Creating and Evaluating Websites: Session Six: 10/10/12

“What did I learn and how can I use it in the future?”

I found the PowerPoint, teacher-made videos, and "Evaluating Websites" reading for this section to be extremely helpful.  I created my first website in September 2009 for my dance company, CoEXISTdance, Inc.  We used the web host called Go Daddy and it was an enormous task! I had no idea how tedious and time-consuming creating a website could be.  It is also a big job to stay on top of the website and remain consistent in terms of updating content and images. Looking back, I was also so ignorant in terms of website aesthetics and organization.  After our contract expired this past September 2012, I switched to a new web editor called wix.com and kept our domain host with Go Daddy.  I changed all of the color schemes, sub page titles and content and now I am much happier and confident in presenting my web page and web marketing material.  I also changed how users can view photos and videos with a simple click of the mouse!

I think it is ironic how often we use websites and web resources without questioning or thinking twice about the layout or design.  However, whenever I am browsing or doing research, I know I tend to stray away from a page that is hard to navigate and decipher.  This goes for anything from finding new classroom activities to planning a vacation.  We judge and evaluate websites without consciously realizing it all of the time!  We live in such a fast-paced and changing world that time is of the essence.  Users today need efficient, quick, and immediate gratification.  The less work and digging we have to do, the better.  Since there are so many websites and resources for any given topic, today's consumers have the luxury of picking and choosing which websites to decline from using and which to refer to repeatedly.

I have learned a lot from having my own website and promoting my own dance company.  However, this session has pointed out a few new ideas to me.  First, it is great to have colors, but not too much!  Everything should be in moderation.  The colors also should not clash, they need to complement each other.  Second, content is obviously important but not too much content.  Half of the battle is manipulating a page to showcase important information without adding clutter or too much busy, frivolous text.  I will be using these two new lessons to create my own web page for this class and I am excited to do so!