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Web Site Management - Details

Maintaining and updating your site

After version 1.0 of your site has been launched and all have recovered from the launch party, there will still be lots to do regarding maintenance and updating of your school site. Reserving a dedicated, weekly time will help to ensure that your site's content does not go out of date and new content will continue to evolve. The type of content your school has chosen to feature on the site will determine how much time will be required for routine maintenance. As more and more students and teachers become aware of the publishing capabilities of the Internet, there will be an ongoing, ever increasing need to manage site expansion.

In attempting to determine the amount of time that should be set aside for weekly maintenance and updating, school administrators and I.C.T. coordinators should consider the following possible tasks involved:

• Coordinating, editing and uploading new content arising from teaching (i.e. class pages or unit and course pages, curricular projects, clubs and activities links).

• Coordinating, editing and uploading new content arising from the administration (i.e. changes and expansion to the online prospectus, past pupils association, fund raising news).

• Formally responding to those visitors that have taken time to provide feedback on the site. These interested visitors often include past pupils, parents and members of the local community.

• Routine site updating: school calendar, pages promoting special events, school newsletter, sports scores, etc.

• Checking external links on a regular basis: Site addresses often change and links to these outside sites must be checked on a regular basis.

• Working with the school's Internet service provider on technical and billing issues.

• Major design changes: As the multimedia publishing capability of the web evolves so should your school web site. Most sites designed two to three years ago may start to look outdated. If a school wishes to maintain a contemporary presence on the web, it will be important to re-designed the site every two to three years.

The above represents a considerable and additional workload for the school. The task of editing much of the new content to be uploaded on to the site should be shared amongst more than one member of staff. A group of willing, technically able students to help out with the above tasks can be invaluable. These approaches will ensure involvement, continuity and a perception of "ownership" among the staff and pupils.