2009 Web Rehab

Web Rehab Pulling it all together for

users

Beyond documents – Programs on the web

ACE/NETC, June 2009, Des Moines IA

University of Minnesota Extension

Presenters• Karen Lilley

Extension Communications/PRPublic website manager

• Heather LeeExtension Family Development Project manager

University of Minnesota Extension

Our challengesAre these yours?

• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0Most work is behind the scenes.

This is not about new designs yet.


• Updating & upgrading the site

• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0

Updating & upgrading

The way we were…

• 2001 design• In-house CMS• Very web 1.0


The way we are…• Transitional designs• 6 Overview pages• 62 Program pages &

counting• Web-only documents• Workshops automation• Video, audio, RSS,

blogs• Outside Extension sites


Where we’re going…

• More user centered • More automation• More metadata• More customization

• University brand compliant• 960 pixel wide XHTML


• Updating & upgrading the site

• A plethora of Extension websites

• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University &

Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0

A plethora – overabundance –

of Extension websites

A plethora – embarrassment –

of Extension websites

http://www.myminnesotawoods.org/

www.mn4h.com

www.mncost.org/


• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites

• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0

Documents & programs

• Document-based website: news releases, publications, briefs

• Program-focused Extension• Needed to pull all program

content together in one place: documents , online store, workshops, online registration, web-only content, audio, video, online courses, etc.

Extension websitesOne Story

Extension websites One Story:

Parenting.umn.edu • One of first program sites• Met a need that the

Extension site couldn’t meet

• Has strong ownership• Crosses several programs• Site has had a consistent

following

Extension websites Parenting.umn.edu: Growing

Pains• Infrastructure issues• Reinvented itself too

frequently• Old designs = not easy to

update• ADA compliance issues• Content in multiple

places• Out of control

Program Pages Our solution: merge content into the main

Extension site

Program PagesOur solution

• Transitional designs• Gateway to existing websites• Consistent program

presentation• All program content together• Flexible modules• Decentralized maintenance• Plan to review and merge

content from other websites

Programs are the package of research & scholarship-based educational events (seminars, courses, tours, conferences, field days, etc.) and products (web pages, publications, displays, modules, etc.) that address a needs-based issue for a specific audience.

Documents & programs

Program Page ContentRequired• Title, description, photo• Upcoming workshops• Contact info, program teamOptional• About page, info sheet• Link to website • Features, Hot Topics • Educational Offerings• Related links in right

column

ONE Extension website

What’s selling it • Point of pain• Referrals to “Extension site”• Listening to user/owner feedback • Program navigation soon• Compliance with standards• Flexibility within templates• Redirected URLs • Automation & integration

benefits

ONE Extension website Automation

ONE Extension website

Automation & Integration

ONE Extension website Integration


• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs

• User-centered info architecture

• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System• Web 2.0

User-centered information architecture

Youth Development Project*

*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com


• Staff identified audiences.• Audiences surveyed.• Research results describe

website users. • Personas based on research.• Scenarios made from user

tasks.• Personas & scenarios guide

site development.*Laurie Southerton southertonconsulting.com


Research resultsTop reasons to give to the MN 4-H Foundation

(n=37)• 4-H Alumni (78%)• Reputation of 4-H (78%)• Evidence of Organization’s Impact (73%)• Leadership Skills Developed by Youth (70%)

Content looked for on the MN 4-H Foundation site (n=18)

• 4-H Highlights (61%)• Giving options, online donation, Annual

Report(44%)• Special Events (44%)• Stories on how my donations were used (29%)*Laurie Southerton

southertonconsulting.com

User-centered information

architecture Persona: Donna

Donor • 69 years young, retired Home

Economics teacher from St. Louis Park, currently living in Willmar.

• She was in 4-H, her children and now grandchildren are too!

• Current income is over $80K and every year she donates $100 to the Minnesota 4-H Foundation.

Donna Donor


Persona: Donna Donor

I want all kids to have the great 4-H experience I did!Donna gets really excited when talking about 4-H and her experiences. She strongly believes that 4-H was responsible for her decision to become a Home Economics teacher 40 years ago. She also knows that it helped her 3 children become more successful in their own lives. Since she and her husband, David, retired to their hobby farm in Willmar, they visit each county fair where their grandchildren show animals and other 4-H projects. This year they attended the State Fair to support Christa who won a purple ribbon with her pen of Bantam Breeding Ducks. Before going to the fair, Donna went to the 4-H site to find information about the project that Christa was working on – what did Christa need to do? How will they judge her project? After the fair was over, Donna also wanted to see the pictures that were taken of her granddaughter. Her teen-aged grandson, Nathan, is trying to get Grandma Donna to use the computer more often. He spent a few days with them over the holidays showing her how to download digital photo’s and post them for the family to see; how to research and book a trip to Italy they want to take; and to make contributions to several local charities.

Donna Donor


Persona: Donna Donor

Scenarios• Find info about 4-H – what does

granddaughter need for a project?

• Find the Foundation website• Donate online• Find a way to share your story

and experience as a 4-H alumnus

Donna Donor



• Look at the site from the persona’s viewpoint.

• Map high level site organization.

• Draft wireframes.• Test scenarios: team/personas.• Test scenarios: users.• Designs are end of process.



• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture

• Branding University & Extension

• Content Management System• Web 2.0

Branding University &

ExtensionNot very consistent


Extension

First, be compliant with the U

ExpectationsAll University communications should look like University communications


ExtensionBeginning May 2009, units may not develop new logos, and existing unit logos must be phased out

• New website to use U template

• New Extension templates • Standards for all materials• Extension branding

everywhere, including PDFs, PPTs


• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University &

Extension

• Content Management System

• Web 2.0

Content Management System

• University enterprise system• Steep learning curve• Extension Employee site in

CMS• New U templates in CMS to

encourage adoption, consistency

• Not our focus right now

Content Management Learnings

• Will not solve all your site’s problems.• Clean up old content first!• Put automation, metadata, databases

outside the system.• Build site in HTML/CSS outside of

CMS.• Focus on site improvements, not

implementing CMS.• Distribute publishing: ownership,

training, skill, standards, guidelines


• Updating & upgrading the site• A plethora of Extension websites• Documents & programs• User-centered info architecture• Branding University & Extension• Content Management System

• Web 2.0

Web 2.0

Raise your hand if your Web 1.0

is totally under control.

Web 2.0A Maslow-like hierarchy

• Collaboration: owners, users share content, provide feedback (2.0)

• Task interaction: order materials, register for workshops (1.5)

• Foundation: users can easily find the content they need (1.0)

-- Danny Sussman

Web 2.0

Start conversation

Find content

Web 2.0Engagement

Personas and Scenarios• Find info about 4-H:

What granddaughter needs for a project? (1.0)

• Find 4-H Foundation website. (1.0)

• Donate online. (1.5)• Share your story and experiences

as a 4-H alumnus. (2.0)

Donna Donor

Web 2.0

Start conversation

Find content

Web 2.0Learnings

• Web 2.0 is a lot of time & effort.

• Maintain Extension’s research base while collaborating.

• Community building is a process, not a one-time project.

• Develop guidelines, support pilots, showcase success.

• Integrate 2.0 with 1.0 content.

Web 2.0

Start conversation

Find content

Summary Vision The new Extension site

will:• Provide the public with a single

source for current Extension information.

• Help learners to accomplish their tasks and find content unencumbered by administrative structure.

• Ensure compliance with University and Extension branding, navigation & accessibility requirements.

Summary Vision The new Extension site

will:• Be consistent in look, feel and

functionality. • Decentralize and simplify

maintenance by integration, automation, templates, and standards.

• Allow content owners to focus on education instead of technology, and benefit from higher visibility.

Thank You

Watch our progress:www.extension.umn.edu

Contact us:[email protected]

[email protected]

University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.This material is available in alternative formats upon request.

© 2009, Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

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2009 Web Rehab

Technology

Transcript of 2009 Web Rehab