More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support Gerald Boerner, Grace Boerner David McGill, Patricia Skalnik & Paul Verdugo Azusa Pacific University Syllabus 2000 Conference Copyright©2000 G.L. Boerner, et. al. All Rights Reserved

Questions to Ponder about Effective Sites A number of serious questions need to be addressed by any instructional support web site…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 3 Think about These Issues… What organizational objectives and resources are available on the site? What do you want the site to do (short & long term) for the class? Who is your intended audience for this class web site? Can the audience be segmented? If so, how?

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 4 Think about These Issues… (Contd) Review other web sites. What do you like/dislike about other sites? What would your audience(s) like/dislike? What is your vision of the web site? How would it feel (aesthetics)?

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 5 Think about These Issues… (Contd) What content and functionality will the site contain? How will users find information on the site organization, navigation, labeling, searching systems? How will you monitor and maintain the site? How often will this be done?

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 6 Think about These Issues… (Contd) Is the site professional looking? Are your audiences returning? How will you know? Did you copyright your ideas? (The above questions are contributed by Dr. Patricia Skalnik, School of Business, Azusa Pacific University)

M.A.P. for Effective Web Page Elements We must consider the following context for determining whether a web page element is effective or not…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 8 Basic Rules of Web Page Design Rule #1: The purpose of having your Web site is the foundation for all your design decisions on content and design Rule #2: Your audiences wants and needs come first, yours come second! Usability is #1!

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 9 MAP out your Web site Message What is the message you wish to convey through your web page or web site? Audience Who is your intended audience? What are their characteristics both demographic and psychographic? Purpose What is the purpose of having a web page or a web site?

Top 10 Pet Peeves of Web Site Users Lets proceed to examine what bugs web users and how we can address these issues…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 11 Before we start… Excellent References on Web Site Effectiveness… Fleming (1998) Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience. OReilly [ ] Nielsen (1999) Designing Web Usability. New Riders Publishing [ X] Rosenfeld & Morville (1998) Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. OReilly [ ]

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 12 Other References… Web Sites Jakob Nielsens AlertBox (ZDNet) ndex.html This is an all-around good site for web design issues… ndex.html Our Article Boerner, et. al. Elements of Effective Web Pages, Syllabus Magazine, April, 2000.

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 13 The Approach to our Analysis The following Top 10 List will present key user pet peeves in the order of importance, stressing: What DONT users like… What can be done to remedy the problem with the web site, and Examples of the principle, with a focus on GOOD examples!

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 14 Confusing Web Site Organization If the web site developer does not understand the structure of their information, how can the user? Decisions: Breadth vs. Depth Logical Grouping vs. Flat Structure Chunking (Short Pages) vs. Articles Static vs. Dynamic Web Pages 1

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 15 Difficulty in Navigating the Web Site Can the user FIND appropriate information on your web site? Decisions: Uniformity vs. Uniqueness Logical Navigation arises from a logical Web Structure Is the site Bobby (ADA) compliant? KISS Principle! 2

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 16 Poor Graphic & Layout Design Does the site use good graphic and layout design, or is it just flashy? Decisions: Color scheme, typography, etc. Maintaining graphic integrity Consistency on element placement Compatible with the users visual tendencies! 3

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 17 Inappropriate Content for Audience Does your site reach your intended audience(s)? Content is irrelevant if the user doesnt stay on the page Decisions: What is tone of the site? How will multiple audiences respond? How can the site shape behaviors? 4

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 18 Lack of Attention to Details Mechanics, mechanics, etc. Academic sites MUST model good use of language, spelling, grammar, etc. Decisions: Language of the user (English vs. ??) Globalization of site… Display & Browser issues 5

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 19 Lack of Content Currency The core of an class support web site! Must be revised or it becomes irrelevant… Decisions: How maintained (FP2K, HTML, etc.) Limited access to class members Timeliness of content for discipline… 6

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 20 Broken or Inappropriate Links The constant problem with web sites external sites change & so must your links! Decisions: How do you check your links? How often do you check links? Maintaining vigilance on external content Content becomes out-of-date 7

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 21 Gratuitous Use of Bells & Whistles Remember, animation is a pre- potent web page element! Animation and activity is, by itself, neutral; the value comes in the details Multimedia is GOOD when it enhances the message! 8

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 22 Bells & Whistles (Contd) Decisions: When do animations enhance your site? Should you use GIF Animations, JavaScript Animations, or Flash? When is video needed and justified? What requirements does the use of multimedia require a certain browser and/or plug-ins? What is the effect on bandwidth? 8

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 23 Web Sites as Showcase for Designer The difference between vanity sites and good class support sites lies in usability! Does the site promote content or just show off the latest web widgets and techniques? Basically, for whom is the site designed? 9

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 24 Web Sites as Showcase for Designer Decisions: Does the site focus on the information needs of the user? Do the techniques and do-dads contribute to the viewing experience? Have good elements been misused and/or abused? Do users have the bandwidth with which to view the page? 9

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 25 Sites Under Construction While a necessary transition, some sites never are finished! Placeholder pages may be required for a good web site architecture, but should you define them if you cant support them? 10

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 26 Sites Under Construction Decisions: Can your web editor perform some update tasks automatically at specified intervals? How much functionality can a class support web site include within the full responsibilities of the faculty member? What is reasonable? 10

Some Final Thoughts… Lets examine a couple of overall techniques for maintaining good web sites…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 28 Determining User Characteristics Developing a web site must be based upon certain assumptions, such as: Browsers to support Languages to support Time Zone issues Operating Systems Technologies that can be used

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 29 User Characteristics (Contd) An example: SiteMeter A free web monitoring service at Provides weekly reports of web and page hits A very usable function for determining the characteristics of your visitors…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 30 Checking your Links Maintaining links must be a scheduled task, not an afterthought! Options vary from the simple (and cheap) to the sophisticated (and expensive) Some options…

Contact Information For more information, and/or to exchange your thoughts and ideas, use the following…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 32 Gerald Boerner, Group Leader APU Office (626) or Web Site

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 33 Other Followup Mechanisms To receive more information, you may sign up for mailing lists, online message boards, etc. at:

Using Technology in the Classroom The following schemas present a framework for examining the adoption of technology into the Teaching/Learning Process

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 35 Classrooms & Technology For sake of discussion, we identify five general types of classrooms as they relate to the use of technology, especially web- based technologies For each type of classroom, we will examine the general approach & the types of technologies used…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 36 The Five Classroom Scenarios Low-Tech, Traditional Classroom Technology-supported Classroom Hybrid Classroom Web-supported Classroom Online, Web-based Classroom Lets take a closer look…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 37 Scenario #1 The Low Tech, Traditional Classroom More traditional lecture methods, discussion groups, hard copy handouts, etc. characterize this classroom Technologies: In office, materials may be prepared via computer Classroom presentation via overheads TV/VCR and Overhead are technology

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 38 Scenario #2 Technology-based Classroom Technology is used to present classroom materials (PPT, Simulations, etc.) Communication via Syllabus may be posted on web site, from word processing documents Technologies: Computer-based presentations, , etc.

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 39 Scenario #3 The Hybrid Classroom Face-to-Face Lectures, Discussion Groups Presentations via Computer, Online, and/or Paper Communication via , Threaded Discussion Webs, etc. Syllabi AND assignments presented via web pages (Contd)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 40 Scenario #3 (Contd) The Hybrid Classroom (Contd) Testing from computer-generated tests and delivered either via paper or online Technologies: and Web Browser essential Some course materials exported to HTML format Web becomes essential part of class

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 41 Scenario #4 The Web-Supported Classroom Face-to-Face interactions and information sessions (Lectures) are used when appropriate Online lecture materials (PPT) and content (Streaming) used for class preparation Most materials (syllabi, assignments, etc.) delivered via web pages (Contd)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 42 Scenario #4 The Web-Supported Classroom (Contd) Threaded Discussions and Chat-type Sessions are integral A wrapper online delivery systems like Blackboard.com or eCollege.com are used to create the web-supported environment HTML-friendly programs are used to prepare materials (MS Office, etc.) (Contd)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 43 Scenario #4 (Contd) The Web-Supported Classroom (Contd) Online assessment, grade book, etc. takes the course outside of the classroom walls Technologies: Wrapper programs for online course management HTML-based materials & Web Browsers (with Plug-ins)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 44 Scenario #5 The Online Course This course is delivered via the web with little or no Face-to-Face contact Online, Course Management Environment is critical Support Essential for developing course, maintaining server hardware & software, and keeping the course up on a 24/7 basis (Contd)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 45 Scenario #5 (Contd) The Online Course The Advantages: Anytime, Anywhere Learning Fits into the schedule of the student The Disadvantages: High impact on teacher for both preparation and delivery up to 10 times the work! Lack of personalization for the students AND teacher Personality Style Interactions (Contd)

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 46 Scenario #5 (Contd) Technologies: Online Delivery Systems Online Communications, Testing, Materials Delivery, etc. Classroom Presentations using both Static (PPT) and Dynamic (Streaming) media New Teaching/Learning Paradigms

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 47 Some Teacher Characteristics Examine Yourself on these dimensions: Structured vs. Unstructured Approach Constructivist vs. By the Book Approach Interactive vs. Lecture Modes Textbook-based vs. Discovery-based Individual vs. Group Oriented These teaching styles will determine the most appropriate scenario…

July (2000)More Effective Web Page Elements for Classroom Support 48 Questions & Answers