= Exemplary
= Developing =
Emerging = (In need of
)Renovationby Mia Kim Williams
While I included a variety of sites in this evaluation, I focused on University home pages in order to gather ideas for the page I am currently designing. In my evaluation I looked at organization, information, presentation (focusing on color and graphics), technical aspects, and mechanics. I used criteria from a draft form of the AzTEA rubric one developed in part by our EMC class, and developed the following overall rating scale.
= Exemplary
= Developing
=
Emerging
= (In need of
)Renovation
I hope you enjoy my review of these sites.
Air&Space Smithsonian Magazine
The navigability of this site is clear; however, the choices on the opening page are almost overwhelming. The colors; red, white, and blue; work well together. The graphics are relevant to the information given and not used often which kept load time short. I did find the transition from page to page somewhat distracting. The information presented on this page seems relevant and valuable to someone interested in the Air & Space genera. Links were appropriate and worked well. The page was also set up for easy viewing in low resolution and both major browsers. Mechanics of text presented looked acceptable. Date of last up date was available along with a webmaster contact.
The opening page of ASU's home page followed good design principles. Text and graphics were in the school colors of maroon and gold and offset by the white background. It was inviting and easy to navigate. I liked that all the information provided on the opening page fit in the browser window at one time. The site contained a consistent masthead graphic and navigation links throughout. The consistency of layout including text links on the left and information and/or graphics on the right made finding information and navigating the site easy. The site still goes very deep, but was relatively easy to work my way back out. The site is updated regularly offering daily news and information. Contact information is also readily available. The site also had a search feature. While I found it hard to locate specific information with the search, it helped point me in the right direction. Mechanics and Technical aspects are appropriate. I had originally chosen this site because through my use of it in the past, I found its design frustrating to use. Someone has been busy updating- way to go Devils!
This site offers a wealth of educational information. The site addresses the student, the parent, and the teacher audiences. There is a graphic side and top shared border for all pages which includes hot spot buttons for navigation throughout the site. It seems clean and easy to use. However, younger students might need assistance with the text intensity of the site. Mechanics and technical aspects are appropriate. I like the overall presentation and approach of this site.
This site too offers a wealth of educational information. However the presentation seems cluttered. I found it hard to get to were I was going. The multimedia is useful; in fact most of the information is presented using animations and movies. The layout is consistent throughout the site, but color changes often. The technical aspects seem to be in working order, and despite the high intensity graphics the site loads rather quickly. While I find this site to be too busy, it might retain the interest of the intended audience- the students.
Cornell University's site has many good features. The layout is easy to follow and the graphics add dimension to the simple site. I really liked that the text only version retained the red, white, and blue color scheme; it keeps it lively. The graphics add to visualizing Cornell and serve as links to adjacent sections of the page. The load time is quick and everything seems functional. There are different search capabilities available for easily locating specific information. The page seems current and with dates and contact information visible.
This site overwhelms with its graphics and pop-up movies. My first impression was they were out to prove they knew multimedia by putting it all on the first page. The load time for most pages was longer than I wanted to wait, even on a T1 line. The navigation system is well structured, however. The use of both a side buttons and pull down menu enabled me to move from section to section without getting lost in the site. The use of their school colors was effective. Some pages presented too much information, but at least the mechanics were good and information seemed correct. My advice for renovation on this home page: "more is not always better".
Montana State University - Bozeman
The image map on the opening page offers a nice visual navigational piece to the page. However, the rows and rows of links below it are not easy to sort through. The subsequent pages have a nice masthead identifying the university. However the text intensity of the page (covering every pixel of the page) makes it difficult to locate and read information. I found myself continuously scrolling up and down hunting for information. The information presented did seem up to date despite the lacking "last updated" date. Contact information was also available. I found the site useful but hard to use. Creating internal target links or dividing the information and adding more white space might make navigation more clear.
I liked the graphics and color of the page. While the school colors were used, they were softened so your first reaction is not "oh, their colors must be blue and gold" as is the case with many school pages. Since NAU is my alma matter, I was excited to see the development of the page. However, they, like MSU- Bozeman, need to let the white space show through. I found an obsessive amount of text on each page, which consisted primarily of links to other pages. You needed to navigate a few layers deep to get to the goods. The page did seem to include comprehensive information for each college on campus. It scored high marks on its technical aspects. The layout was designed for a lower resolution and works on either major browser. I also found no Mechanical errors. There are little graphics other than the consistent masthead located on most pages. The Web Cam was a nice touch though.
I liked the layout of this page. It had a functioning image map as the masthead and side navigational links that were consistent on each page. I found that I could navigate to the same information through different means. The colors used were complementary and text was easy to read. However, establishing some parameters for the text flow would make this page easier to read. The columns on the opening page were functional in this respect. The graphics used "low tech" and did not hinder use of this page on lower end machines. I did find a few mechanical errors in text. And, you have to weed through a lot of advertising to get to the useful "free" content information and study aids.
I really liked this site for a few reasons. I thought the navigation was easy to follow. It was always clear where I was going and how to get back. The navigation bar uses an image map/hot spots of fish which supply the graphic element of the page. When you create a virtual aquarium the graphics are a bit unrealistic looking, but you do get the point of what it would look like. There are only small amounts of information on each page which helps you stay focused on what you are doing. I was impressed that while this is a commercial site, it had a strong learning/teaching element. The information presented was clear, factual, and relevant to enquiry of the subject matter- not just pictures and prices. The colors worked well for the site; I thought they were very calming. The links and graphics worked and the load time was short, even for the aquarium. I found no mechanical mistakes. I really enjoyed this site and think it would be a great one to incorporate into a lesson.
Since I looked at the other Arizona universities, I thought I'd pick on U of A also. The information presented was clear and to the point. I found it easy to navigate and locate information I was looking for. There are a lot of pictures on the pages so the load time was somewhat slow. However, they are dynamic photographs portraying a positive image for the university (nice marketing). There are also easy to use search capabilities and contact information. U of A also addresses each of their audiences separately and effectively.
University of Oregon Home Page
I liked the color scheme of this page. The text is easy to read the graphics are nonchalant and functional. The opening page has one static picture, but it changes each day to offer variety. Navigation is simple, but you can work yourself deep into the site. Some of the pages are crammed with links or text, but the design incorporates some white space so its no too difficult to read. There are also different search capabilities on the site. There is also a common masthead on each page to identify your location in the site. I found the information to be up to date, easy to find, and relevant to what the audience might need. I found no technical or mechanical errors. There is also contact information available and interaction capabilities. This is a very functional site.