Idea Log

10-18-00
Site Statistics
I called Mindspring technical support about how to download site logs. I understand how to do it now. If we identify a web job called "log analyzer person" you could download it once in a while, put it in the drop box (see below) where the analyzer could get it an tell us how many visits we are getting and what pages they are visiting - good stuff to know.

FTP Drop Box
I also asked how we could set up an FTP drop box for web reporters. Instead of sending you an email with an attachment, they could load them into a restricted (password protected) part of your FTP space. You use up one email address (but your account says you are paying for 10), and we have to give reporters an FTP program, an ID, and a password. If this is a good way to do it, I could train them personally.

I'll spare you the details for now.

From Mind spring on site statistics - there is a directory called "log" that contains site statistic files.  Download the log(s) and load them into Excel for analysis.  The files could be huge.

FTP Drop Box  From Mindspring control panel select Tool bar - Post Office - FTP Drop Box - Create a new drop box by using an new email address and password.  Give reporters the new email address as logon and the new password.  Reporter can logon the the Drop box and upload/download files.  Use free FTP program "WSTP from Downloads.com.

0-13-00
All Grady pages need "Grady On-line" or something so that folks always know where they are.

10-12-00  Lou Sartor
1. Incorporate a daily or regular log of student/faculty announcements posted onto the site. One school does this but I forget which one.

2. Upgrade the faculty bio profiles and add syllabi to the teaching schedules page.

3. Upgrade areas such as the School of Communications to make it truly informative.

4. Upgrade parents page to include links of parent web sites like yours.

5. Get students to take responsibility for creating html pages for the Southerner, Orator, and Unmasking; as well as creating original content to be posted relating to clubs and orgs, school depts., etc.

6. Fundraising to pay for the site, $30/month, to pay for the web hosting. My plan is to ask the PTSA to see if they would fund all or part of that, in February. The Grady Foundation also provided significant funding last year.

A lot of sites are heavy on the graphics and not much content, or else really dated.

10-12-00  Terry Kearns
Apart from having more authors, reporters, content, and publicity (whew) I'd like to make minimal changes to the site:

1. The site has so much content, the home page needs to show and brag about it somehow. And, it needs to be as clear as possible. For example, I would never think of clicking on "departments" to find a teachers picture. A funny saying I like is, "system design (unfortunately) recapitulates bureaucracy"

2. Every time you work on a new page or old page, add a freshness date and a "home" button.

3. If we get reporters, and get current news, and more visitors, you'll need some relief. Here is another quote, "Once a web site gets popular, folks are willing to work on it 80 hours a week for free. Unfortunately, that is not enough."

4. I will investigate a way to manage current news by reporters without you personally having to upload everything. I know we can find a free Q&A/forum service, like Grady guestbook. I think we can use a password to limit authors, allow the webmaster to delete stuff, but allow anyone read access. I'll check around.