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May-June 2004
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Explore the Possibilities
Web Development Resources that fit Georgetown's Special Needs
A recent addition to the university’s Web development resources, Explore at explore.georgetown.edu, is a centralized source for university Web content including course information, faculty biographies, university events and campus maps. Departments can link to Explore or bring content from Explore in to their own sites. Departments using dynamic content from Explore are assured that the information on their sites is accurate because changes made to a database are automatically reflected on Web sites linked to that database.
Explore draws dynamic information from various sources. The database of course schedules and locations is maintained by the University Registrar. Faculty biographies draw contact information from the university directory database, and faculty can log in with their NetIDs to update their profiles and course syllabi. Designated staff can also log in to update several of their departments’ course syllabi at once.
The International Politics Web site uses content from Explore to generate faculty C.V.s and home pages for each of their courses. The pages include course descriptions, schedules, faculty profiles, the number of spots available in a class, and links from the course location to the campus map.
Explore is available to all university departments and organizations. Help documentation is found at http://explore.georgetown.edu/restricted/docs/. (You will be prompted to log in with your NetID and NetID password.) Other Web development resources include:
- The Georgetown University Web Style Manual, which defines recommended standards for navigation, typography, and use of color on Georgetown sites. Official university graphics and page templates can be downloaded from the style manual.
- Free HTML, FrontPage, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, and ColdFusion classes. Faculty, staff, and students can register at http://uis.georgetown.edu/training.
- Free computer-based training in ColdFusion, Dreamweaver, and Flash. Computer-based training is found at http://uis.georgetown.edu/training.
- The site Web Development at Georgetown, a source for Web development policies, software documentation, and information on Web development accounts.
After evaluating university resources, some departments may discover unique requirements that can only be met by professional Web developers. Perhaps the department wants original artwork or needs a secure online application. Recommendations for Georgetown departments hiring Web developers or contracting with outside companies are found at http://web.georgetown.edu/departments/. Most importantly, new staff or outside contractors must ensure that applications and authentication mechanisms meet university standards and work with university systems.
To help university departments meet the need for professional Web development, Georgetown has its own contract Web development unit called KeyBridge. KeyBridge tools are:
- KeySite, a content management system that allows users to maintain sites without knowing HTML and to assign maintenance responsibilities for different parts of the site to different staff. KeySite+, an advanced version for complex sites with rapidly changing content, has also recently become available.
- KeyConnect moderated online discussions.
- KeyForm online survey and data analysis tools. Free and contract versions of KeyForm are available.
- KeyRegistration for conferences and events includes a secure online payment mechanism that works with the university’s financial systems.
- KeyCards e-postcards.
- KeyTalk discussion boards.
- KeyProject online project management.
- KeyCart secure e-commerce that works with the university’s financial systems.
- Custom application development.
Faculty and staff developing or maintaining departmental Web sites may schedule consultations with university Web developers; contact guide@georgetown.edu to schedule. Departments interested in contract Web services are invited to contact KeyBridge at keybridge@georgetown.edu.
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