Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
- Date Accessed: August 18, 2003
- URL: http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/
- Content: Content is available on the homepage, a fine example of what types of content enriches a school division homepage.
Web Standards
- HTML 4 or XHTML validation: DOCTYPE! for HTML 4 with 29 errors
- Text-Browsing: All links not available in text form
- Proprietary Code: Menumachine Javascript
- Editor Used: Adobe Go Live
- Number of lines of code:526
The Javascript engine used to create the drop-down menu structure is needlessly bloated and makes use of CSS, while other parts of the site use FONT tags.
Usability Concerns
Yet another page with a drop down menu structure, complete with all the problems. Here, even when not engaged, it covers content on the page. Text in some block areas is unusually small. Text zoom does work to improve text, but makes Javascript menu impossible to use. When following links, a seemingly older template takes form. This template contains a search field at the bottom, and a 'Quick Links' navigation FORM. This is discouraged, as it is not a true form.
The HOME button, also located at the bottom of the page, would most likely be missed by most users. Curiously, the HOME link takes the user back to another homepage, not the initial page. This new home page is problematic because it links back to itself using the same navigation bar.
Home links are a great idea, but should be included at the top of the page, along with other navigation. The school logo could be the link back home.
Small text makes the page seemed cramped in areas; yet ample white space remains which might better utitlized.
Accessibility Concerns
Use of appropriate ALT tags not always used; use of structural HTML would help accessibility. A lot of content comes across as text, however main navigation system is closed to text-only browsers. Javascript navigation area (top) was also small and difficult to manipulate with a high-precision mouse.
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Copyright © 2003 by John G. Hendron. All Rights Reserved.