Blog Site for Oct 7/8
The purpose of this post is to sketch some ideas about the design of a brand new blog site devoted exclusively for use immediately prior and during GLD Ten
Section One: Identifying the Main Navigation Issues
It seems to me the important issues are as follows:
1. This site must be clean and neat with the prime — should I say exclusive? - purpose to help viewers navigate their way to a successful experience during the day of the event.
2.There are three different paths to the presentations and the keynoters.
Path One is a search by Major Topic.
Path Two is a search by Geographic Region (and “time”)
Path Three is a search by Speaker’s name
Those pathways must be clearly, easily identified, including reinforcing in the viewer that the key to the easy navigation is an understanding of “slots” — and that the TimeTable(s) is the key easy, succesful navigation.
3. How to get “help”?
This means successfully answering the main questions sure to come –
a) How as an audience member can I participate actively?
b) Where do I point my browser to listen over the Net? And if I can’t hear, will someone help me?
c) What is the Ma Bell telephone number where I can call to listen? to talk? what is the protocol for talking?
d) Where do I point my browser to listen over the Net?
e) How do I find out “What time is it?” and “What’s on now?”
f) Where is the text chat room?
Naturally, there should be an FAQ that answers other questions. But if we concentrate on the above — which have repeatedly appeared during previous GLD events, we will be a long way “home’.
I believe the above represent the issues where there must be clarity without clutter.
SECTION TWO: Design thoughts for Word Press/Blog
What follows are some design ideas that persons smarter than I can incorporate into the solution and end product
Category One Major Topics -
There will be five Major Topics - identified as follows:
e-learning for kids;
e-learning and e-training for adults;
The wide, wide world of English language Instruction;
Improving access those physically challenged
Managing a virtual event
Note: Our Timetable will list the speaker’s name and the Major Category into which that speaker’s presentation applies, Keynoters excepted.
In the Category named Major Topics under that Category Title would be a list of the above five Topics with a hyper link to a corresponding Topic Index Page where further granulation and explantion would be provided. Major Topic Index Pages should cross link to each other. {NOTE: Forthcoming information from LetsGoExpo may nicely resolve the search questions raised here.}
Category Two: Timetable.
Under the name “Timetable”, we only need to list these: (with corresponding links to the appropriate Index Page, as follows:
First Eight Hours
From Opening Ceremonies
to the Gulf Region
Second Eight Hours
Central Asia, Africa
Europe
Final Eight Hours
The Americas
Closing Ceremonies
Each would link to its appropriate page (First Eight Index Page; Second Eight Index Page; Last Eight Index Page.
Each of those pages would provide further descriptions and more granulated links to the particular Regions — but mostly these eight hour pages would be designed to give a broad sketch of what viewers can expect during each particular eight hour section.
Category Three — Need HELP?
Under this category would be the following (hyper linked) nomenclatures
Text Chat Rooms -
This Room for comment
about the topic
This Room for help to
solve problems
What time is it?
CATEGORY FOUR FAQ
FAQ Index Page
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HOW DO I TALK, LISTEN, BLOG, TEXT CHAT?
Click here.
your personal search companion
START TIMES & SPEAKERS LIST
Click here
RETURN TO GLD HOME PAGE -
Click here
July 30th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Given that you’re REALLY looking for a kind of “cover sheet” application here - that is - a way to link up all the various resources and application, I might suggest that you don’t really want a blog but a page with a lot of “glue” on it to stick the various pieces together.