Improving our findability: part two
Friday, July 17, 2009
Part two is an update to Improving our findability posted March 10, 2009.
So, what’s new?
Here’s a quick summary of what’s taken place with the Calvin.edu Web Project since early spring:
- The launch of Calvin’s new Google Mini Search Appliance (GSA). If you haven’t already kicked-the-tires, by all means please do! The search results now include:
- upcoming events
- building names and addresses
- phone directory information
- course descriptions
- and named scholarships
- A redesign of the People Search to improve readability and whitespace
- The A-Z Index now includes building, apartment, and residence hall names
- Consistent navigation between site tools (Search Calvin, A-Z Index, People, and Maps)
Kudos
A big "thank you" goes to Calvin international relations major Gabe Bell. Gabe optimized the Google Mini by modifying its front-end, pairing search terms with Web pages, defining related queries, and building five "OneBox Modules" to provide targeted search results (see above). If you see Gabe on-campus, please congratulate him on a job well done.
What’s next you ask?
Jonathan Laughlin is reviewing open-source content management systems; Allison Graff, Erin Bryant, and Joy’l Ver Heul are re-vamping top-level content, particularly in student life and admissions pages; and Luke tweaks the Calvin Web template and global navigation (take a peek).
And, there’s always spring cleaning =)
- Remove
- Reuse
- Rewrite
Share your feedback!
Please, tell us what you think. Be sure to share why you like or dislike something. Knowing why helps us all make informed decisions.
2 comments on "Improving our findability: part two"
I like having the dorm names included, but when I went there, I expected to find their address. Could that be included on the individual dorm pages, or have a link to the mail services page where they’re all listed? “Where do I send something so it reaches my child?” is a question we get from parents and I think that’d be helpful. I liked finding the scholarship info by name, too. Susan
I’m not sure how far up the content chain the sample template is (the one linked to “sneak peak”). I could see how the organization of content would be helpful for students, but not for faculty members. As a faculty member, I would prefer not to have to go 8 levels down to find a form, or a committee, or a policy. Would it be possible to have one link, one button, that would take a faculty member to a page that lists, in a coherent fashion, with links, all the forms that one might need to fill out from time to time (leave of absence applications, DCM course proposal forms, off-campus course proposal forms, and the like)? Might another button take a faculty member to a page with links to all the college committees, with their reports, meeting times, deadlines and the like? I would find that helpful.