Teaching Online: Lessons Learned...

Site Design - Keep it Simple

• Most web users have an 8 second attention span...
• Glitz and glitter just slow down the site/page load time
• Limit the use of graphics
• Use simple, consistent navigation elements
• Text links work just a well as graphics and are much faster
• Compatibility testing is critical
  
  • Design for the lowest common denominator
  • Test your site on multiple platforms and with multiple ISP's
  • Make sure it works on AOL

ISP's/Web Hosting

• Reliability
  
  • Get your own domain name (and remember to renew it!)
  • Use a top-tier web hosting service provider
  • Avoid budget hosting services - you get what you pay for...
  • Look for 99.9% uptime with redundant web connections
    
• Redundancy
  
  • Provide course site mirrors on multiple servers
  • Outsource - your local ISP is fine for a backup site
    but not for your primary site.
  • Look for hosting services that provide daily backups
  • Perform regular backups on your end as well
    
• Portability
  
  • Design a self-contained site that can be easily moved from one server to another
  • Use an ISP with nationwide coverage/access numbers

• Privacy
  
  • If you use 3rd party providers for listserve, web boards or blogs, be sure to check their privacy policies
  • Password Protection of content, listserve and web board postings