Leveraging Manila for Learning The Swiss Army Knife of Web Development for Faculty, Staff & Students

Presenters Sean Baker, Web Manager, Computing Services Sean Baker, Web Manager, Computing Services Carol Burritt, Web Specialist, Computing Services Carol Burritt, Web Specialist, Computing Services Monroe Community College, Rochester NY

The MCC Web Crew Web Manager - Sean Web Manager - Sean –team leadership, development, programming, design, Web infrastructure, R&D, reporting, planning, not shrugging Web Specialist - Carol Web Specialist - Carol –design, development, programming, faculty/staff training for Manila Web Specialist - Bob Web Specialist - Bob –design, development, programming, primary Lotus Notes developer Web Specialist (pt) – Dawn Web Specialist (pt) – Dawn –design, development, programming, primary liaison to academic departments

The MCC Web Toolkit Servers Servers –Apache, IIS, Domino, Frontier, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Development Development –HTML, DHTML, PHP, ASP, Perl, Java, XML, JavaScript, Lotus Notes, CSS…. Applications Applications –HTML/Text Editors, DreamWeaver, Lotus Notes & Notes Designer, Contribute, FrontPage, Flash, Photoshop, Manila, Contribute

Types of Content general information general information news news Web Services for students and employees Web Services for students and employees sitelets for individual academic, student service and administrative areas sitelets for individual academic, student service and administrative areas sitelets for college community groups and special projects sitelets for college community groups and special projects individual faculty sites individual faculty sites

Manila is… A browser-based tool that allows authorized users to manage their website, publish information, edit content, post images and more with any browser from any location. A browser-based tool that allows authorized users to manage their website, publish information, edit content, post images and more with any browser from any location. A tool that allows for access and functionality limitation through built in membership and editorial roles features. A tool that allows for access and functionality limitation through built in membership and editorial roles features.

Manila is… A tool with built in collaboration capabilities through online discussion, direct and RSS feeds. A tool with built in collaboration capabilities through online discussion, direct and RSS feeds. A tool that provides one touch content editing control through the “Edit This Page” button. A tool that provides one touch content editing control through the “Edit This Page” button. A tool that automatically archives Web site content and makes it accessible through links on generated calendars. A tool that automatically archives Web site content and makes it accessible through links on generated calendars.

Manila is not…. a course management system a course management system a content management system on the scale that an institution the size of MCC requires a content management system on the scale that an institution the size of MCC requires the MCC Intranet the MCC Intranet our primary Web development tool our primary Web development tool

Where does Manila fit in? Manila has become the web development tool for: Manila has become the web development tool for: –Individual faculty web sites –Organizational sites for faculty, staff and student groups  Faculty Senate  Student Government  Faculty Association  student clubs

Where does Manila fit in? Manila has become the web development tool for: Manila has become the web development tool for: –Sites that meet the needs of special projects for:  Group communication and collaboration  Information dissemination  Document archiving  Event promotion

Benefits of Manila for Users Maintaining a Manila site does not require knowledge of html coding, or web design tools such as DreamWeaver or FrontPage Maintaining a Manila site does not require knowledge of html coding, or web design tools such as DreamWeaver or FrontPage

Benefits of Manila for Users Graphic elements such as digital photographs and properly formatted artwork can be saved within the site structure, and added to web pages. Graphic elements such as digital photographs and properly formatted artwork can be saved within the site structure, and added to web pages.

Benefits of Manila for Users Many digital file types can be loaded into a Manila site space, to be accessed by web site visitors. In Manila, these elements are called Gems. Many digital file types can be loaded into a Manila site space, to be accessed by web site visitors. In Manila, these elements are called Gems. –.pdf, Flash, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, audio, video, zip, and more

Benefits of Manila for Users Capability for threaded discussion is built into every Manila site Capability for threaded discussion is built into every Manila site

Benefits of Manila for Users Participation in the discussion is limited to site members Participation in the discussion is limited to site members notification can be sent to discussion participants whenever new content is posted notification can be sent to discussion participants whenever new content is posted

Benefits of Manila for Users Through the built in feature of membership and editorial roles, functionality and access can be easily controlled at many levels of a Manila site. Through the built in feature of membership and editorial roles, functionality and access can be easily controlled at many levels of a Manila site. Roles: Roles:  managing editor  content editor  contributing editor  member  visitor

Benefits of Manila for Users Access can be controlled by role, group inclusion or time, right down to a page level Access can be controlled by role, group inclusion or time, right down to a page level

Benefits of Manila for Users ability to change the look of the site by applying a different theme ability to change the look of the site by applying a different theme Byan Bell, Weblogger.com

Benefits of Manila for Users Once a Manila site is set up, the user can focus on the content, not the design. Once a Manila site is set up, the user can focus on the content, not the design. content that is available in other formats, such as Word documents can be incorporated into a Manila site in a number of ways content that is available in other formats, such as Word documents can be incorporated into a Manila site in a number of ways resources can be made available to anyone with internet access, on a 24/7 basis resources can be made available to anyone with internet access, on a 24/7 basis

Benefits of Manila for Users Communication tools

Benefits for the Web Team allows us to promote the use of Web sites by many individuals and groups, for a variety of purposes allows us to promote the use of Web sites by many individuals and groups, for a variety of purposes many users become comfortable with the tool with a minimum of instruction many users become comfortable with the tool with a minimum of instruction the Frontier server license includes frequent automatic upgrades, that provide useful enhancements and improvements to the tool the Frontier server license includes frequent automatic upgrades, that provide useful enhancements and improvements to the tool

Benefits for the Web Team Key administrative functions such as site creation and upkeep usage logs, server maintenance and upgrades are web based. Key administrative functions such as site creation and upkeep usage logs, server maintenance and upgrades are web based.

Benefits for the Web Team both Frontier and Manila are fairly well documented, making management and user training easier both Frontier and Manila are fairly well documented, making management and user training easier uses technologies that will most likely be around for the foreseeable future, such as XML, RSS, CSS uses technologies that will most likely be around for the foreseeable future, such as XML, RSS, CSS licensing cost is very attractive licensing cost is very attractive

Benefits of Manila Scalability Scalability " "The coolest thing about Manila is that it's as simple or as deep as you want it to be. Few other Web products scale well in both directions -- you either wind up with easy-to-use homepage-building tools that can't handle dynamic sites, or you have complicated, expensive content-management platforms that aren't helpful for beginners or small sites. Manila lets anyone set up an interactive Weblog quickly and easily, without any client-side software, but that site can grow into a sophisticated, high-traffic site on the same platform.” Kevin Werbach, Managing Editor of Release 1.0Release 1.0