotes, as well as suggestions for hotels, restaurants, and other attractions, especially any local businesses that are especially welcoming to visiting families. * The site doesn't go far enough to deliver a full picture of the campus, students, and faculty. Testimonials and features on faculty, students, and alumni should be included on the site, to expand the perspective of the content and add authentic voices to the mix. A Parent section would also be a smart addition. WEB SITE EVALUATION PANEL: David Fales is publisher of this publication and has an extensive background in Web publishing Creating a Web site and placing it on the Web server. A Web site is a collection of HTML pages with the home page typically named INDEX.HTML. Web sites are designed using Web authoring software which provides a graphical layout capability or by hand coding in HTML or both. and marketing. Stephanie Geyer directs Web Site Development and E-communications Services for Noel-Levitz (www.noellevitz.com), consultants specializing in higher ed student recruitment, financial aid, student retention, market research, publications, and Web development. Ken Lalli is professor of Web and graphic design at Norwalk Community College Norwalk Community College (also known as NCC) is a public community college in Norwalk, Connecticut. It is the second-largest of the twelve colleges in the Connecticut Community Colleges. (CT), and a freelance designer. |
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