Colonial HeightsPublic Schools
- Date Accessed: September 3, 2003
- URL: http://www.colonialhts.net/
- Content: Content is available on the homepage through a Java applet.
Web Standards
- HTML 4 or XHTML validation: DOCTYPE! was not included.
- Text-Browsing: Text available, Javascript menu and Java applet was not
- Proprietary Code: DHTML menu, Java applet
- Editor Used: Dreamweaver?
- Number of lines of code:380
Page rendered very differently using Apple's Safari browser; Javascript and Java aspect of the site were missing or dysfunctional.
Usability Concerns
The Java applet, which serves fresh content, is constantly moving. While the effect is rather interesting and at best a gimmick, some users will be shut-out from the content it provides. Having a link that reads "If the What's New box is blank..." is a sure sign of poor usability. It should be the responsibility of the page's designer to ensure that the box (without moving text) is not blank.
Offering both a Javascript menu which lists the original home page amongst its links, plus a form-based drop-down menu is confusing—multiple links, which ones do I choose?
The large box with a disclaimer is suspect; if such a message is really necessary, it is best placed off the front page, such as they do with a privacy policy.
Some web links from the DHTML (Javascript) menu go to outside sites. The "Home" button is a link, while other menu cateogries are not.
The teacher page at Colonial Heights demonstrates another usability issue, a form without a "Go" button. The list of teachers is small enough to negate the use of drop-down menus; nevertheless, all the links are inaccessible since the form is incomplete and does not automatically load pages once one is selected. The text, however, promises a "GO" button.
The re-appearance of the "Surf at your Own Risk" message shows itself again. Seeing it over and over again, I begin to wonder what kinds of things Colonial Heights teachers have posted in the past!
Accessibility Concerns
Obviously, the DHTML menu and Java applet are accessibility concerns. They did add text links to the front page, which helps, but in the full scheme of things, using web standards negates the doubling necessity for links.
Page contrast was good, and it was nice to see ALT attributes being used. Using a text-based title also was refreshing. Its placement, however, made it problematic for easy reading, as the tagline contrasted poorly with the lines making up the background.
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Copyright © 2003 by John G. Hendron. All Rights Reserved.