Content Management Systems Equals Distributed Web Site Maintenance

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Content Management SystemsEqualsDistributed Web
SiteMaintenance

• Robert Gulick, EdD
• DBA / Technology Trainergulickb_at_parmacityschools.
  org

Carmi Gulick Fifth Grade Teachercarmiguli_at_parma.k
12.oh.us
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Goals

• What is a Content Management System (CMS?)
• How to select a CMS.
• Results How using one can impact your district,
  building, department and staff Web sites.

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What is a CMS?

• A tool (either Web based or client based) used to
  maintain the content of a Web site.
• Typically uses a database for content storage.
• Many use a template model for page layout control.

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What did Parma City Schools Select

• CommonSpot (www.PaperThin.com)
• Started on version 3.0 now on version 4.5
• Quick demonstration

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Why use CMS?

• Empowers many users to contribute to the
  development and maintenance of a Web site
• Does not require knowledge of HTML or FTP
• No external FTP required
• No holes in firewall

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Why use CMS?

• Helps to enforces content guidelines through an
  approval process
• Enforces
• Style and Branding
• Common navigation
• Changes to templates affect entire site

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Why use CMS?

• Section 508 compliance
• www.Section508.gov
• Differently abled visitors to a Web site must
  have an equal experience
• Required of Federal Agencies
• Fonts, colors, image based content v. text based
  content, frames

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How to pick a CMS

• What technologies are required?
• Database
• MSSQL, MySQL, Postgres, Zope
• Server Operating System
• Linux, Solaris, Windows
• Programming Language
• ASP.Net, ColdFusion, Java, PHP
• Web Server
• Apache, IIS

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How to pick a CMS

• Contributor Interactions
• Via Web site or via client?
• Requires a specific browser if Web based?
• WYSIWYG or Code?
• Drop and Drag?
• Upload documents / images?
• Spell checking?

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How to pick a CMS

• Visitor Interactions
• Friendly URL?
• Require plug-ins?
• Browser compatibility?
• Search tool?

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How to pick a CMS

• Costs (Initial / Ongoing)
• Licensing Model By contributor, pages, server
• Maintenance Costs 10 to 15 yearly is typical
• Support Costs Is there an active users group?
• Extra hardware (database server)
• Extra software (database server, app server)
• Try before you buy

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How to pick a CMS

• Security / Approval Process
• Does it have one?
• Can approval flow be customized?
• How are users informed of approval requests,
  errors?
• How are users maintained?
• LDAP integration?
• Custom groups?

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How to pick a CMS

• Site Design and Control
• Multiple editable templates?
• Lockable elements?
• Scheduling content?

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How to pick a CMS

• Built in Applications
• Calendar?
• Discussion / Forums?
• Internal Search Tool?
• Photo Gallery?
• Extensible (create integrate own Web programs?)
• Web site CMS Web Calendar Custom Program

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Planning and Implementation of the Site

• Hosting options (internal v. external hosting)
• Designing branding / color schemes
• Develop style guidelines
• Develop approval procedures
• Identify who will do what
• Plan for growth and modifications

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Training staff

• Created our own materials available on the Web
  site
• Trained eight trainers
• Multiple after school sessions
• Half day during the day session
• One-on-one sessions

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So what are the cons?

• Power Web developers will feel confined
• Workflow requires people in the workflow to check
  in
• Maintenance of servers and software a must
• Requires more 'server horsepower(Web and
  database) than static HTML Web site

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Major Vendors?

• www.cmsmatrix.orgcompare major and minor players
• 504 as of 1/14/06
• 254 as of 2/3/05
• Some focus on education market
• Most 'tip their hat' to education with some
  discounts / programs
• Many open source solutions (http//opensourcecms.c
  om/)

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Results?

• Before
• Several addresses
• No consistency between sites
• No standards compliance / reviews
• 1 author per site

• After
• One address
• Branding / navigation is enforced
• Review / approval process
• 200 current authors (50 active in any given month)

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Results?
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The End

• Materials and link at
• www.ParmaCitySchools.org/presentations
• E-Mail
• gulickb_at_parmacityschoolsorg