6 replies to this topic

[Andrew Field]

I've recently moved the Norman Conquest site that I run to a new server and am in the progress of 'improving' the site.

I'm basically trying to respond to criticism of the site - namely that people get lost quite easily and that it can, at times, be rather boring.

Thus, I've began making a few changes. Yet, before I bother to finish these, I'd like to know what individuals think.

• I'm improving the way the glossary definitions appear - now instead of a pop-up box, you get a hover-over definition that appears.
• Another problem was that people didn't know what each link led to - whether it was a glossary definition, an internal link or an external link - so I've begun putting little icons to make each link clear.
• Thirdly, I've tried to simplify sections so they are easier to navigate and a bit more interactive.

See the differences in these examples:
http://www.normancon...k/beginning.htm
http://www.mrfield.b...t/beginning.htm

http://www.normancon...o.uk/claims.htm
http://www.mrfield.b...uest/claims.htm

Please suggest any improvements or ways of making this even better!

[Andrew Field]

OK - but don't forget this is different - it's an entire site. What I will do, when the entire site is complete, is create a series of different lessons that can make use of the site - there will be one on the claims, one on the battle, one on resistance, one on castles etc. There'll also be a research lesson where a class can be put into groups with a task to complete using the site - e.g. prepare a presentation explaining why William won the Battle; prepare a presentation about who had the best claim....

[Dan Moorhouse]

Navigation is better. You can still take a group through things bit by bit as in the original but for a broswer of the site or for students researching on their own the new avigation bar will make life easier for them.

The definitions work well. Would it be an advantage to also have a full glossary on the site so that students could check out a few words on the same page?

[Andrew Field]

The definitions work well. Would it be an advantage to also have a full glossary on the site so that students could check out a few words on the same page?

That's what I'll do with the existing pop-up glossary pages - just cut and paste them all together so there's a long list. This could then be linked to a hang-Harold game or something.

Good idea.

[Dan Lyndon]

Another magnificent resource to add to the list of many. Where do you find the time? - only fault I could find was a missing hyperlink on Fulford Gate.

[Andrew Field]

Thanks - the Fulford Gate link has been added in to remind me. I had always classified this as a minor battle, but a new website has changed my opinion: http://www.battleoffulford.org.uk/.

I haven't finished the new version of the site yet, which is why I'm still after ideas to improve it further. Things like adding in little 'interactions' seems the best way to go, so there are small activities that students can take if they wish to. I've got a few Flash based match-up quizzes to put in.

This Norman Conquest site is the first thing I put on the Internet, in January 2000. When I used it recently for some research I thought it could be improved, which is exactly what I'm trying to do.