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Client Information Sheet
Welcome!
The Web Development Training Program at SRJC incorporates "hands on" practical classroom
experiences into our curriculum. To facilitate this "project based" learning we have developed
a program where students work in teams to create Web sites
for local non-profit agencies in Sonoma County.
This allows students to expand their skills, deal with "real life" situations,
and develop an online portfolio.
Non-profit organizations who would not be able to afford a Web site are encouraged to
participate in this program. To see examples of projects we have created review the links below.
In order for the experience to be a positive one for both web developers
and clients I have outlined your responsibilities below.
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Client Responsibilities
"There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
This advice applies to Web sites as well. It is true we will not be
charging you a fee to complete your Web site. However, you will be required to contribute your
time, energy, expertise, and provide us with all of the site content. Here is what we need from you.
A contact person who can be reached by phone or email during the 16 week semester.
This person must be literate with email and the web.
Someone who will attend 5-6 meetings with students. These
meetings will be 1-2 hours long and can be held at your place
of business, or at SRJC. If you work from your home we ask
that you meet with the students in a public place or the JC.
We encourage you to set aside time for either day or evening
meetings since many of our students work full time and may
not be available during the day. In addition to the meetings,
you may need to spend time gathering data, meeting with co-workers
to explain the project, and answering student's questions.
We also expect clients to attend the presentation to the
community at the end of the semester. In addition if the client
is satisfied with the project they need to write letters of
recommendation for the students. Finally some organization
provide an acknowledement to our Web Development Program.
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Tentative Meeting Schedule
A tentative schedule and description of the meetings is listed below
| Meeting |
Fall Client Dates |
Spring Client Dates |
| Preliminary | early Sept. |
last 2 weeks of January |
| Content | late Sept. |
end of February |
| Template Approval - (optional) | mid Oct. |
early March |
| Web Proposal |
late Oct. |
mid March |
| Testing Site | late Nov. |
mid April |
| Web site Delivery | mid Dec. |
mid May |
Preliminary Meeting
During this meeting you will be asked to define your target audience, determine 3-5 goals
for the site, provide an outline of the Web site content, and select a template
for the style of your site.
This meeting will also be a time begin to get to know the students, set up the 4
remaining meetings and exchange contact information.
Optional - Locate 2-3 other sites you feel are well done and share your evaluations of these sites with the
students.
Content Meeting
Client will provide web developers with 80-100% of the content which needs to
be included in the site. Students can create the web pages, link them together, include photos
and incorporate you logo into the Web site. They CANNOT create the content for you.
The best Web sites we
have produced were done for organizations that already had a great deal of content in digital form
and were able to clearly articulate their needs.
Whenever possible the information needs to be in digital form saved on a floppy disc. We can
scan in text, but it is more time consuming. No hand written content please. Pictures will
add a tremendous amount to the look and feel of your site.
Whenever possible provide us with digitized images. We can scan in photos, negative, or slides.
We do not take photographs, and will not sort thru a large collection of pictures. You need to provide students
with the specific images which will be displayed on the site.
If you have forms which you would like to display on the web we can replicate the contents
as a web page which can be sent electronically, or printed and mailed or faxed to you.
At this time you must provide students with information about the ISP where your Web site will be stored
after the class ends. SRJC provides Web accounts for the students which they can use to develop
your site, however once the class ends we can no longer store your site and it will need to be moved to a
permanent home.
Every semester one of our greatest challenges is getting the content from our clients. Because of the
numerous deadlines required in the course we cannot continue to work with you if most of the data is
not provided to students during this meeting. We encourage you to consider signing up as a client for
the following semester if you feel you cannot meet this deadline.
Template Approval (optional)
Students will present you with mock ups for the opening screen,
and the other types of pages required for your site. At this stage these
mock ups may be hand drawn and will certainly be incomplete. The meeting may not take longer than
30 minutes. Some groups may not feel the need to meet because the look and feel of the site have
already been discussed in great depth.
Web Proposal Meeting
Students will provide you with a web project proposal which contains the following
elements:
- Description of your target market
- Goals for the site
- List of Deliverables - This is a detailed description of exactly what the site will include.
The pages, graphics, links, and forms which will appear on your Web site will be listed.
- Storyboard - a flowchart that indicates the site elements and describes site navigation
- Mock up of opening screen
- Mock up of sample page
- Maintenance plan for site
- Contract - this will require your signature
As you review this proposal you are encouraged to suggest changes, correct misconceptions, and ask for clarification.
Our goal is to satisfy the client. Once you sign off on the proposal and mock ups it will be extremely difficult
to make major changes in the content or design of the site. So... if you don't like something - discuss it during this meeting.
At this time all of the information which needs to be included in the Web site must be delivered to
the students. We cannot guarantee that
the content provided after this meeting will be included.
Website Testing /Marketing Meeting
At this time the student developers will present you with a partially completed Web site. This is when
you can begin to "click around" and see what the site feels like. You are encouraged to be honest and
direct in pointing out elements which you do not like. You cannot substantially change the content or
design of the site. If you agreed on green buttons and the designer made buttons which are to big
or the wrong shade of green - let them know. If you have a "great idea" about a new section you could add to the website
that is beyond what students can accomplish at this time.
If you would like to have assistance in registering, marketing and tracking hits at your site -
discuss these issues at this meeting.
Delivering the Web site Meeting
At this time the students will provide you with a finished Web site. You will need to indicate
if you want this on floppy disc, zip (you provide zip disc), or loaded onto the web for you.
At this time the person who will be maintaining the site will need to sit down with the students
and discuss how the site was created and review the files.
We also encourage clients to provide students with letters of reference. Most clients are extremely
grateful and appreciative of the student's efforts, they may get so caught up in using their brand new
Web site that they forget to write the letter.
By delivering them at the final meeting we avoid this problem.
There will be no charge for the services provided by Student developers, however the students may
request letters of reference, credit on the web pages, and the use of this site as part of their
online portfolio.
After reviewing this information you will also want to review these 2 additional
documents
Client Checklist
Client Overview
Client Pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
Content for these teaching materials were developed by Linda Hemenway.
If you have questions or comments on the material I can be contacted through
lhemenway@santarosa.edu
(707) 527-4855
Web site design by Jessica Hirsch - jessicahirsch@email.msn.com
Funding for these notes provided by Project FIVE and Project
PICTS supervised by Doug Garrison - Dean of the Petaluma Center.
This course is a core requirement for several Web Development Certificates.
Learn more at the Web Certification
site.
The CIS Department offers courses in the following areas: computer basics,
applications, graphics, web development, productivity, networking and programming.
Visit the CIS Web site.
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