paper -
32 "Getting Rid of the Static": Increasing the Interactivity of Your Computer Training Page
Eileen
Palenchar, Brown University
Stephanie Birdsall, Brown University
Even within University computing departments often
there is little creative use of web pages. Training pages frequently consist of
links to static information such as documentation, course descriptions, and
FAQs and links to current class schedules and a registration page. With
increased interactivity as our goal, we re-examined all aspects of training
experience from course registration to post-course follow-up to see what
components could be delivered over the Web or enhanced with a Web component. We
discovered that with very few resources and not very much knowledge and
experience, you can design an interactive, content-rich user-centered training
web site.
A crucial part of this process is identifying the
needs of individual users groups and then creating resources to address those
needs. Some of the projects include designing an online registration system
that includes a self-evaluation tool, online training content applets,
presentations with sound, an interactive course catalogue, quizzes and course
evaluations, a tip and trick mailing list, and software discussion groups.
Some of the benefits include increased level of
communication between instructors and students, creating a sense of community
among users of technology on campus, reduced amount of paper and
registration-processing time, more advance information about the class
participants, and more efficient delivery of information about classes and anytime
training.
This discussion will be of interest to those who manage, deliver, or assist with the administration of computer training.