Critical Evaluation of the Web Site of the University of Newcastle Australia - Case Study Example

Running header: critical evaluation of www.newcastle.edu.au Student’s name: Name of institution: Instructor’s name: Course code: Date of submission: 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report examines the web site of the University of Newcastle Australia (www.newcastle.edu.au). The report critically analyzes this web site with the sole of aim revealing the strengths and weaknesses of its architecture. The evaluation of the web site entails a keen analysis of the homepage, the overall look of the web site and the general views that users of the web site can have about it. The evaluation also looks at the navigation of the website. There is no web site that is perfect. The web site of the University of Newcastle Australia is generally presented in an attractive, user friendly and effective way but there are still some problems that need to be resolves so as to make the website more effective and user friendly. The web site can do with a lot of changes such as changing the information that appears on the homepage, providing more information to the users and changing the web pages that appear under the same architecture. This essay will report on the findings of the evaluation that was done on the of Newcastle Australia (www.newcastle.edu.au). 2.0 INTRODUCTION The internet is a medium of information and communication that is relatively new. The content that appears on web sites therefore needs to be constantly evaluated, expanded and made to adapt to new situations and also develop new techniques to improve it. 2.1 Aim The main aim of this report is to evaluate the web site of the University of Newcastle Australia (www.newcastle.edu.au). This report will evaluate and analyze the overall functionality and design of the web site and also recommend some changes that can be made on the architecture of the web site so that it can be improved and made more suitable and appropriate for the users. 2.2 Criteria for Evaluation The following areas of the web site were evaluated: The home page The overall outlook of the web site The negative aspects of the web site 3.0 ANALYSIS OF THE WEB SITE 3.1 The home page The home page is usually the first, main or initial web page that users see when they log on to a web site. The web page speaks volumes about the entire web site because it is the first encounter that the user has with the web site. This means that the information contained in the home page is the most prominent and useful to the user. This is because it gives the user the first impression about a web site. Users can also get an overall idea about what the web site is all about. The home page will influence how the users continue to use the site. The home page of the University of Newcastle Australia looks as follows: Top of Form University Website Bottom of Form OUR UNIVERSITY ABOUT US WHAT CAN I STUDY? FACULTIES & SCHOOLS DIVISIONS & UNITS SERVICES & FACILITIES LOCATIONS GIVING TO THE UNI JOB VACANCIES LIBRARY CONTACT US OUR PRIORITIES TEACHING & LEARNING RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABILITY OUR ENTITIES home current students staff directory ask uon contact us QUICK LINKS STUDENTS RESEARCH ALUMNI BUSINESS & COMMUNITY STAFF NEWS HSC students encouraged to explore university options Wednesday, 14 December 2011. University of Newcastle staff and students will be on hand to talk to, at an Advisory Day on Wednesday 4 January 2012. » Read More University secures increase for enabling programs Newcastle Business School on top of the world Newcastle lecturer delivers UN human rights key note address News Archive » EVENTS Trimester 3 Farewell Thursday, 15 December 2011. Trimester Farewell for postgraduate students of Newcastle Business School who are completing studies in trimester 3, 2011. » Read More School of Medicine and Public Health: Thesis by Publication Workshop A Christmas Carol Celebration Advisory Day Events Calendar » ASK UoN Find the answers you're looking for. Search The University at a glance How we rank Five reasons to choose Newcastle © 2008 The University of Newcastle, Australia CRICOS provider number 00109J Contact Us Copyright and disclaimer Your Feedback Website Feedback Switch to mobile site Last Updated: Thursday, 15 December 2011 12:48 PM ADST The first glance of this sight is not very attractive since it does not catch the attention of the viewer as it ought to. The pictures are not that bad but they do not reflect a university web site. Despite this, the home page shows some useful events that may catch the eyes of people interested in a university web site. These pictures show university life and accommodation within the campus. The pictures also show work integrated learning so as to encourage students to learn because they know that their education will pay off (Piper, 2000). The web site of the University of Newcastle Australia was specifically designed to help readers obtain useful information about the university. A reader or user may need information about certain aspects of the university. In order for the user or reader to be able to acquire this information effectively, it must be presented in a neat and organized manner so that it can communicate. The information must be presented in such a manner that the user will use the least time possible to find all the information that he or she needs. The home page has tried to do this but this has not been done very effectively because a lot of information has been put on the home page without being arranged in a clear and easily recognizable manner. Despite this, the web site has been arranged in such a way that the home page leads to a lot of information that may be very useful to the users or readers. The left part of the page shows a lot of useful information about university that a user may come seeking for. This information includes the courses that a prospective student may study at the university. The page also shows information about the faculties and schools that the university has. The units and divisions of the university are also listed here. The services and facilities of the University of Newcastle Australia are also well explained in this section. The section also gives the various locations of the university as well as the job vacancies available at the university. The library is also accessible through this site and the uses can know the information resources available as well as how the library operates. The information that appears on the home page is meant to offer the readers or users a brief overview of what the University of Newcastle Australia is about. Some of the possible scenarios to use are the library, teaching and learning, research, sustainability, job vacancies and a lot of useful information about the university. The language that has been used in the web site is appropriate for most of the prospective users of the site. The language is basic and easily understandable most people that are likely to use the site. There is a search tool on the website that is used to search for specific information about the university. There are links that are available at the site which lead a user to other useful information that he or she may need. 3.2 Overall Outlook of the Web Site The overall outlook of the web site is a very simple one. The web site looks very basic and only seeks to provide basic information about the university that a user may seek for in a university web site. Theorists such as Sathler (2006) suggest that web sites should be very appealing through the use of color, appropriate language, proper presentation and attractive font sizes and designs. The University of Newcastle Australia web site has tried to incorporate all these aspects into its website. The web site therefore tries to be as effective as possible in communicating to the users or readers. 3.3 Navigation The architecture of the sub pages are designed in such as way that the users can get the information that they require by simply clicking on the links that will direct them to the information that they need. The different web pages are designed in such as way that they appear identical. The only difference is that they give different information. This tends to make the web pages uncomfortable because they all appear to be identical. The information on the sub pages has not been presented in a very attractive manner. This is because the information in the different sub pages looks very identical and one cannot easily differentiate between them. The different topics are all placed in the same place and it is difficult for the users to easily find what they want. 4.0 CONCLUSION In conclusion, the university web site is an effective way of communicating to the users or readers. Even though there are a lot of short comings about the university web site, it can still be used as a platform by the university to communicate to the users or readers of the web site. 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The home page should be made more colorful so that is can attract the users who visit the site. Color will help to attract the readers or users and they will be more interested in using the site. The university website should also be made to include more pictures about the university so that users or readers can get a true picture of what the university is all about. All the information in the sub pages should be made to be different and unique for each page. The information should also be up to date and current so that the user can have access to the latest information about the university. References Piper, P. S. (2000). Better read that again: Web hoaxes and misinformation. Searcher, 8 (8). Retrieved from, http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/sep00/piper.htm. University of Newcastle Australia (2011). Retrieved from, www.newcastle.edu.au. Read More