John Fritz

CASE Summer Institute in
Communications and Marketing

Vanderbilt University
July 20-24, 2003

Presentation: "New Media Issues & Opportunities" (outline) July 21, 10 a.m. Workshop: "Web Content Development" Wednesday, July 21, 1:30 – 3 p.m. 1. Warm up Exercise: Check your web content radar (view | download) 2. Web Content Defined The creation and organization of web content (e.g., text, audio, images, video, functions) that meets the information needs of end-users AND serves the communication purposes of a site's sponsors or creators. 3. Key Questions Who are the sponsors/stakeholders of your site (i.e., who's paying and/or responsible for its development)? What are the sponsor's goals and objectives for the site? How do you know this? What does this audience need from your site? How do you know this? Are the needs of your sponsors and users in synch? If not, how will you resolve this potential conflict? If so, how will you take advantage of these shared interests? 4. Basics of a Paper Site: Web Content Development (IA Exercise) Note: The first two sections (IA & Usability) come from an outstanding student group project for the Winter 2003 session of my class, ENGL/IFSM 387 "Web Content Development." The team members were Naveen Bokhari, Robert Clatterbuck, Craig Hollinshead and Alison Tebo. Information Architecture (Planning & Research) a) High level site map or blueprint (view | download) b) Detailed content inventory (view | download) c) Application flow of user interaction (view | download) Usability (Testing & Implementation) a) Wire Frame (view | download) b) Usability Testing (view | download) Maintenance (Editing & Workflow) a) Annotated screen shots (view) & bug lists (download) b) “Who does what” workflow grids (download) & assignments (download) 5. Links Rosenfeld and Morville's Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (companion site) Boxes and Arrows Argus Center for Information Architecture Web Monkey IA Tutorial The Web Content Style Guide (focus is primarily on "text" content) Doctor Watson Page Analysis Tool European Guide to Choosing a Content Management System CMS Watch mStoner CASE Article on Content Management Systems University Web Developers Listserve (contains a searchable Web archive) Workshop: "Usability Demo & Practice" Wednesday, July 23, 8:30 - 10 a.m. Links www.sensible.com (companion site for Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think) See Krug's schedule for what to test, when and how (my word version) www.usableweb.com (Great database of usability resources) www.useit.com (Jakob Nielsen's biweekly "AlertBox" column) www.techsmith.com (makers of the "Camtasia" screen capture software) www.section508.gov (the definitive source on Web accessibility issues) 2. Handouts UMBC's Sample Usability Script (word) UMBC's Sample Video Consent Form (word) UMBC Insights Online Usability Summary Report (view | download) UMBC Blackboard Usability Study "New Media Show & Tell" Every day at 3 p.m. Open to anyone, these sessions employ an "open mouse" format for informational sharing and feedback. What's working or not working on your site.