MIS 680 - Web Design

Critique of the SBA website – Schedule of Classes

The on-line schedule of classes is a useful feature.  (But only for the current semester.)   The schedule of classes must be updated with at least two semesters worth of data.   Ideally, the schedule would list classes for the next two years.  For undergrads, it would be helpful to include the entire university’s schedule since they have to take general eds outside of the school of business.  It would be helpful to list the availability of the class in this schedule.

Another useful addition is the ability to structure a student schedule on-line from the semester of classes.  Once a student designs their schedule they could save or print it out for future reference.

It would also be helpful to include a description of the class on this page.  You can get to a class description after clicking through the instructor’s link, but it is not readily available.  The instructor’s links are a great idea but should point to the instructor’s home page and not a list of classes they are teaching.

Applicable links to include would be:  a link to an on-line student review of a class and instructor, a link to on the on-line class syllabus (I believe every class should be required to post their syllabus on-line), and one to the registrar.

A neat item to add would be a map of the campus showing the exact location of the class. 

GOPHER vs THE WEB:

Gopher has been available longer.  It was designed to navigate the Internet in a text based format.  It uses menus and can run basic queries.

The Web has a graphical user interface.  It has search engines available.  You can click around on icons using the web whereas Gopher requires the use of letters and numbers to navigate the sites.

Here is a link to the results of a gopher search on the OU Computing Policy.

FTP vs THE WEB:

FTP or File Transfer protocol from unix/vms directories or gopher was once the only way to transfer files from one site to another.  You would telnet to a site, login in as anonymous and download the files you needed to your computer or account using the ftp command.

The Web will download the information required by a page to your system which you can then save, the browser will also allow you to transfer large files from one site to your system via the web  FTP is still used on the web to transfer files it is less visible to the end-user.

TELNET vs. DATABASE WEB ACCESS:

TELNET is a way to log onto another system from your own.  You would telnet to an address and login as anonymous, the system would then allow you to pursue its directories and file structures as permissible to anonymous.

DATABASE WEB ACCESS allows you to look at the information in a database in a graphical manner. It is much more user friendly and accessible to the average user.  You do not get hung up in remembering special function or command keys the tediousness of moving around using letters and numbers.

Example of a telnet session:

FINGER vs. HOME PAGES:

A finger is limited to a text description the user allows about them selves.  It will usually show, the users login name, “real” name, phone number, home directory, what shell they are using (if in Unix) and plan (if user added.)

The HOME PAGE has a more graphical interface and is only available if a user creates one.  This page will show whatever the user designs it to show.