Things to fix on http://aectnow.org

trey says: I talked to Phil today (11/1/07) and he's open to re-branding AECT, and is going to run this idea by Exec. I believe we need a new AECT brand. This would mean new logo and letterhead. And a new style guide which would include various "approved" marks for AECT and typefaces, colors, etc..

Note: the list has sections for the convention and items that have been addressed and moved off the queue.

Things we did on purpose

  1. disabled Events menu until the new content is available

Open Items

  1. update "membership benefits" page. We need some narrative to make pages like this "new-visitor friendly". ((Maybe we ought to figure out what a member benefit is first.))
  2. highlight Human Capital Campaign somehow
  3. link to AECT curriculum database http://www.aect.org/Curricula/default.asp
  4. link and/or story on AECT standards as seen in sidebar here: http://www.aect.org/default.asp
  5. can we link names to profile pages? for instance, link a board members name "Trey Martindale" to Trey's drupal profile page. then we could expand the user profile (which I think we ultimately should do) to include keywords, interests, etc. as well as contact information. Then we could generate lists of members who are interested in "problem-based learning", or "second life", etc., and also help people connect and form all kinds of groups--interest, research, etc.. So we should probably develop a taxonomy of keywords for people to choose from, if we go this route.
  6. We should look into the "Taxonomy" feature of drupal, not for the above example, but to categorize stories. The "category" module (I think that's the module name) of drupal has been deprecated, and widely criticized. We need to leverage the power of the CCK and Views modules. I (trey) don't know how to do this, but I know it's necessary for other good site features.
  7. make the site "visitor friendly" using for example the druapal regions. right now the home page looks like a blog, and it probably shouldn't. the time-stamped news entries are great, but the initial visitor needs less "latest news" and more orientation. (( Can we define this a little more? What, exactly, does this mean? You want a "landing page" for the front page, instead of the current AECTNow page? - NOL))
  8. make the homepage for new visitors to AECT as opposed to "insiders". (( is this the same comment as above? - NOL ))
  9. create a section somewhere that includes information and FAQs for division officers. include division officer handbook, cycle of elections, upcoming summer leadership meeting, etc. (( We need somebody to create this content, provide a copy of the handbook, etc ))
  10. the site needs a "for members" section that would include things like how to make a proposal to the board, how the board works, how convention sites are chosen, etc. (( We need somebody to create this content ))
  11. somewhere list all the important recent news items that would apply to all members and potential members. (( Best we could do here is link to OLDaily -- unless you're only talking about AECT news, in which case, that's what the AECTNow site is for)
  12. fix publications page so that each pub has its own page and associated logo or image.
  13. fix "recent comments" format to show username, not time stamp. (( I disagree -- the point of recent comments is to create social presence by indicating how recently somebody has been on the site and doing something -- I think they need to remain the way they are now -- NOL ))
  14. we probably don't want "recent comments" on the home page. they are important, but not for the random or first time visitor. (( I disagree. The recent comments show that the site is alive -- NOL ))
  15. show author and date information (but not time) for each story entry. (( this requires a code change to the theme modules -- I've disabled all "by-line" info on "Story" nodes for the moment -- NOL ))
  16. "Board" page. add new board members and when each member's term expires. add individual photos. add links to board minutes. add instructions on what the board does, and how to be a good board member. ward has this document. (( Ward needs to post it or send it to somebody who can -- NOL ))
  17. make a page for each committee, and link to it from here: http://aectnow.org/committees On each committee page put a short description. list the committee members and chair.
  18. create a new drupal user account to represent each committee. For example, create a drupal account with the username "Curriculum". set the password for all these new accounts to "technology". So each committee will have both a static page telling about the committee, and a blog tied to the committee username. the committee static page should have a link to the committee blog, or ideally show the committee blog posts below the static information. the static information will include the committee charge and the committee members. (( Pat collected the committee assignments at the Saturday Board meeting and we'll get that up as soon as it's digitized -- NOL ))
  19. create an aggregated news list from each division somewhere on the site. perhaps under a link like "division news".
  20. Make a page for each award as it is on aect.org. Put links on the "Awards" page that link to each new award page. (( Awards are under review -- backburner on this one until that process is closer to completion - NOL ))
  21. Add ISMF to main links http://www.ismf.net/
  22. Add links to journals on Editorial Board page.
  23. Make story and links to corporate partners, with logos, like: http://www.aect.org/Partners/ (( Somebody needs to create this content -- NOL ))
  24. the search box doesn't seem to work. (( Does for me, what are you searching for?? -- NOL ))
  25. make story headline links and all links on white background a darker blue ((I've gotten a lot of these, but there may be some lurking on subpages somewhere -- NOL ))
  26. Make sidebars links white and sidebar heading text black
  27. fix text colors in left and right sidebars for new blocks like "who's online", "who's new", etc. (( Fix what, exactly? I've made them "blue" according to the earlier request -- NOL ))
  28. PacifiCorp Design Competition
    1. Add pacificorp award http://www.aect.org/Pacificorp/ (( This page should be updated and migrated over to AECTNow -- Who's in charge of this competition? Monica? NOL ))
    2. put up call for pacificorp design competition (when it becomes available)
  29. Add Convention Block and collect the pieces
    1. Add the annual convention under events (( The old annual convention has finished and the new content hasn't been provided - what content did you have in mind?? -- NOL ))
    2. the site needs a section on convention planning, so we can begin to document the procedures for planning a convention. (( We need somebody to create this content ))
    3. Make story and link to myAECT convention planner http://www.aect.org/events/program/MyAECT.asp
    4. Make story and link about convention volunteers like this page And add link to apply online to be a volunteer

DONE

  1. Make it clear somewhere how to join a division, and how to subscribe and unsubscribe from division discussion listservs. (( Added extended "HOW TO" section under Features - NOL ))
  2. correct the "activate account" process to resolve the "500 server error" (( I think this is fixed -- NOL ))
  3. Take "deceased" off all the past presidents page. Make the page look better. (( Done -- NOL ))
  4. Recreate this history page on new site and make it part of "History" page http://www.aect.org/About/History/ (( DONE - NOL ))
  5. Make "Store" a primary menu selection (in horizontal menu to the right of "publications") and link to http://www.aect.org/store/login.htm (( DONE -- NOL ))
  6. Make menu item "Listservs" in "About AECT" menu, and link to http://www.aect.org/lists/mail_login.asp (( Added it to the HOW TO section under Features -- NOL ))
  7. On "Board of directors" page add link to past board minutes: http://www.aect.org/About/Minutes.asp?clientid=20380 (( DONE -- NOL ))
  8. when going into administer the site, the text color reverts back to the black background with blue or white text. change the css so the admin portion of the site is just like the regular view of the site. same goes for when a user is previewing a story post--the background goes to black. (( I think this is fixed -- NOL ))
  9. Separate the Professional Ethics Committee list and members information from the committee listed above it. Add a line of space. (( DONE - NOL ))