Audience consultation

I've been thinking... I know, dangerous, but someone has to do it!

Rather than stick out a very linear survey trying to guage audience perceptions about a web site that some may know well, and others not at all, I thought we might try and get some more qualitative data by conducting short (3 minute) interviews or gathering data via discussion boards.

The two target student groups I was thinking of was Fastrack (new to EHU, possibly new to study, mature and enthusiastic, Undergraduate) and distance learning students at all levels, Undergraduate and Postgraduate. With Fastrack, we could follow their study in that they start next week and will be introduced to the LS pages as part of induction, and then interview the same students again at the end of the course, asking what it was that was missing from the pages (when they've got more of an idea of what they need).

In addition we could post to the GO discussion board.

Does anyone have any questions that we could use to start a conversation with our audiences?

Do some of you have an hour or two spare next week to hold a clipboard and ask?

Are You There?

Poor 'Walter' has been a bit neglected so attention all!

I thought that once you dipped your 'toe' into the 'blog water', you might perhaps consider posting a thought or two on the subject of the LS website. So by way of an 'ice breaker', all you have to do is reply to this thread...

What type of 'blogger' are you?

Do you read any? Do you write your own? Do you comment on other people's? Or, is this your first interaction with a blog?

You don't need to write much. It's a register really to make sure you can all find 'Walter' before we really get going!

PS. If you need any help email me.

Meg.
:-)

Project Rationale

One of my action points following the last meeting was to 'Champion the Blog'. So, faced with trying to encourage you all to use it, I guess I'd better set an example and get started!

I thought I'd start with a quick recap.

What are the current problems with the LS website?

The LS site is:

· Inaccurate

· Incomplete (information gaps)

· Difficult to navigate

· Outdated (appearance)

What do we want to achieve with the LS website?

The LS site needs to:

· Inform

· Direct

· Promote

and needs to be:

· User Focussed – Appropriate presentation & style

· Solution Centred - Appropriate information structure

· Current & Dynamic - Regularly updated

· Accurate & Accessible - Regularly reviewed & user friendly

What we know (or think we know!):

· The site will be public facing

· The audience are:

• Staff
• Academic
• Support
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Access/ Foundation
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Professional Development
• Alumni

What are the confines or pre-requisites of the re-modelling?

The LS site should:

· Utilize the corporate website template