Introduction

by Brian Kelly 

Brian Kelly, UKOLN gave the Introduction to the IWMW 1998 event.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare   http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-introduction

‘Dumbing Down’ – Making the UCE Website More Accessible

by Brian Lantz 

Brian Lantz, UCE gave a plenary talk on "'Dumbing Down' - Making the UCE Website More Accessible" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

The University of Central England's Website has gone through three versions. The first was simple, largely text derived from printed sources. Graphics were added in version two, with frames and some simple Javascript in version three. Version four is being developed with the support of a commercial firm with a view to making the site a better marketing tool which is more accessible, more interesting and with fewer gimmicks. This talk hopes to analyse the success of this process and provide pointers to how we hope to develop the site, with commercial support (?), over the next 18 months.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare https://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998dumbing-down    

Does Web Content Grow On Trees?

by Andrew Aird 

Andrew Aird, Goldsmith College London gave a plenary talk on "Does Web Content Grow On Trees?" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

Rather than try to improve, manage and maintain the huge, unwieldy web site I inherited at Goldsmiths, I have developed a strategy of 'growing' three separate web 'trees'. These respectively address the provision of external information, internal communications and a teaching and learning web environment. The 'trees' acknowledge that institutional information derives from different roots, and has varying saliency and significance depending on the context to which it is applied. I will talk about:

• The design of these tree structures
• How they fit in with the generation and flow of information in the College
• Issues of ownership and internal politics
• The web trees of the future

   

Publishing And Devolving Maintenance of a Prospectus

by Paul Browning 

Paul Browning, University of Bristol gave a plenary talk on "Publishing And Devolving Maintenance of a Prospectus" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

The compilation and publication of a prospectus can be a long-winded process. The generation of an electronic version as an afterthought can mean a substantial delay before potential students can access course information via the Web. Conventionally there are four main stages to the process: collation/updating of the course information from academic departments and services, preparation of the combined text using word-processing/desk-top publishing tools, dispatch of the text for printing, then reverse engineering the text into a Web-deliverable version. This talk will describe an attempt to re-order the last three stages so that the electronic version becomes available soon after the collation/updating of information. If the text elements of the prospectus are held in a database it becomes possible not only to generate the Web pages "on the fly" but also to devolve the maintenance of the information to the people that provide it. Web form-based interfaces are intuitive to use and familiar to many users (the browser has become an "everyday" application) - they render Web-publishing a more transparent process (no authoring application, no file transfer application, no server directory structure to navigate). Once the text of the prospectus is held in a database then a monolithic document can be easily produced; this can be imported into the desktop publishing tool that is still used to prepare the version to be sent to the printers. Importantly, though, the Web version is already world visible.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-publishing-and-devolving-the-maintenance-of-a-prospectus-prospectus

About the Parallel Sessions

Brian Kelly gave a plenary talk on "About the Parallel Sessions" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-about-the-parallel-sessions

DataWeb: Three Worlds Collide

by Victoria Marshall 

Victoria Marshall, RAL  gave a plenary talk on "DataWeb: Three Worlds Collide" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

This presentation describes Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's DataWeb service, which uses Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology and a RDBMS. The first half of the talk will describe DataWeb and its key features (and indeed the disadvantages). The second half of the talk will be more informal - a series of horror stories and moments of success the various implementation issues were tackled.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare https://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-dataweb-three-worlds-colide  

Information Management & the Institutional Website: Promoting & Supporting Organisational Change

by Jon Wallis 

Jon Wallis, University of Wolverhampton gave a plenary talk on "Information Management & the Institutional Website: Promoting & Supporting Organisational Change" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

An institutional website represents a fundamental change in the nature of information provision (and if it doesn't something is seriously wrong). This change presents a major challenge to existing information management activities. This talk suggests the need for a methodical approach to support (and survive) the process of organisational change required. It is based on a combination of direct experience of running a University website and academic research into corporate information management. Brief case studies will be discussed to illustrate the major themes.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-promoting-and-supporting-organisational-change

“He left the course 3 months ago?”: Web-based front-ends to student databases

by Nick Gould 

Nick Gould, University of Manchester gave a plenary talk on ""He left the course 3 months ago?": Web-based front-ends to student databases" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

This presentation describes efforts to manage large student numbers by using Web-based interfaces to databases. The systems developed aim to allow teaching staff easy access to up-to-date student information such as tutorial attendance and work done records, thus allowing academics to spend less time on "paper-chasing". The presentation will discuss the techniques employed in developing Web-based systems and look at problems such as development-time and meeting user requirements.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-web-frontends-to-databases

Events Online

by Steve Emmott 

Stephen Emmott, LSE gave a plenary talk on "Events Online" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

Descriptions of events, as with the events they describe, vary considerably. From a 30 minute talk to a 3 day workshop, the information that needs to be published rarely fits 'the institutional form'. This talk presents an events database that uses server-side XML to let the content publish itself. Events submitted via either a form or free text are served to the browser in the College house-style - allowing the institution to carry the publishing workload rather than the individual or their department.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-events-online

The Use of Online Databases to Manage Student Support and Learning

by Terry Brown 

Terry Brown, University of Newcastle gave a plenary talk on "The Use of Online Databases to Manage Student Support and Learning" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

This talk will focus upon the use and development of World Wide Web (WWW) interfaces to relational databases housing student information. It will demonstrate the effective use of current and emerging internet technologies such as HTML, CGI and DBMS and will look at the functions XML and SSL can play in facilitating remote administration and secure access to on-line databases to support students and tutors. The talk will highlight examples from a number of University and National projects which:

• Provide Online Personal and Academic Records for managing student progress and reflection
• Aim to deliver an on-line Virtual Medical Faculty
• Facilitate the management, administration and selection of student options (modules)
• Enhance electronic communication between students and tutors and provide administrative staff with tools to easily contact groups of students

The talk will demonstrate the success and issues involved in the use of on-line administrative systems as a medium for student support.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-web-frontends-to-databases

Parallel Sessions

Delegates could attend one of the following parallel sessions:

• Metadata Management Facilitated by Andy Powell and Brian Kelly
• Server Management Facilitated by Andrew Cormack and Helen Varley Sargan
• Institutional Web Design Facilitated by Andrew Aird
• Web Tools Facilitated by Dave Hartland and Dave Lomas
• Management Issues Facilitated by Colin Work and Damon Querry

Deploying New Web Technologies

by Brian Kelly 

Brian Kelly, UKOLN gave a plenary talk on "Deploying New Web Technologies" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

This presentation will give a brief review of the web architecture and then describe emerging web technologies (such as CSS, XML, RDF and HTTP/NG) which are addressing deficiencies in the web. Brian will then suggest models for deployment of these new technologies.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-deploying-new-web-technologies

The DISinHE Centre, Accessibility and the Web

by Paul Booth 

Paul Booth, DISinHE gave a plenary talk on "The DISinHE Centre, Accessibility and the Web" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

This presentation will describe the work of the DISinHE Centre.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-1998-web-accessibility

Publish and be Damned? – Freedom, Responsibility and AUP

by Colin Work 

Colin Work, University of Southampton gave a plenary talk on "Publish and be Damned? - Freedom, Responsibility and AUP" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

Caught between staff and students insisting on their rights to publish on the web and management concerns about appropriate material, what is a "Webmaster" to do? This talk will summarise the key areas of risk in putting material on the WWW, identify potential liability and suggest ways of running a WWW service which minimises the institution's (and Webmasters!) exposure while catering for the users requirements.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-2008-publish-and-be-damned-academic-freedom-responsibility-and-aup

British Council Case Study

by Paul Squires 

Paul Squires, British Council gave a plenary talk on "British Council Case Study " at the IWMW 1998 event.

Abstract

The British Council promotes British expertise and learning world-wide. It has exploited the power of the Internet to disseminate information and services to a global audience through its distributed Web services. At present it maintains 16,000 HTML files which are delivered from a network of approximately 200 Web authors based in 109 countries. This network is complimented by 20 local Web servers located in the larger offices overseas which are mirrored on a daily basis. Despite the disparate nature of the operations the site has maintained a strong corporate identity. This has been achieved through a combination of training and centralised quality assurance procedures. The operation now enables between 50 and 300 Web pages to be updated daily, co-ordinated by a core team of six. The site is currently being redesigned according to the Council's new vision and brand identity. The challenge lies with promulgating new corporate standards and technologies to Web authors world-wide whilst keeping abreast of Web developments.

Resources

See slides hosted on Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/iwmw/iwmw-2008-british-council-case-study

Report Back from Parallel Sessions

Various reporters gave plenary talks on "Report Back from Parallel Sessions" at the IWMW 1998 event.

Panel Session & Conclusions

Concluding plenary panel session on the IWMW 1998 event.

Metadata Management [A1]

A half day session which will enable metadata issues to be covered in some depth. The session is intended for people who are familiar with metadata concepts and Dublin Core and who wish to deploy metadata on their website. The session will cover the use of tools to manage metadata, models for deploying metadata and related topics. The session will include presentations, discussion sessions and demonstrations.  

Server Management [A2]

A half day session which will enable web server management issues to be covered in some depth. The session is intended for web server administrators. The session will cover a variety of server issues, caching, performance, security, etc. Note that this session will probably cover primarily Unix issues.

Institutional Web Design [A3]

A half day session which will enable web design issues to be covered in some depth. The session is intended for people who are responsible for the design of corporate web pages. The session will include preparing a design brief, a review of institutional web designs and general web design issues The session will include presentations, discussion sessions and demonstrations.

Web Tools [A4]

A half day session which will enable participants to evaluate and discuss a variety of web tools. For example the session will enable participants to evaluate the Opera browser, which is designed for low-spec systems and discuss whether it is applicable for mainstream use and for a bulk purchase by CHEST. The session will include presentations, discussion sessions and demonstrations.

Management Issues [A5]

A half day session on non-technical issues, which could cover, but is not restricted to, people management, supporting information providers, publishing policies, policing the Web, legal issues and AUP.