The Academic Web: Two Approaches to Departmental Web Presence Peter Schilling, Director, Educational Technology Center, Bowdoin College Michael Roy, Director of Academic Computing Services, Wesleyan University

Outline problem analysis team architecture demo next steps dilemmas

What do we mean by the ‘Academic Web’ ?

Quizzing Grading Testing Assessing Writing, publishing,analyzing, critical reading, discussing, graphing,simulating, annotating, comparing, contrasting, mapping, editing Learning Registering Requesting Services Scheduling Announcing Authorizing Selecting Reflecting Evaluating sources Choosing texts Categorizing Administration Planning & Advising

The problem…..

Web-enabled communications with prospective applicants PSAT results PeopleSoft Customized to prospect Customized web page Links to areas of interest (departments)

WeSpam

The analysis….

Wesleyan Departmental Website Analysis Reviewed all existing sites Cataloged all features on all sites Created broad categories to lump features together –administrative –courses –event –general –links –major –people –related programs

administrative –counter –link to home page –maintained by –reminder service

courses –AP credit –courses –courses by concentration –fyi courses –graduate program –links to wesmaps –programs/concentrations –syllabi –transfer credit

events –events/calendar –lunch series –seminars and speakers

general –about –announcements –application forms –directions –facilities –faculty job search –faq –feedback form –history of dept/program –housing for grad students –mailing list –newsletter –virtual open house/ visual tour of the field –work study positions

links –instructional modules –library –library resources –links –middletown link –video collection

major –advising –awards/prizes –honors –info for prospective majors –major –notes for majors –regulations –senior theses and essays –student committees –thesis guidelines

people –administrative staff –alumni news –dept experts in advising –faculty –faculty availability –faculty research interests –graduate students –office hours –photos –post docs –publications –research associates –research projects –student achievements –student associations –student directory

related programs –fieldwork –private lessons –related dept –study abroad –writing

team

Wesleyan Team intially –Database programmer –Graphic/web designer –Project Manager –Departmental Representative (chair, administrative assistant) Once system is finished –Graphic/web designer –Project manager –Departmental rep

Demos/examples

Architecture….

Wesleyan Technical Architecture perl templates as glue Customized frontpage for web-authoring rss channels for web-based content management/creation calendar system feeds from peoplesoft for faculty and course information Feeds/data collection from electronic portfolio/oracle databases Linkorama: web-based link management system

Next steps….

Wesleyan Next Steps refine process expand to more departments add administrative functions (kill paper)

Questions and dilemmas….

Wesleyan Questions and Dilemmas How to balance the virtues and vices of centralized conformity v. individual departmental identity? How to make the department website serve an ACADEMIC function?