Part 2: Analysis of my website: http://watson.sd33.bc.ca/

I chose to do an analysis of my school’s website.

I am going to dissect the website level by level, as this seems to be simplest method. In the articles that I read and in the website surfing I have done in the past, I learned that simple is best when creating a website (http://www.grassrootsinternetstrategy.com.au/keep-your-web-design-simple/).

This Watson website is basically simple, but has several confusing sections, which I will discuss below. I will refer often to the taxonomy I created of the website.

Level 0 – Homepage for Watson Elementary School. The Watson website is divided into three sections, which I will call left, center and right. It has a left-hand navigation system, which is recommended by most website designers and analyzers (http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2011august/faulkner2.html).

It also has extra navigation links in the upper right section that are accessible throughout all levels of the website: Search/Home/Contact.

Also on the right section are three “repeated links” that are already found embedded in the left-hand navigation links. I found these quite confusing, as they are worded slightly differently but contain the same information.

In the center, there are tidbits of information also found embedded in the left-hand navigation links, which confused me because when I was reading the information, I wasn’t sure if it was new or repeated information.

If I was consulted on the website’s information architecture, I would have put a slideshow of photographs in the center section and put some interesting facts about the school on the right hand section, thus eliminating the extra unnecessary, repeated information.

Level 1 – There are 12 links in the main left-hand navigation section. Two of the links (Calendar & Field Trips) end at this level, and the other 10 continue on to the second level. Below that is a link for the Chilliwack School District website, which I actually didn’t know was a link, as it doesn’t light up when you drag the mouse over it, nor does it look like a “button” (http://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-testing-1995-sun-microsystems-website/).

So, adding the Search/Home/Contact links, there are actually 16 navigation links on the first level. This is what is termed a flattened hierarchy, and although recommended for being user friendly (http://www.nngroup.com/articles/flat-vs-deep-hierarchy/), it is difficult to create a taxonomy for.

I started my taxonomy on poster board with sticky notes, and soon ran out of room. I then went out and bought mini sticky notes, which also didn’t fit on poster board. I then discovered the back of a roll of Christmas wrapping paper, and was able to create a flattened hierarchy taxonomy on it. The photo of my taxonomy is a panoramic shot and has a few wobbles in it because it is hard holding the iphone that steady!

Level 2 – As shown in my taxonomy, level two looks fairly straight forward, but it was actually quite complicated. I had so many questions about the hierarchy levels and cross-linkages.

I determined that the Watson website made things more difficult than need be. I understand that the creators of our website (former administrators) wanted to make it as easy as possible for parents to be able to contact teachers and administrators, find the school calendar, etc., but the information is repeated in so many sections that there basically is just TOO much information on the site. Parents barely read single page hard copy newsletters, so for them to be overwhelmed by the repeated information in this site is, in my opinion, a definite negative.

Level 3 & 4 – In my opinion, the website should end at the third level, but there are several links that continue onto a fourth level. In the picture of my taxonomy, you can see some dotted lines in a triangular shape. I used this to show that the links are to other websites, which means the levels could continue on forever.

In conclusion, I would have to say that this website is based on a pure hierarchy. It is not cross-linked in a meaningful way, but rather just repeats the same information in several different sections. If I was in charge of its information architecture, I would simplify it (in the ways mentioned above) and add a picture slideshow instead of repeated links. The labeling in the site is fine, except for the link to the Chilliwack School District site (as mentioned above).

 

Part 3: Site Map

 

School Information                  Parent Information                       Student Information

   Bell Schedule                              PAC                                                  Study Tips

School Staff                                    PAC President                              Links for Students

Admin                                          PAC Newsletters

Teachers                                      Volunteer forms

Support Staff                           School Growth Plan

School & Office Hours                School Planning Co.

Code of Conduct                        School Supplies

Principal’s Message                    Links for Parents

 

Calendar                                   News and Events                             Newsletters

Announcements                        Monthly newsletters

Upcoming Events

News Stories

Adopt-a-Road

School Day

School Calendar

Watson Beacon

 

Classroom News                       Programs                                          Library  

Mr. Petkau                                  Strong Start

Mr. Lodders                                Sardis Montessori

Mr. Hoeppner                             YMCA

Mr. Monchalin

Mrs. Holliday

Mrs. Foreman

Ms. Jackson

Mrs. Hysniu                               Galleries                                         Contact Us

Ms. Weber

Ms. Hugh

Mrs. Cochrane

Ms. Bartel

Ms. Vriend

Mrs. Duval

Ms. Charlie                                  Field Trips                                     Chilliwack School District

Mr. Nachtigal

Ms. Delisle

Mrs. Moreh