A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk UKOLN is supported by: UKOLN/TechDis Workshop For RSC South East: What Next? Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath URL

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Future Plans How can we progress from the areas we have covered today? Quality Assurance Acceptance Testing Implementing Best Practices Addressing User Issues Benchmarking …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Quality Assurance Embedding QA in your work: You can develop and implementation quality assurance procedures for your cultural heritage Web sites You can share quality assurance procedures, experiences, etc with your peers …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Acceptance Procedures The testing tools used could form part of the formal acceptance procedures for Web sites you procure. Requirements Web site must comply with HTML and CSS standards and WAI guidelines. Has It Been Done? Sure, no problem. Sign the paper and give us the money. Here are the results of the automated compliance checking tests. You can run them for yourselves. And here are the results of the user testing for usability and accessibility. The QA Focus Web toolkit can be used for this formal testing. See The QA Focus Web toolkit can be used for this formal testing. See

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Implementing Best Practices Some dangers: Being lead astray by commercial Web development companies – they try and sell you a solution based on their areas of expertise Being led astray by well-meaning (a) kids or (b) senior staff with misunderstand of best practices I have to use my University's CMS Some solutions: You need an understanding of best practices QA Focus briefing documents may help …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 Addressing User Issues You should be aware that automated tools will not guarantee that a Web site is: Useable  Accessible Functional  … There will still be a need for user testing You should consider: Systematic usability and accessibility testing Formal procedures – don’t ask your mate; don’t tell them what they should do, … It need not be expensive “5 people will spot 90% of the problems” See

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Benchmarking We have seen: Use of benchmarking across regional college Web sites Issues: Can we apply the approach for ourselves? Can someone else continue to do this? Can we compare approaches more widely across the FE sector

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Developing An Action Plan Please complete your personal action plan You should list the actions you intend to carry out when you return to work This can include: Your own personal actions Recommendations for your department Recommendations for your organisation

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Comments and Questions Your comments and questions are welcome