Developing the Parents as Teachers site
So far I have:
- taken Basecamp for a test drive on the PaT project
- tried out Dreamhost’s 1-click install for WordPress
- added the Ahimsa theme
- added a few pieces of content to the site for reference
- installed Google apps: docs, calendar, e-mail
- added Kayte and Marjorie (the PaT webmasters) to WordPress as admins
- assigned Kayte and Marjorie as the Sys Admins for the site
(full access FTP accounts – Dreamhost’s control panel is awesome) - tested/currently incorporating events calendar on the site
(bugs need worked out)
There is still much to do, but I need to pause on development and meet again with Kayte and Marjorie. I haven’t added the content myself because I want to use that as real, hands on training for Kayte and Marjorie. That way they can see how to use the interface. I will know how well it’s going once I get some feedback from Kayte and Marjorie. Here’s hoping they like it so far.
Creative Inspiration
Sometimes you can find inspiration right in your own back yard. Local singer/songwriter Atley Black was introduced to me via her song Sailor. Her lyrics and voice gave me goosebumps!
Site Rebuild: Parents as Teachers
I find that rebuild projects often focus on the negative: what needs redone and what needs improvement. What I often fail to communicate is why I am excited about projects like this to begin with: because the site has a lot of potential! So before I discuss any more of the improvements I would like to see, here are a few things that the Parents as Teachers website does right:
- Content is king. Every bit of information on the site is relevant, useful and kept up-to-date. Past events are posted to give new parents an idea of what to expect in the future, even if the future date of the event is unknown.
- Information architecture by design. Instead of thrown-together content, the information is organized with a purpose. For example, on the landing page the featured events line the right side of the page and events categorized by age line the left side. The school district’s disclaimer is kept at the bottom, in a smaller text size – a normal text treatment used for secondary information and legalese.
- Readability is excellent. A few splashes of color and a touch of informal fonts convey an open, friendly attitude without becoming distracting.
- Acknowledges the visitor. That the site even exists means that someone, somewhere has acknowledged how nice it is to have this information available, at a busy parent’s convenience. Another way the visitor is recognized is in the tone of the writing. For topics like Kindergarten Registration, it addresses parents in a direct manner: “If you missed the Kindergarten Registration [...].” then gives a full set of instructions on the page, arming parents with the information they need to get stuff done.
A walk through a site rebuild
Nothing new happening at work, so I have been focusing on freelance projects to help keep me sharp. The local St. Joseph Parents as Teachers is a group I find relevant and worthwhile, so I’ve volunteered my skills to revamp their website.
Landing page for the St. Joseph Parents as Teachers
The First Step
Research. Who owns the parent site? St. Joseph School District. What technology are they using? SJSD is using a combination of ASP and ASP.NET, but the Parents as Teachers site is plain vanilla HTML. That indicates they have independent control. A good thing for me, but possibly a hassle for the Parents as Teachers volunteer who has to deal with managing a site and who had no idea where to start.
Step Two
Find a contact that manages the site. Easy enough, with the Contact Us page.
Hi Debbie,
Scott and I took Erik to our first Parents as Teachers meeting last night. The Water Play for Babies meeting was a lot of fun, and Scott’s taking Erik to the Infant Massage today.
You guys do some great work and I was hoping I could help out. I’m a web developer by profession and I design and build websites for a living. If you need any help with the Parents as Teachers website, I’d love to volunteer. Feel free to contact me by e-mail: [x] or phone: [x].
Cheers,
Thuy Copeland
Wait for reply.
You must be a Godsend. I am in Virginia now on holiday, but am returning next week. YES, we’d love help on our website. It is connected to the SJSD site, but we know there is much work to do.
I’ll contact you in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed the class.
Debbie
Now what? My goal is always to make this as easy as possible. Busy people want managers. They don’t want to babysit me.
Hi Debbie,
My goal is to make this as painless for you as possible. I’m ready to work on the site, I just need 2 pieces of information to get this project rolling:
1) FTP username & password
Since they have independent control over their site and do not use ASP, I think it’s safe to assume they have access to an FTP account.
2) Information on events (Date, time, location, etc.)If you have a Word document or other electronic file, just e-mail me that. I can work with whatever you have.
Bonus:
Contact info for the tech person that provided the FTP info.Thanks,
Thuy Copeland
I should have made the e-mail a bit shorter, but that’s okay. It only contains 1) relevant, necessary information; and 2) a call to action.
While I Wait
I downloaded their files as a temporary backup and started looking at options. Since the preferred server-side language of choice is ASP, I know it’s highly unlikely they have PHP installed. WordPress is likely out of the question, but I’ll certainly ask. That means possibly sticking with a Dreamweaver/Template-based site. Not a real problem, though. I can still use JavaScript libraries and a nice site design to spice it up.
Aside from technical constraints, I consider their content. What content exists right now? Is it presented in a way that’s easy for a parent to access? How I can generate more for them? What other content would parents be interested in seeing? From my own limited perspective as a parent, I would like to see the events highlighted on the landing page. I would also like to see a map embedded in the “How to Find Us” page, so I can get driving directions or see if I’m already familiar with the area. Already I’m thinking Google Calendar, Google Map and a Flickr photostream (or a local slideshow, depending on their needs).
Design is not what I want to focus on, so I search for a few open-source designs. From the color schemes used on the site and experience from the group meetings, I know the basic messages Parents as Teachers wants to convey: an emphasis on fun, education, and kids. Something bright, bold, open and cheery would do them justice. I take a few screenshots and bookmark the site designs.
I can’t wait to get this rolling!
