The number 1 "don't" of any web site (for me) is a flashing graphic. If there is any kind of moving or flashing I immediately leave the web site. The flashing and/or moving graphic is annoying and gives me a headache if I try to read the web site for more than a couple of minutes. The other "don'ts" are:
2. small font
3. too much text
4. too many graphics
5. links that don't work
6. outdated information
7. inaccurate information
8. not enough information
9. web site is disorganized
10. web site is not user friendly
The top ten "do's" that I would have in my design if I had a web site for the media center are:
1. Have the basic information that is listed in our textbook such as e-mail address, library phone #, hours, webmaster contact information, etc.
2. The media center policies and procedures
3. calendar/schedule
4. OPAC
5. Items that are new to the media center
6. Links to useful websites for teachers and students
7. Library news that is updated weekly
8. links to reference sources/homework help
9. Copyright information
10. Links to child appropriate search engines
11. (sorry, I had to add one more)--The website is child friendly with graphics and larger size font.
I found the web site information in our textbook helpful-especially how that had each step prioritized. My goal is to have a web site set up for my media center by the start of the next school year. I'm glad that we have studied this topic and I now have resources to help with the design of my site. The county I work in offers teachers and other staff the option of having a web page that is linked to the school's web site. It is a template with some freedom to modify it. This is probably what I will use since creating web sites is new to me.
I will also be looking at options such as wikis and blogs.
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I am also new to thinking about creating a web page and I enjoyed the school sites that we got to visit in the assignment. I agree with your top ten don'ts--my number one is always finding links that don't work. It really bothers me when people go to the trouble to develop a website and then they don't maintain it! In the future, I hope to put these sort of mundane tasks on a calendar so that I will remember them!
ReplyDeleteI also liked your list of DO's. One of the things about media center websites that bothers me is the absence of the password to Galileo. I am taking a class at KSU this semester and when you log in to Blackboard, the online library gives you the password on that page. Is there a reason that students have to go to the media center to get the password? I have used Galileo with my kids at home but always with my password because they forget to go get it from the LMS. I would love to know your thoughts!I am thinking that this is something that I would add to my website so that students working at home would have access to all of these great resources!
Great post, Rhonda!
Rhonda:
ReplyDeleteYou covered just about everything I would have said about dos and don'ts with a media center Website. The only thing I can think to add is a link to an Internet use agreement form that every student must sign. I saw that on the Milton Middle School media center Website and I think it is a good idea. It may not completely solve the problem of inappropriate use but it will give the students a sense of accountablity.
I also would like to share this since I did so in another post. Among the links that I think should be on a media center Website, I would include one link to Galileo. I would have another to an online encyclopedia, and Wikipedia doesn't count.
As for Website don'ts, I like what David Warlick said in his article. "People don't use the Internet to read." In other words don't make any page on the Website too wordy. I guess that was what you meant with your 3rd don't.
Sankonscious
Thanks for the responses. Pclay--I give the Galileo password to the teachers and they give it to their students.
ReplyDeleteSankonscious-I agree that there should be a link to Galileo on the media center's web site, and yes, that is what I mean about #3. Maybe it's because I grew up reading a hard copy, but I don't enjoy reading too much information on the computer screen.
I think your do's and dont's list is great. I don't like moving or flashing icons either. I like the feature of items that are new to the media center. As a teacher, I sometimes feel like I don't know what all the media center has. So providing teachers with updates is great! I also agree with what Peggy said that the Gaileo password needs to be given to students so they can use this at home. I have had trouble accessing Gaileo in the past because of the password issue. I agree that making a website child friendly is important with appropriate graphics. In looking at the three examples given by Dr. Bennett, the middle school site was more child-friendly than the elementary school I thought. The graphics were colorful with bigger font size, and easy to use.
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ReplyDeleteGreat post Rhonda! I have a feeling you like top 10 lists! I hate when there is too much text on a webpage. I want to find the link I am looking for and click right to it. If I have to look around too much I lose interest.
ReplyDeleteI too made a list of the things that I want to put on my first media center web site. I think our text really does a good job prioritizing what the most important things are to include on your site. I also liked the advice to start small and work up to including everything you might want to include. In addition to some of your items I want to include author pages, parent volunteer information (because I am going to really need those volunteers) and reading lists. I would also like to include podcasts of students giving book reviews. I have a great tech tip about podcasting coming soon (if you need it).
As far as the discussion about the Galileo password: I think the reason why it is not on the schools' web site is because each school pays for the service. If the password as out there for free others from outside the school could access the site. I think it is important to make sure the teachers have the password and they relay it to their students. I have done that with my third graders.
Thanks again for a great post.
First - a comment re: Galileo. Check with your public library. I just went to the website for my public library and got a password by entering my barcode info. So segging into the discussion . . . be sure to have a link on your webpage to other libraries, especially the local public library! One thing I love about our local public library that I cannot do through any of my kids' school sites, is request books for them or put them on hold. This is a feature I love about our public branch. I'm always making list of books I want to read or want to get for the kids. I sit down at the computer and enter them in. A day or so later - ready for pickup! I'm not sure why none of the schools do this - surely a library club or volunteers could help out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your flashing banner statement. Drives me nuts. I also look to see when a sight has last been updated. I hate to see sites from years gone by! If we are going to use web pages, wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc...we will have to find time to manage them or we risk turning away the users. My list of "do's" will also include finding ways to make the site more interactive (2.0). My strategy will vary depending on the age group of the students. I've seen examples with middle schoolers blogging and high schoolers using wikispaces. I have not seen too many site for elementary students that encouraged them to use the LMS site. :(
Have you seen this site: http://www.sunlink.ucf.edu/presentations/necc2005/slmc_resources.html#highlighted
ReplyDeleteAll of the postings here above are pointing to these wonderful examples. Take a look. When it is our turn to be responsible for an LMC web page (and some of you already are!), here is a great resource for you. But be careful: like many of the interesting things that we are perusing for this class, it is a bit addicting, so make sure you have a good hour in front of you!
I really enjoyed the 2 lists Rhonda . I am currently building a website for my school's media center (the current media specialists have never built one), a process I started last semester and I have been adding to it this semester, and I actually used your two lists in evaluating and updating it this weekend as well as Sabrina's list on the "blawgers" blog. In the beginning of the creation of a website, there is a great abundance of what can be posted on a school website, which I especially realized after much exploring as every school media center website has its own set of great ideas, and deciding what to put on the website I am building can be somewhat difficult. This list of the basics sets a good basic standard, and the list outlines the basic characteristics of a good website to make the initial creation of the website less overwhelming. I like lists as well, as they help to keep the goals of the website focused, and a list of basics keeps us from getting too carried away, which can make the website chaotic and it can become busy and disorganized very quickly
ReplyDeleteI think your do's and don'ts are right on point. When designing any print material it is best to keep the users in mind. I totally agree with your impression of flashing graphics, although for different reasons. If someone is having difficulties with their internet connection, or if the connection is just slow, flashing graphics take forever to load. If the internet and the web site take too long to load, I just hit the back button and choose a different site.
ReplyDeleteI would include all the "do's" on my media center web site. The only other thing I might add on the web site would be helpful hints and tips for research or locating a book title.